santa barbara zoo annual2 0report03 FROM THE ZOO DIRECTOR ZOO STAFF CEO/Zoo Director Richard Block Chief Operating Officer Nancy H. McToldridge Celebrating 40 Years of History Managers 2003 marked the 40th anniversary of the Zoo. To help celebrate this Accounting Manager Carol Bedford milestone in the Zoo’s history, the Santa Barbara Historical Society Administrative Director Sue McCue Development Director Jill Muchow Rode, CFRE sponsored an exhibit on the history of the Zoo. Administrative Education Curator Kirsten Friar Director Sue McCue served as the “guest curator” for the exhibit. Assistant Education Curator Heather Johnson Facilities/Horticulture Manager Abel Landeros This exciting exhibit was accompanied by a dedicated issue of the Food Service Manager Hylan Joseph publication, Noticias (Spring 2003,V. XLIX. No.1), penned by Nancy General Curator Alan Varsik Assistant Curator Ingrid Russell McToldridge, our Chief Operating Officer. As part of the Guest Services Manager Robert C. Enright celebration, the Zoo commissioned a tile wall to recognize Zoo Marketing Director Wendy Campbell Retail Manager Laura Romano donors during the anniversary year. The eight foot by ten foot Safety/Security Manager Chris Briggs wall will be unveiled in 2004. Staff Veterinarian H. Karl Hill, DVM Coordinators Cats of Africa Opens Amusement Ride Coordinator David Velazquez Development Coordinator Pieter van Meeuwen The new lion exhibit, Cats of Africa, opened in March. Black-footed Executive Assistant Lisa Rapallo executive notes cats, a small endangered cat native to Africa, also made their Zoo Inventory Supply Coordinator Benjamin Cabrera Membership Coordinator Kimberly Roberson debut at the opening. The exhibit is designed to accommodate up Private Event Coordinator Sarah O’Connell to six adult lions, and will allow the Zoo to create a pride in Santa Veterinary Technician Toni Schriver Volunteer Coordinator Tiffani Seifert Barbara. The $2.3 million exhibit was made possible by the Harriet Administration K. Maxwell Foundation and numerous other friends of the Zoo. Lead Teller Adriana Hernandez Receptionist Carmen Alvarado Administrative Assistant Susan Davis While we were wrapping up work on Cats of Africa, we had the opportunity to replace the retaining wall in the giraffe exhibit Animal Care Animal Keeper Kristen Boeche with a new, engineered wall. The renovation refreshed the giraffe Animal Keeper Miguel Carbajal exhibit, giving the entire African plains section (from meerkats to Animal Keeper Renee Castorena Animal Keeper Maria Cordero lions) a new look. Animal Keeper Sheryl Cummins Animal Keeper Heather Davis Animal Keeper Robert Draughon Elephant Yard Underway Animal Keeper Jane Epaminonde In October the Zoo began construction of the new elephant yard. After Animal Keeper Katherine Gregory Animal Keeper Elizabeth Jenkinson packing Sujatha and Little Mac for a vacation at the Chaffee Zoological Animal Keeper Dale Kernahan Gardens (Fresno, CA), earthmovers started creating the new landscape that Animal Keeper Catherine Kimble Animal Keeper Rochelle Marsland will greet the returning elephants in 2004. Though we closed a number of Animal Keeper Samantha Moorehead pathways, guests responded favorably to our efforts to create a larger, improved Animal Keeper Kathleen Mroz Animal Keeper Julia Parker home for Sujatha and Little Mac. In addition to improved pathways for Zoo guests, Animal Keeper John Stokes the elephants’ outdoor space will grow from 5,000 to 15,000 square feet. Food Preparation Technician Angela Rodriguez Education Education Specialist Lori Krubsack New and Returning Management Staff Education Specialist Jenica Wood-Beauchamp During the year we were able to attract highly qualified individuals to new and open Facilities/Horticulture management positions. In May, we brought on an extremely enthusiastic Food Service Custodian Thurley Gage Manager, Hylan Joseph. In June we welcomed back Abel Landeros as our Facilities/ Custodian Harold Houser General Maintenance John Aldana Horticulture Manager. Abel had previously held this position for five years, but took a year General Maintenance John Strickland off. We were extremely pleased to have Abel return to the Zoo’s management staff. Groundskeeper Terry Douglas Adams Groundskeeper Issac Contreras Groundskeeper Bill Johnston 2003 was truly an exciting year and our expectations of 2004 are even greater. Next year Groundskeeper Jose Silva Groundskeeper Juan Trujillo will be more challenging, but it will be filled with even greater opportunities for the Zoo to Groundskeeper Juan Valdez enhance its very special place in Santa Barbara. I appreciate the significant contributions of Groundskeeper Daniel Villalta the Zoo’s professional staff and volunteers and the many friends who made our 2003 Food Services achievements possible. All of the Zoo’s progress and accomplishments are a direct reflection Line Supervisor Kathleen Young Kitchen Supervisor Francisco Matamoros of the quality of the dedicated staff, the enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers, and the generosity of friends and donors. Guest Services Admissions Associate Patricia Madrigal Retail Floor Supervisor Candice Harris Stock Supervisor Lindsey Kemp Richard Block Safety/Security CEO/Zoo Director Security Guard Luis Torres 2 FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT The opening of Cats of Africa in March was a wonderful way to celebrate the Zoo’s 40th anniversary. We were able to look back over forty years of continuous growth and progress at the Zoo, made possible by the generosity of our friends and supporters. We continued our work to take new projects through the City process and prepare for the next five to six years. Our future plans are ambitious! First on the list of major projects are some exciting changes to the home of Santa Barbara’s two largest residents. The renovation of the elephant yard will increase the size of the available space for Sujatha and Little Mac by three times. The public pathways surrounding the new elephant yard will all be regraded and modified to meet ADA standards. The implementation of a newly created landscape plan will enhance the guest experience. The work began this fall and we anticipate construction to be completed by the end of next summer. The dramatic changes in the landscape have already created anticipation of what promises to be a wonderful new home for Sujatha and Little Mac. Other important projects we will turn our attention to are the Discovery Pavilion (the new education facility to be located adjacent to the Courtyard), the Wave (the new food service/restroom facility on the hilltop), and the highly anticipated California condor exhibit. We also look forward to the renovation of the Channel Island fox exhibit, a project that will be constructed concurrently with the California condor exhibit. The condor exhibit will create an important facility for holding immature condors awaiting a place in the captive breeding program. It will be only the second exhibit in the world where the public can view California condors. That is quite an honor for our Zoo and a wonderful opportunity for our community! The Board is extremely excited about the future plans for the Zoo and I hope you will find them exciting too. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, I am deeply grateful for all of the friends over the years that have made the growth and improvement of this Santa Barbara treasure possible. Fred Clough Santa Barbara Zoo Board President BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Committee Directors Mr. Fred Clough, President Mr. Jon Bull Ms. Diane Pearson,Vice-President Mr. George Burtness Mr. Eldon Shiffman,Treasurer Mr. John Cleese Dr. R.J. Brillhart, Secretary Ms. Ann Daniel Mrs. Ginni Dreier Honorary Directors Mrs.Wendy Edmunds Mr.William Brace Mr. Paul Franz Mr. Arthur Henzell Mr. Peter Jordano Mr. Peter Jordano Dr. Brian Kopeikin Mr. Robert Kallman Mr.Thomas Luria Ms. Harriet Miller Director Emeritus Mr. Ken Richardson Mr.Ted McToldridge Ms. Katharine McCausland Stein Mr. Chip Turner Mrs. Sue Aldrich Wagner CONSERVATION & e DONOR’S CIRCLE RESEARCH The Santa Barbara Zoo thanks the following people for generously supporting our The Zoo continued to advance a variety of conservation and research membership program & general operating programs in 2003, enhancing the Zoo’s role among American Zoo budget by becoming members at the Curator’s and Aquarium Association (AZA) institutions as well as other Circle membership level or higher in 2003: conservation organizations. Early in the year, the Zoo initiated a relationship with the US Forest Service (USFS) to facilitate the Executive Circle ($2,500) Barbara & Paul Franz development of a Los Padres National Forest exhibit at the Zoo David Orias and to establish programmatic connections between the Zoo and the USFS, including involving Zoo staff in field conservation. Curator’s Circle ($1,000) Alyce Faye & John Cleese Roberta & Stan Fishman Zoo staff continued to support Channel Island fox conservation Sarah Heath in the field. This year, staff spent several weeks participating in Rich & Luci Janssen Lisa & Richard Knowles fox care on San Miguel Island. In addition, Zoo veterinarians Dr. Anonymous Karl Hill and Dr. Kerry Milliken made emergency visits to the John & Marty Mason islands to treat injured foxes. In another milestone for the conservation program, the Zoo published the first Channel Island fox studbook in 2003. Alan Varsik, General Curator, manages AZA’s Channel Island Fox THE PHOENIX Population Management Plan, and created the studbook in conjunction