CONNECT September 2013 FEATURES 8 GETTING STARTED WITH THE AZA CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AMY RUTHERFORD AND NETTE PLETCHER 14 LEARNING THROUGH IMMERSION BRIAN L. DAVIS, PHD 20 MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE PROGRAMMING FOR A LARGER COMMUNITY MOLLIE O'NEIL 24 USING THEATRICAL CONVENTIONS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT LOCAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MELISSA PROFFITT 31 ZCOG UPDATE Devra G. Kleiman Memorial Scholarship 34 WILDLIFE CONTRACEPTION CENTER UPDATE Use It Or Lose It: The Sequel IN EVERY ISSUE 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO 6 CONSERVATION & RESEARCH 28 MEMBER NEWS 33 GREEN TALES 36 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD 37 BIRTHS & HATCHINGS ON THE COVER 47 CONSERVATION SPOTLIGHT This spring, after a 688-day gestation, the Saint Louis Zoo’s Asian elephant family wel- 48 EXHIBITS comed a new member. The female calf, named Priya, weighed 251 pounds at birth and is the third daughter for 42-year-old-mother, Ellie. Priya’s father is 20-year-old, Raja. 52 ANNOUNCEMENTS The Saint Louis Zoo has been caring for, breeding and studying elephants under the 54 MEMBER UPDATES guidance of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Elephant Species Survival Plan® (SSP) since its inception, and Priya’s birth is the result of a recommended pair- 57 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS ing based on genetic and demographic data. ASIAN ELEPHANT © RAY MEIBAUM, SAINT LOUIS ZOO 58 CALENDAR ZMED_T5UVB_AZA_FEB13.ai 1 1/11/2013 1:26 PM 2 CONNECT September 2013 ZMED_T5UVB_AZA_FEB13.ai 1 1/11/2013 1:26 PM A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO president he Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is committed to providing zoo and aquarium staff the professional development opportunities they need to advance their careers. TProfessionals in AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos come from diverse backgrounds and follow varied career paths, and it is important that the professional training opportunities AZA provides cover the range of disciplines to meet their specific needs. The AZA Professional Development program is continually expanding its available offerings through a growing list of course offerings and Learning Partners. The AZA Professional Development Certificate Program represents one of the most significant ex- pansions of AZA’s Professional Development program, combining classroom training, workshops and web-based learning opportunities to allow individuals to complete a certificate in a particular concentration. Currently there are three concen- trations from which to choose: Behavioral Husbandry, Education & Interpretation, and Management & Operations. There are plans to develop more certificate concentrations in the future. The Professional Development Committee and AZA’s Professional Development staff welcome your ongoing feedback. & AZA recently launched AZA Network, the Association’s powerful new networking and social media platform. AZA mem- bers can stay abreast of the latest AZA professional development opportunities and news by signing onto the Network and ceo checking for the regular updates that are posted there. Students enrolled in the Fall 2013 AZA Professional Development courses have already begun to utilize the Network for accessing course information, participating in discussions, and shar- ing resources. Professional development opportunities are powerful tools to build individual skills and to develop and motivate talented staff for entire organizations. I encourage you to explore the many opportunities offered through AZA’s Professional Development program. Editorial policy: CONNECT is published by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the advancement of zoological parks and aquariums for conservation, education, scientific studies and recreation. Issued to members as a free service; not available as a subscription. Mailed during the first week of the month. Articles submitted for CONNECT do not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies of AZA. Mission: CONNECT is a forum for promoting AZA’s mission by highlighting zoo and aquarium trends, industry initiatives, conservation efforts and member achievements. Copyright policy: All items appearing in CONNECT are copyright of AZA. Permission to reprint items must be obtained by contacting AZA’s Publications Department at [email protected]. Advertising policy: Advertising is available. AZA reserves the right to refuse advertising not consistent with its mission. Ad contracts are issued on an annual basis, and ads are accepted on a one, three, six, nine or 12-time basis. Deadline for insertion orders is the first of the month preceding publication. Deadline for artwork is the 10th of the month preceding publication. Rates and mechanical require- ments are available upon request. September 2013 CONNECT 3 AZA BOARD & STAFF AZA STAFF AZA BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONNECT STAFF 2012 - 2013 Tim Lewthwaite, Editor OFFICERS Lisa Cadigan, Designer, Cadigan Creative CHAIR CONNECT EDITORIAL BOARD Tom Schmid Melinda Arnold, Dickerson Park Zoo President and CEO, Texas State Aquarium Steve Feldman, Senior Vice President, External Affairs Ph: (361) 881-1242, E-mail: [email protected] Martha Fischer, Saint Louis Zoo Julie Larsen-Maher, Wildlife Conservation Society CHAIR ELECT Tim Lewthwaite, AZA Publications Manager Jackie Ogden, PhD Kristin L. Vehrs, AZA Executive Director Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts AZA STAFF Ph: (407) 938-2831, E-mail: [email protected] Jim Maddy, President & CEO Kristin L. Vehrs, Executive Director VICE CHAIR Paul Boyle, PhD, Senior Vice President of Conservation & Dennis E. Pate Education Executive Director & CEO, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium Steve Feldman, Senior Vice President, External Affairs Ph: (402) 738-2030, E-mail: [email protected] Jill Nicoll, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Organizational PAST CHAIR board & staff Planning & Operations L. Patricia Simmons Debborah Luke, PhD, Vice President President and CEO, Akron Zoological Park Animal Conservation Ph: (330) 375-2550, E-mail: [email protected] Denny Lewis, Vice President Accreditation Programs Jennifer Keaton, Vice President, Congressional Affairs DIRECTORS Steve Olson, Vice President Federal Relations Rick Barongi Jay Vestal, Vice President of Sales & Marketing Director, Houston Zoo, Inc. Phil Wagner, Vice President of Finance Ph: (713) 533-6800, E-mail: [email protected] Candice Dorsey, PhD, Director Animal Conservation Ted A. Beattie Jennifer DiNenna, Manager, Accreditation President and CEO, John G. Shedd Aquarium Jennifer Fields, Communications Coordinator Ph: (312) 692-3101, E-mail: [email protected] Allegra Formento, Marketing Assistant Jim Breheny Rachel Gauza, Citizen Science Program Specialist Executive Vice President and General Director, Zoos and Aquarium Jonathan Little Cohen Director of the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society Rebecca Greenberg, Program Assistant, Conservation & Science Ph: (718) 220-5101, E-mail: [email protected] Shelly Grow, Senior Conservation Biologist Steve Burns Director, Zoo Boise Melissa Howerton, Vice President, Conferences & Membership Ph: (208) 384-4125, x203, E-mail: [email protected] Tim Lewthwaite, Publications Manager Lynn B. Clements Nette Pletcher, Director of Conservation Education Director, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Barbara Pueschel, Board & Committees Liaison Ph: (757) 385-0241, E-mail: [email protected] Nancy Ramos, Receptionist Dennis W. Kelly Amy Rutherford, Professional Development Program Manager Director, Smithsonian National Zoological Park Ana Maria Sanchez, Controller Ph: (202) 633-4442, E-mail: [email protected] Barbara Skewes, Manager, Member Information Services Kevin Mills Sarah Sullivan, Manager, Digital Media President and CEO, South Carolina Aquarium Gina Velosky, Manager, Business Development & Marketing Ph: (843) 579-8555, E-mail: [email protected] Cheryl Wallen, Meeting Planner Craig D. Piper Director of City Zoos at the Wildlife Conservation Society Association of Zoos & Aquariums Ph: (303) 884-8763, E-mail: [email protected] 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710 John T. Walczak Silver Spring, MD 20910 Director, Louisville Zoological Garden 301-562-0777 (phone); 301-562-0888 (fax); www.aza.org Ph: (502) 238-5335, E-mail: [email protected] 4 September 2013 CONNECT 5 CONSERVATION & RESEARCH HOW DOLPHINS RESPOND TO THE USE OF A BIOPSY POLE Biopsy pole systems are commonly used to obtain tissue samples from cetaceans in-situ providing information that is vital to con- servation efforts. For example, these tissue samples can be utilized in analyses of the population genetics or the detection of certain contaminants. While this sampling technique is commonly used, its impacts on behavior and welfare have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, researchers present findings on the sampling success and behavioral response to use of the biopsy pole in dusky dolphins off the coast of Argentina. Of the 109 sampling attempts, more than 53 percent were successful in obtaining an adequate amount of tissue. Overall, behavioral reactions to the technique were mild and short-term. Animals sampled from smaller groups (often mother/calf pairs) reacted more than those swimming in larger groups, while animals engaged in active behaviors such as foraging, socializing, and traveling prior to sampling had reduced responses compared to those engaged in non-active behaviors. Taken together these findings support the effectiveness of biopsy pole systems in the cetacean conservation efforts