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Interpretive Guide 2011

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Table of Contents

Exhibit Summary 3

Theme & Sub-themes 4

Featured 4

Visitor Journey 5

Behind the Scenes Area 24

Cougar Exhibit 25

Future Canyon 27

Resources 28

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Exhibit Summary It’s dark. A chorus of crickets sings. A breeze carries in the scent of damp earth. You pass under a tree and get a prickly feeling on the back of your neck. What’s that sound? Did that bush just move? You feel a rush of . Out of the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of an owl flying by. You feel like someone or something is watching you, stalking you, you, as you cautiously pass by a roost of vampire bats and an on patrol. Adrenaline courses through your veins, Along the way, guests can watch fishing scoop preparing your body to fight or take flight in the face of out of the water, sand cats on the prowl, and more on danger. You make out the silhouette of a clouded their smart phones using a Quick Response (QR) code . Its shining yellow eyes follow you as you sneak reader application. by. It’s an eat-or-be-eaten world and, in the Night Hunters exhibit, you are the prey. The journey culminates in an open interactive area. Here guests can meet a and witness the Originally built in 1950, the House was ’s supreme aquatic hunting skills as it dives renovated and transformed into the award-winning Cat after minnows. Interactive computer kiosks invite House in 1985. Once again the Zoo has revitalized this visitors to participate in the Saving Species Wild Cat exhibit building. In addition to a new roof and an Campaign (funded by the National Science Foundation). upgraded ventilation system, the entire public viewing Choosing from a selection of images and text, guests area was redone. The carpet is gone, the walls are create a digital identification sign for several cat species repaired and repainted, and the traditional stroll that will be displayed on a rotational basis at those through an exhibit building has been transformed into species’ exhibits. They have the option to email their multi-sensory journey through the wild at night. creations to friends and and encourage them to participate in wild cat conservation, too. Night Hunters incorporates the best of the Cat House and the Nocturnal House, featuring a variety of small Night Hunters is just one component of the first phase cats as well as other of a larger Cat Canyon exhibit area. Expected to open in nocturnal predators such as full by 2012, Cat Canyon will encompass and link up the the Eurasian eagle owl, Night Hunters experience with the current Canyon vampire bat, and Burmese area and include exhibits for , , and python. . Cat Canyon aims to provide guests with a new, exciting adventure into the world of our great predators, the wild cats, while strengthening our commitment to the conservation of threatened species through education and scientific research in the wild and at the Zoo.

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Theme Featured Species

In sequential : It’s an “eat or be eaten” world in the wild. Eurasian eagle owl, Bubo bubo Sub-themes Pallas’ cat, Otocolobus manul , Cryptoprocta ferox 1) Predators are specially designed to hunt and eat , Proteles cristatus other (prey). , nebulosa 2) Prey must always be aware of their Pygmy slow , Nycticebus pygmaeus surroundings to keep from being eaten. , Orycteropus afer 3) Wild cats are the ultimate in predator design. , Perodictus potto 4) At night, predator and prey rely on enhanced Greater bushbaby (Garnett’s ), Otolemur garnettii senses and particular strategies. 5) An ecosystem would not survive without its Giant fruit bat (Indian flying ), Pteropus giganteus predators, and vice versa. Vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus Southern Brazilian ocelot, pardalis mitis Burmese python, Python molurus Black-footed cat, nigripes , Felis margarita , rufus Fishing cat, viverrinus Bat-eared fox, Otocyon megalotis , zerda , Caracal caracal Bearcat, Arctictis , Eira barbara

Cougar, concolor Malayan tiger, tigris jacksoni (future) , Panthera uncia (future)

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Visitor Journey

Visitors encounter the entry path off of the main Zoo Two interpretive signs along the path introduce visitors path across from the Gorilla World exit. A montane to the main themes of the exhibit as well as to the landscape including evergreens, rocky areas, and a poetic format of the content they will encounter on the waterfall draw visitors’ attention and beckon them to signage throughout. enter. Leaves and grasses rustle. The landscape is intended to heighten the visitors’ sense of awareness. Perhaps they feel as if they are being watched by some unseen predator.

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As visitors walk beneath a wooden trellis leading them DARK sky, to the building entrance, small interpretive signs set up Smiling MOON. the experience. It’s getting dark... Shhh! Did you hear that? SHADOWS dance To a CRICKET tune. Entering the building, visitors step into a temperate PAUSE. Listen. forest at twilight. A poem greets them and welcomes Widen your EYES. them into the night: NIGHT’S alive With wild SURPRISE.

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Eurasian Eagle Owl Crickets sing and the occasional owl calls. The scent of pine lingers and fireflies twinkle. Surrounded by three- dimensional fabricated trees with leafy branches rustling in the breeze, visitors peer into a new Eurasian eagle owl exhibit and catch the flash of an owl flying by on a digital monitor screen.

With wings that can span up to six feet, the Eurasian eagle owl is one of the largest owls in the world. Its powerful yet silent wings enable this night hunter to stealthily swoop down and scoop up prey. It can even catch other in mid-air.

With two tufts of feathers on its head, presumably used for communication, the Eurasian eagle owl looks much like its North American relative, the great .

Pallas’ Cat Rounding the corner, visitors encounter the Pallas’ cat exhibit. Among the cricket chorus, a Pallas’ cat call can be heard every so often.

Specialized to live in the mountainous regions of central , the Pallas’ cat’s thick coat of shaggy and long, bushy tail combat extreme temperatures as low as -60°F. Its preferred prey is the pika, a small -like . It also hunts marmots, , gerbils, other small , and the occasional . The Pallas’ cat is an expert ambush predator. Once it spots a prey , the cat creeps up slowly, masking its approach by hiding behind whatever vegetative cover is available. A flat forehead and low allow the cat to peek over bushes and rocks without exposing much of itself to the unwary prey. At just the right moment, the cat pounces.

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Fossa Next comes the fossa exhibit. Rockwork extends out into the public space to blur the distinction between the visitors and the animal. Night sounds of accompany the usual cricket chorus, including vocalizations of the fossa, , and a nightjar.

The fossa is the largest on Madagascar. With a catlike appearance, expert climbing and leaping skills, and an affinity for stalking and pouncing on prey, the fossa was once thought to belong to the cat family. This relative plays an important role as predator in keeping prey populations in check.

Whooo lives here? Rounding another corner, visitors are invited to peek inside several fabricated tree holes to find out who lives there. Small digital screens play video of a barn owl, honeybee colony, and bushbaby inside.

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Aardwolf Visitors turn their attention now to the right side of the hallway where they first encounter an aardwolf exhibit. Night noises specific to this area include calls of the barn owl, black-backed , spotted , and aardwolf.

A solitary and nocturnal member of the hyena family, the aardwolf specializes in feeding on . Rather than digging into a nest, the aardwolf simply licks up the with its long and chomps down on them with its peg-like molars. A single aardwolf can consume 200,000 termites in one night.

Clouded Leopard Moving on, visitors are once again surrounded by fabricated trees with leafy branches hanging overhead as they come upon the clouded leopard exhibit. Looking closely at the stamped concrete beneath their feet, the predator’s paw prints indicate that it recently walked through this area of the . Visitors hear calls of the clouded leopard, tokay , and gibbons.

A powerful and robust build, short legs, large feet, and a long tail allow the clouded leopard to expertly navigate the forest canopy. It is able to climb down tree trunks headfirst, travel across horizontal branches while hanging beneath them, and hang from branches with its hind feet. The clouded leopard has the longest canines relative to body size of any cat, enabling it to catch relatively large prey.

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Pygmy Separated by glass from the clouded leopard is a exhibit. While the loris is a potential prey item for the clouded leopard in the wild, it is also a predator in its own right.

A nocturnal and arboreal , the pygmy slow loris has large eyes to increase its night vision and grasping digits to clutch tree branches.

The solitary, female loris usually one young at a time. The infant clings to its mother’s belly for a few days. Soon, the mother will leave the young one behind, a behavior called “parking,” as she heads out at night to forage. The young loris relies on and toxic as defense against predators.

Across the hall is a poem that carries the visitor deeper into the night:

COOL breeze, Rustling LEAVES. MIDNIGHT bloom. Eyes GLOWING, TIPTOEING. Sunrise SOON?

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Vampire Bat

To the right of the poem, is the new vampire bat exhibit.

The first section is designed as a cave roost. A rock wall

separates the roost from the main woodland section of

the exhibit. The bats can fly between the two sections

through small openings in the rock wall. A fabricated

tree extends out of the woodland exhibit into the public

area. Sounds of the vampire bat, , red howler

monkey, and can be heard.

It is a common misconception that vampire bats suck

blood. They actually cut a tiny slit in an animal’s skin

with their razor-sharp front teeth and lap up the blood.

Chemicals in the bat’s saliva prevent clotting so the

blood flows freely until it has had its fill, which is

generally less than an ounce. Vampire bats rarely attack

, preferring to feed on livestock and wild

mammals such as tapirs and deer.

Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this QR code to learn how they can help save our local bats. The code links visitors to the Save Lucy Campaign web site (www.savelucythebat.org) , which focuses on protecting local bats from white nose syndrome.

Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this QR code and learn more about vampire bats.

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Potto Back across the hall is a potto exhibit. are generally categorized into three groupings—monkeys, apes, and prosimians. Typically thought to be more primitive than other primates, prosimians tend to be small and nocturnal. The big-eyed potto certainly fits the bill. Using clamp-shaped and feet, with opposable and big , the potto climbs slowly and carefully through the rainforest canopy, and rarely comes down from the trees. Though the potto is slow, it can quickly snatch up small prey animals when the opportunity arises.

Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this QR code to watch a baby potto explore its new world.

Aardvark A multi-species exhibit, featuring the aardvark, greater bushbaby, and giant fruit bat comes next. The soundtrack includes the calls of a bushbaby, western tree , and . Visitors step into an aardvark den for a unique viewing opportunity at the last viewing window.

The aardvark is specialized to eat ants and termites. Sweeping its snout from side to side along the ground, the aardvark sniffs out an nest. It digs in with its shovel-shaped , and licks up the ants and termites with its long, sticky tongue. One aardvark eats more than 50,000 insects a night!

Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this QR code to learn about Padmae, our aardvark ambassador.

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Greater Bushbaby (Garnett’s Galago)

The greater bushbaby spends the day resting in a tree

hole or among the vines, hiding from . It

emerges at night to run, climb, and leap—more than

six feet at a time—about the treetops. Large, light-

sensitive eyes help the galago know where it's going.

It’s called the greater bushbaby because its territorial

call sounds like a child's cry.

Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this QR

code to peek at a baby bushbaby.

Giant Fruit Bat (Flying Fox) The giant fruit bat roosts in large colonies, up to 1,000 individuals, during the day. Just after sunset, it heads out to forage for ripe fruits such as figs and mangos and blooming flowers. It relies on its keen sense of smell for locating food. As the bat feeds and flies throughout the forest, it pollinates and disperses seeds, helping to regenerate plant growth in the ecosystem.

Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this QR code to learn about the giant fruit bat.

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Southern Brazilian Ocelot

Just beyond the aardvark den, visitors come upon the

Southern Brazilian ocelot exhibit. Here the Mayan

ruins carry through into the public viewing area along

with fabricated trees with leafy branches. Visitors can

see animal tracks in the ground and hear the sounds

of a South American rainforest at night, including an

ocelot, agouti, spectacled owl, common pootoo, and a

poison dart frog.

Here is the first of four flat screens on which visitor-

created digital species ID signs are displayed on a

rotational basis. Visitors are encouraged to create

these signs as part of the Saving Species Wild Cat

Campaign at the interactive computer kiosks they

encounter later in the rotunda area.

Decorated with dark splotches and stripes, the

ocelot’s golden coat blends in with patches of light that break through the forest canopy. With eyesight six times better than ours, the ocelot has no trouble spotting prey as it patrols the forest floor at night. The ocelot requires that supports a plentiful prey population and provides cover from which to hunt prey. Unfortunately, suitable habitat is disappearing and being divided into small patches. Mortality on roads that cut through habitat also poses a major threat to . Creating safe corridors between patches of habitat will be essential to a future in the wild for the ocelot.

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Burmese Python

Across from the ocelot on the other side of the hall, there is a new Burmese python exhibit that includes a

pool.

One of the largest snakes on Earth, the Burmese

python seeks out prey through scent and heat detection. It grabs prey in its jaws, coils its body around the victim, and tightens its grip until the prey suffocates. Stretching its mouth open wide, the python swallows its prey whole.

The Burmese python spends a good deal of time in the water and can stay submerged up to 30 minutes at a time.

Black-footed Cat Next is the black-footed cat exhibit, which features a visitor-created digital ID sign.

One of the smallest wild cats, the black-footed cat rests during the day among the bushes or in a abandoned by an aardvark or . Nocturnal, small, shy, and vulnerable, black-footed cats are rarely seen in the wild. It emerges at night to stealthily stalk its prey under the cover of darkness, flattening itself to the ground and taking advantage of any hiding places along the way.

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Sand Cat

The last species exhibited prior to the transition into

the interactive rotunda area is the sand cat, which

also features a visitor-created digital ID sign.

The sand cat is equipped for life. Large ears

radiate heat. Covered with hair, its footpads are

insulated from the hot sand. During extreme heat, the

sand cat cools off in a burrow. The sand cat does not

need to drink often as it gets enough moisture from

its prey. When threatened, the sand cat relies on its

tan coat to blend in with the desert landscape.

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Saving Species Wild Cat Campaign Wall Before entering the rotunda, visitors encounter the Southern Brazilian Ocelot Conservation Saving Species Wild Cat Campaign wall. A photo collage A Brazilian ocelot population is being established in displays images of a variety of cat species. Four flat AZA-accredited institutions to be cooperatively screens are tucked into the collage to provide a dynamic managed in combination with captive ocelots component whereby short video clips, poems, quotes, maintained in Brazilian . To help achieve this goal, and other content are displayed. The message is that CREW scientists develop innovative reproductive wild cats, even the small ones, play a vital role in nature strategies involving , in vitro and that the Zoo is working to protect them. fertilization, sperm and embryo cryopreservation, and Conservation programs for the five small cat species the embryo transfer. We have successfully applied these Zoo works with in particular are highlighted. reproductive tools to produce healthy offspring from founder animals housed in Brazilian zoos while The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the improving the genetic management of Brazilian ocelots world’s leaders in small cat conservation through our currently maintained in U.S. zoos. research efforts at CREW, breeding programs in the Cat House, education initiatives with small felids, and The Brazilian Ocelot Consortium (BOC), a partnership financial support for in situ projects. Read about some involving the Ocelot Species Survival Plan (SSP), ten U.S. of the Zoo’s ongoing efforts to broaden basic zoos (including the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden), knowledge of small cat biology, connect captive and and a Brazilian non-governmental conservation wild cat populations, and conserve these imperiled organization, the Associação Mata Ciliar, works to small felids in their natural environment. provide professional training to Brazilian colleagues, improve of Brazilian ocelots, educate the local populace about ocelots, and restore degraded ocelot habitat adjacent to a large nature reserve.

Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this code and learn more about how the Zoo is saving ocelots.

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Pallas’ Cat Conservation Fishing Cat Conservation Research at CREW and the National Zoological Park In 2004, the Fishing Cat SSP, the Cincinnati Zoo & established that Pallas’ cats have a pronounced Botanical Garden, and several other AZA institutions reproductive seasonality controlled by light exposure began funding field surveys by Thai biologist Namfon and that newborns are extremely susceptible to Cutter to search for fishing cats in prime areas infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma. Improved in southern . After three of camera reproductive and disease management based on these in three different protected areas, Namfon findings has enabled the captive population to grow finally obtained her first photograph of a wild fishing cat from 20 cats at seven institutions in 1996 to more than in the Thale Noi Reserve. These data on the growing 50 cats in 15 zoos today. Another key to this success scarcity of wild fishing cats were instrumental in the was comparative health studies with wild Pallas’ cats in recent reclassification of fishing cats as ‘endangered’ on Mongolia. Research conducted by CREW collaborator the IUCN Red List. With further support from the Zoo, Dr. Meredith Brown determined that Pallas’ cats are Namfon continues her camera trap surveys for fishing rarely exposed to Toxoplasma in the wild and likely lack cats in . Visit the Fishing Cat Project web strong immunity to this parasite. site for the latest information at www.fishingcatproject.info. As an extension of this earlier study, a radiotelemetry project was initiated by colleagues at the Mongolian Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this code Academy of Sciences and Bristol University to gather and see our fishing cat in action. the first in-depth ecological data about this cat species. In conjunction with this field research, CREW scientists, in collaboration with a Mongolian PhD student at the National University of Mongolia, have been conducting reproductive evaluations of wild male Pallas’ cats to learn more about their natural reproductive biology and to freeze valuable semen for use with genetic management. In an ongoing study, CREW scientists are using this frozen semen for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer procedures with Pallas’ cats in U.S. zoos to produce new founders for the captive population (without removing additional cats from the wild).

Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this code and learn more about the Pallas’ cat program.

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Sand Cat Conservation In 2004, sand cats were added to our founder population following the importation of four breeding pairs from Qatar by the Living Desert Zoo in . Black-footed Cat Conservation Although these new founders provided a substantial In a field research project being conducted in boost to sand cat , the small size (~35 collaboration with the McGregor Museum, San Diego cats) of the SSP population requires improved breeding Zoo, University of Illinois and Wuppertal Zoo, wild black- management as well as the periodic introduction of footed cats are live-trapped in South to collect more founders over the next 50 years. CREW scientists, blood for disease and dietary analysis and semen for working in collaboration with the Living Desert, other sperm banking before release back into the wild. U.S. zoos and the Zoo in the United Arab Subsequent field excursions over the last few years Emirates, are attempting to address both of these have incorporated night spotting and netting of wild management needs. A two- research study funded cats into the capture repertory with improved results. by the Morris Animal Foundation supported our application of fecal hormone analysis and semen With grant funding provided by the Morris Animal evaluation to characterize reproductive traits in Foundation, CREW recently characterized the basic sand cats to help zoos to optimize natural breeding. In reproductive biology of the black-footed cat for the first an ongoing project, semen was collected from four time, using techniques such as fecal hormone analysis male sand cats at the Al Ain Zoo, frozen and then and semen collection and evaluation. Semen samples imported to be used for in vitro fertilization and embryo collected from captive cats in this zoo-based study also transfer procedures with female sand cats in U.S. zoos. were used to assess different methods for Any offspring that are produced will represent new cryopreservation as well as the development of in vitro founders for the SSP population - without requiring the fertilization procedures with frozen semen. This new transoceanic transport of living sand cats from the knowledge should allow us to use the frozen samples . from wild black-footed cats in South Africa for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer with the captive Visitors can use their smart phones to scan this code population, producing genetically valuable offspring and watch our sand cats on the prowl. without bringing more males into . Learn more about the latest efforts of the Black-footed Cat Working Group at http://black-footed-cat.wild-cat.org/.

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Bobcat Entering the rotunda, the atmosphere is still nocturnal, but the night noises soundtrack is replaced by a more subtle soundscape. The first exhibit on the right is the bobcat.

Bobcats have relatively short but powerful front limbs, a flexible spine, and muscular hind limbs that work together to make it quick, agile and strong. While they generally hunt animals much smaller than themselves, have been known to take down prey weighing up to 10 times their own body weight.

Bobcats often use ledges, bluffs and rocky outcrops as shelter from weather and places to rest and raise young.

Fishing Cat Next is the fishing cat exhibit, which features a visitor- created digital ID sign. Here guests can meet a zookeeper and witness the fishing cat’s supreme aquatic hunting skills as it dives after minnows. A monitor above the viewing window also shows footage of a fishing cat in action.

The majority of the fishing cat’s diet consists of fish and other aquatic creatures. Hunting methods include scooping prey out of the water with its paws and catching prey while swimming. They have been observed to swim underwater and attack unsuspecting water birds from below as they surface.

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Bat-eared Fox Continuing to the left of the fishing cat, visitors encounter the bat-eared fox. Emerging at dusk from an underground den, the bat-eared fox prowls for prey. It tends to hang out near herds of zebra, buffalo, and other large mammals that attract insects. Listening intently with its five-inch long ears, the fox can detect a termite chewing grass or a beetle larva burrowing underground.

Visitors can use a smart phone to scan this QR code and

learn more about the bat-eared fox.

Fennec Fox Next comes the fennec fox exhibit. The smallest fox, the fennec fox has the largest ears relative to body size of any canid, reaching lengths of up to six inches. In addition to enhancing the fox’s sense of hearing, the huge ears also act as “radiators,” allowing it to regulate its body temperature in the hot desert. The soles of the fennec fox’s feet are covered with fur, an adaptation for walking across hot sand.

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Caracal

Then to the left of the rotunda entrance, visitors

encounter the caracal exhibit.

The purpose of the caracal’s characteristic long black

tufts is still debated. They may enhance facial

expressions and are used as signals in communication.

Another theory is that the ear tufts contribute to the

caracal’s hearing ability. In any case, the caracal’s tufts

are longer than on bobcat and lynx.

The caracal is able to leap nearly 10 feet into the air

from a standing start to bat down birds.

Bearcat Next to the caracal is the bearcat exhibit. Also known as the binturong, the bearcat is agile like a cat in the canopy and less adept on ground, walking flat-footed like a . Spending most of its time in the trees, the bearcat moves slowly and skillfully along branches at night while foraging for fruit and small animals.

Visitors can use a smart phone to scan this QR code for a look at a baby bearcat walkabout.

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Tayra The last animal exhibit displays a tayra. The tayra is a member of the family, which also includes , , and .

Tayras are both terrestrial and arboreal. On the ground, they run and bounce with the back arched and the tail along the ground. In the trees, they climb and move swiftly, using the tail for balance. take shelter in tree hollows, underground , or in tall grasses.

Saving Species Wild Cat Campaign Interactive Kiosks A poem wraps up the Night Hunters experience as Interactive computer kiosks invite visitors to participate visitors prepare to exit the building: in the Saving Species Wild Cat Campaign (funded by the National Science Foundation). Choosing from a MORNING light, selection of images and text, guests create a digital Early birds PEEP. identification sign for several cat species that will be displayed on a rotational basis at those species’ BELLIES full, exhibits. They have the option to email their creations Night creatures SLEEP to friends and family and encourage them to participate TILL next night. in wild cat conservation, too.

Outside, visitors are reminded that night hunters give way to day stalkers…Then they may continue on to the

cougar exhibit and the rest of the Cat Canyon loop once it is open.

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Behind the Scenes Area

Modifications have been made to the behind the scenes area behind the sand cat and black-footed cat exhibits will enable Zoo staff to give special guided tours, including during Nocturnal Adventures overnight programs.

Features include: · The access doors to the sand cat and black- footed cat exhibits

· Life-size cutouts of several cat species along the wall: tiger (8ft), cougar (5ft), ocelot (2.5ft), domestic cat (20in), black-footed cat (14in).

· The keepers’ general office area and lockers. A dry-erase board will enable program participants and keepers to leave notes, questions, and so on for each other.

· A new kitchen area.

· A new animal holding room for program animals. At times, visitors may be able to enter the room and trained guides may be able to handle certain animals and give an impromptu animal demo.

· An employee bathroom that is reserved for emergency use only by program participants when touring behind the scenes.

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Cougar Exhibit Upon exiting the Night Hunters building, visitors may choose to continue along the Cat Canyon loop once it is Visitors follow cougar paw prints in the stamped fully open. concrete right up to the large viewing window and observe how they continue into the enclosure. A trellis Native American cougar petroglyphs and a selection of provides some shade. Keeper encounters will take place the many different names have been given here, during which they will cue the cougars to show off across their expansive range are portrayed along the their amazing jumping abilities. Several interpretive rocky path to the cougar enclosure. signs provide more information.

Cougar. Puma. Mountain lion. Panther. One-who- Visitors can use their smart watches. Painter. Catamount. Ghost cat. Gato monte. El phones to scan this QR codes leon.Leopardo. Cuguacuarana. Ko-icto. Mexican lion. Deer to watch the cougar cubs, tiger. Erielhonan. Suasuarana. Klandagi. Mountain Joseph and Tecumseh, screamer. Silver lion. King cat. Purple feather. Brown tiger. Sneak cat. Bexookee. Doyadukubichi. Kinoosaawia. Tohon. at play when they were younger. Tukwet. Chimaga. Igmutaka. Tladatsi. Peshewa.

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Future Cat Canyon

Construction on the rest of the Cat Canyon loop begins in August 2011 and is scheduled to open in 2012. At this third viewing area, visitors are encouraged to Detailed interpretive planning and design is still in compare themselves to a life-size cutout of an adult progress. An outline of what is to come follows (subject tiger. They are also invited to view their camera trap to change). pictures along with other visitors’ alongside pictures taken of tigers in the wild on a digital flat screen. The Tiger Exhibit camera trap method of scientific study is interpreted at Following along the path away from the cougar exhibit this kiosk. Visitors may be able to email their photos to towards the Malayan tiger exhibit, the landscape begins their family and friends as part of the Saving Species to resemble more of an Asian forest, including Wild Cat Campaign. This area has great potential for plantings. Visitors walk across a suspension bridge to keeper encounters as well as a facilitated Wild Discover approach the first of three tiger viewing decks. This first Zone. deck provides an elevated view of the first of two tiger yards. To the left side of the deck there is a waterfall. To Snow Leopard Exhibit contribute to the mystery and majesty of this first sight Visitors backtrack to the second tiger viewing deck and of the tigers, visitors can read William Blake’s poem, follow the loop path towards the outdoor snow leopard “The Tyger”. exhibit. Interpretive signs along this path encourage visitors to compare their long jump with that of the As visitors continue along the path towards the second large cats. Around the corner, visitors come to the first viewing deck on the corner of the first tiger yard, they of two viewing windows into the snow leopard exhibit. are caught by a camera trap. A motion sensor triggers a Nearby there is a climbing rock play area where kids can tiger roar and a camera flashes and snaps a picture. role play as snow leopards. Visitors will be able to see their picture as part of an interactive kiosk on tiger research at the third viewing A little further down the path, visitors come to a large, deck. Other tiger signs appear along the trail, such as covered viewing deck where there is potential for pugmarks and marks. keeper encounters. Signs interpret the special adaptations of these cats for life in the mountains, and The view at the second deck is from the corner of the the conflicts that occur between people and large first tiger yard. Visitors can see the waterfall above and predators. to the left. An interpretive sign points out some of the tiger’s adaptations for hunting. Moving on from the snow leopard exhibit, visitors can complete the loop via a short set of steps that leads The path continues along the border of the two them directly back into the entry area of Cat Canyon. adjoining tiger yards, ending in a large covered viewing Alternately, they can avoid the stairs by retracing the deck. Large glass windows provide a great view of both path that leads back up to the cougar exhibit and travel yards simultaneously. A stream runs between the two back to the entry area that way. Visitors exit Cat Canyon yards and a pool with underwater viewing is located in the same way they entered. the second yard.

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Resources

Check these out for more information:

Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids. 2010. David W. Macdonald and Andrew J. Loveridge. Encyclopedia of Mammals, Second Edition. 2006. David W. Macdonald. Wild Cats of the World. 2002. Mel and Fiona Sunquist.

Black-footed Cat Working Group, http://black-footed-cat.wild-cat.org/. Felid TAG, www.felidtag.org Fishing Cat Project, www.fishingcatproject.info Small Cat Signature Project, www.cincinnatizoo.org/earth/CREW/SmallCatSignatureProject.html

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