FRESNO CHAFFEE ZOO 2013 ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK FRESNO CHAFFEE ZOO HISTORICAL TIMELINE THE FIRST 100 YEARS C ONTENTS FRESNO CHAffEE ZOO 1903 3-19 Historical Timeline MISSION Frederick Roeding, 3 From the Director’s Desk pictured below To inspire wonder of our with grandchild, 4 Animal Collection natural world, provide donates 75 acres 7 Measure Z of land to City an engaging learning of Fresno for 8 Education environment, and create a creation of a park 10 Global Conservation passion for conservation. 12 Veterinary Report 13 African Adventure 14 Events 16 Financial Report was another We also opened our King Cobra remarkable and Komodo Dragon exhibits, 17 Membership/Attendance 2013 year for continuing the improvements to 18 Major Donors Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and we have our Reptile Building. our great community to thank for it. With help from the County Board 19 Board of Directors / The Zoo saw a record 691,320 guests of Supervisors, Fresno City Council, visiting, up from the previous record Senior Management Fresno County Zoo Authority, (2012) by over 110,000! While most of Zoo Corporation Board, Mayor our guests were from Fresno County, Swearengin and Congressman Costa, Published by Fresno Chaffee Zoo that number included visitors from 47 we achieved a major accomplishment 894 West Belmont Avenue states and Washington DC, as well as for the future of Fresno Chaffee Fresno, CA 93728 15 countries. Visitors from Germany, Zoo, opening the way for the Zoo’s Telephone: 559-498-5910 UK, Japan, New Zealand, Argentina, 1908 expansion and the beginning of www.fresnochaffeezoo.org and many others were among our African Adventure. In the next few As per F. Roeding, a small guests. Even more importantly, we Graphic Design: Sandra M. Halvorsen years the Zoo will double in size, with zoo opens on 5 acres with had 50,000 students visit with the 13 acre African Adventure as the 2 bears and 50 birds On the Cover: their schools. first phase of this new area. Photo of Komodo dragon, Varanus In 2013, we completed the design komodoensis, by Ryan Gruber, Fresno We’re proud of our community, and of African Adventure that will bring Chaffee Zoo Reptile Keeper proud to serve our community. We’re lions, rhinoceros, cheetahs, meerkats, very grateful for the support we This page: wildebeest, African elephants, and receive through friends and families many other African species to our Photo of Common ostrich, Struthio visiting, our Zoo members, and the Zoo. In partnership with the Gar and camelus, by Franz Emerson, 2013 ZOOm remarkable support we receive Esther Tootelian Foundation and Photo Contest, first prize winner in through Measure Z. We’ll continue to California State University, Fresno, the category, Humorous strive to be the best stewards of the we opened Valley Farm; recognizing trust and resources our community the importance of agriculture to our has given us. Cleaning hail from bird community and teaching children enclosures after storm more about how their food is grown. - Scott Barton, CEO/Zoo Director 1926 2 | 2 0 1 3 A NNUAL R EPORT 2 0 1 3 A NNUAL R EPORT | 3 1929 The official opening A NIMAL C OLLECTION of Roeding Park Zoo, nationally recognized as a zoo by AZA, Association OUR ANIMAL CARE TEAM of Zoos and Aquariums was busy this year with many (formerly AAZPA) hatchings and births. Significant reproduction highlights include two 1932 keel-billed toucan chicks, three blue- Dedication Ceremony crowned motmot chicks, a blue duiker for African Lion calf, one female Eastern black and exhibit presented by white colobus baby, and the Zoo’s 21st Fresno Lions Club (background image) reticulated giraffe birth. We have added to our diverse animal population through the acquisition 1936 of a new male sloth bear to be Cat Barn exhibit is joined by a female in 2014, a constructed with young harbor seal, two new WPA (Work Projects Administration) red wolves, tentacled water T HE RENOVATION and funds for $4,000 snakes, a male warthog, a improvements in our new Valley Farm young giant anteater, two (formerly Small Wonders) were made Colobus monkey female with infant born April 14, 2013 female eland, and finally, possible through the generous support of a female Malayan Mrs. Karen Musson and the Gar & Esther ANIMAL COLLECTION tiger, who came Tootelian Foundation. Bennett & Bennett 2013 TOTALS BIRTHS to us from San Irrigation, Fresno State Plant Science Club, 1947 Diego Zoo. and Fresno County Farm Bureau donated Eldon “Curley” Blocker FISH Cownose ray 0.0.1 Species: 9 Individuals: 117 time, irrigation, manpower, crops and becomes first Zoo Foreman Southern red stingray 1.3.0 - hired from San Diego Zoo Midas cichlid 0.0.50 fruit trees. Reedley 4-H and Golden State INVERTEBRATES Green & black poison dart frog 0.2.4 Buildings built & donated the chicken coop. Species: 3 Individuals: 64 Kaiser spotted newt 0.0.3 These relationships brought together Pacific pond turtle 0.0.1 AMPHIBIANS Baker's spiny-tailed iguana 0.0.4 many different facets of the Fresno County Species: 16 Individuals: 107 Prehensile-tailed skink 0.0.1 agricultural community to make Valley Cape thick-knee 0.0.2 Farm more indicative of agriculture REPTILES Species: 66 Individuals: 179 Blue-crowned motmot 2.1.0 in the Central Valley. Along with Keel-billed toucan 0.2.0 chickens, our mule, Twyla, was added MAMMALS Sun conure 1.1.0 in 2014, and Fresno State University Prehensile-tailed porcupine 0.1.0 “Curley” Blocker and “Nosey” 1949 Species: 47 Individuals: 118 students developed and maintain a Eastern black & white colobus 0.0.1 Asian elephant “Nosey” Blue duiker 0.1.0 demonstration garden of crops important purchased with money BIRDS Reticulated giraffe born Oct. 30, 2013 Species: 75 Individuals: 227 Reticulated giraffe 1.0.0 to Fresno County agriculture. collected by the children of the Central Valley 4 | 2 0 1 3 A NNUAL R EPORT 2 0 1 3 A NNUAL R EPORT | 5 1949 2013 ACQUISITIONS Fresno Zoological Society Armenian viper 1.0.0 M EASURE Z is formed to create interest Black-spine-necked swamp turtle 1.0.0 To kick off our spring at Fresno In 2004, our community believed in the Zoo in development of the Zoo Boer goat (domestic) 1.0.0 Chaffee Zoo, the first project Colorado desert sidewinder 0.0.1 and boldly supported Measure Z with 73% of the year, supported through THE 1950’S Domestic chicken 0.6.0 of the vote. - Scott Barton, CEO/Zoo Director East African eland 0.2.0 Measure Z, was the renovation Expansion Plan for “10 of our old sea lion exhibit into In 2004, Fresno County voters The passing of Measure Z in 2004 exhibits in 10 years” opens: Eastern indigo snake 2.1.0 camel, sea lion, monkey, European Ferret 0.1.0 an engaging habitat for a pair of overwhelmingly approved Measure allowed for the following new (Monkey Island), giraffe, Fennec fox 1.0.0 young African spotted-necked Z to repair animal exhibits and exhibits and improvements: hippopotamus, flamingo, Giant anteater 0.1.0 otters. The exhibit, which opened aging Zoo facilities, and bring gorilla, orangutan, bear Goeldi's monkey 0.1.0 in March, was given a complete back more large animal exhibits • Stingray Bay (3 species) and rhinoceros exhibits through the Golden conure 0.0.1 facelift and planted areas were Green crested basilisk 0.0.5 to Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Over the • Dino Dig 1950’s and early 60’s added which the otters enjoy Harbor seal 0.1.0 past ten years, with Fresno County • Sea Lion Cove Hooded merganser 0.1.0 rolling around in after a dip on a donating just 0.1% of its sales tax 1954 hot summer day. • African River Otter Exhibit Indochinese box turtle 1.1.0 to “Save Our Zoo,” Measure Z has Sea lion exhibit opens Jersey calf 0.2.0 generated $110 million. • Horticultural improvements King cobra 0.1.0 August 17th, was the debut of • Walkway improvements Komodo dragon 1.0.0 our King Cobra, Komodo Dragon, One-third, or about $33 million, of Malayan tiger 0.1.0 and other state-of-the art Asian Measure Z revenue is being used • Reptile House renovation Mali spiny-tailed lizard 1.1.0 exhibits in the Reptile House. to support Zoo operations and Mangrove snake 0.1.0 • Tropical Treasures renovation This second Measure Z supported two-thirds, about $66 million, is Matamata turtle 0.1.0 • Bird of Prey renovation project utilizes large spaces that dedicated to capital improvement Pacific pond turtle 1.1.5 projects. Those improvements have Panamanian golden frog 3.2.1 transport guests to a Cambodian • Tiger Exhibit renovation included the renovation of older Philippine viper 2.2.0 temple that has succumbed • Upcoming African Adventure 1955 Pygmy goat (domestic) 2.0.0 to the jungle. Our eleven foot animal exhibits for new animals Bear exhibit opens Red wolf 1.0.0 king cobra, and our six year like the African spotted-neck otters Six-banded armadillo 0.1.0 old Komodo dragon, have and the creation of spectacular new Sloth bear 1.0.0 delighted our guests through exhibits like Sea Lion Cove. Southern screamer 1.1.0 Speke's gazelle 2.0.0 their naturally curious behavior General enhancements have included Sun conure 2.1.0 and their tendency to interact landscaping, the giraffe pathway, and Tentacled snake 0.0.15 with people through the exhibit the front entrance to the Zoo. Measure African Adventure will be the most Troupial 1.1.0 windows.