WINTER 2018 Wintry Wonders Holiday magic, snow monkey science & more A MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS OF LINCOLN PARK ZOO Magazine_Winter2018.indd 1 10/8/18 12:41 PM PERSPECTIVE WINTER 2018 Return Engagement / 16 LINCOLN PARK ZOO MAGAZINE VOLUME 17, NUMBER 3 • As Lincoln Park Zoo hosts the Celebrating Our FOR MEMBERS OF LINCOLN PARK ZOO second International Wildlife CONTRIBUTING Reintroduction Conference we EXECUTIVE STAFF Community share an update on this fl ourishing FEATURES In 2018, Lincoln Park Zoo celebrated its 150th anniversary. Naturally, this prompted scientifi c fi eld and how the zoo PRESIDENT AND CEO reflection on the zoo’s history and the people who made 150 years possible. That’s six Whimsical Wonderland / 7 contributes to its growth and goals. Kevin J. Bell generations and millions of families and individuals visiting and donating time, money, Experience Lincoln Park Zoo at its ZOO DIRECTOR and energy to sustain this special place. Our members, donors, trustees, and guests have cheeriest this holiday season with DEPARTMENTS Megan Ross, Ph.D. made Lincoln Park Zoo the strong institution we are today, one that continues to forge special event nights, one-of-a- new paths in animal care, conservation, science, and learning. kind gift ideas, and the enchanting Perspective / 3 VICE PRESIDENT OF The zoo still receives a portion of its funding from the Chicago Park District (CPD)— illuminations of ZooLights MARKETING AND Wild File / 4 which operated the zoo for decades until our privatization in 1995—but today more than Presented by ComEd and Invesco COMMUNICATIONS 80 percent of our day-to-day costs are funded by contributions from people like you. QQQ. Take Action With Us / 19 Beth Krauss Your generosity helps keep the zoo free and enables significant initiatives. In 2018 The Right Touch / 12 Green Scene / 20 CREATIVE DIRECTOR alone we expanded the international reach of our Urban Wildlife Information Network Since they debuted at the zoo in Lena McDonagh and ZooMonitor app, a behavioral monitoring tool that’s part of the zoo’s new Animal Zoo Family Album / 22 2015, the Japanese macaques have Welfare Science Program. We welcomed polar bear Talini and penguin chick Oliver, DIRECTOR OF had a lot to learn—and to teach— Field Note / 23 constructed Searle Visitor Center, and partnered with CPD and Little Village’s OPEN PUBLIC RELATIONS using touchscreen computers. Center for the Arts on programs that connect Chicago residents to nature. A world Jillian Braun away, our scientists in Africa led community-based conservation programs to protect Cover: Japanese macaques, commonly called “snow endangered wildlife. This November we’re hosting a global conference where pioneer- monkeys”, are among the zoo’s holiday card options. MAGAZINE STAFF ing wildlife biologists will explore challenges and opportunities around restoring wild- See page 7. Illustration by Ashley Bedore. EDITOR life back to the wild. Its planning was led by Megan Ross, Ph.D., recently named Zoo Craig Keller Director. With her passion for conservation, animal welfare, and community engage- ment, Megan is uniquely equipped to further those central aims of the zoo’s mission. ART DIRECTOR That calls for celebration. Happily, we’re preparing one you’ll take a shine to: Joann Dzon ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ, a free Chicago holiday tradition for CONTRIBUTORS you—the people who will inspire and support the zoo’s next 150 years of care, con - Emily Altimari servation, and community. Please visit lpzoo.org/support if your seasonal giving plans Sarina Benoit include a contribution to the zoo. ADOPT packages, zoo memberships, and Wish List Chris Bijalba purchases also make great gifts for family, friends, and your favorite animals at the zoo! Beth Botts Happy holidays and thank you for your support. Jillian Braun Michelle Falco Porcelain Ornament Julia Fuller Handmade by local artist Jan KEVIN J. BELL Hyson Gibbon Heyn-Cubacub. $36 PRESIDENT AND CEO Kate Silver See page 11 for purchasing details. Our Impact Depends on You Who funds Lincoln Park Zoo? You do! Zoo members, donors and visitors help cover around 80% of our annual operating costs to keep this non-profi t, privately managed institution open and free every day and support its mission of wildlife conservation, animal care and Go Online for More learning. Support the zoo at lpzoo.org/donate. Visit lpzoo.org/magazine for special web-only features— including photos, video and blog posts—inspired by the stories in this issue. 2|LINCOLN PARK ZOO WINTER 2018|3 Magazine_Winter2018.indd 2 10/5/18 7:41 PM Magazine_Winter2018.indd 3 10/5/18 7:41 PM WILDFILE: NEWS OF THE ZOO BY EMILY ALTIMARI International Animal new to the UWIN crew is Delaware’s Mountain Ghosts: Crossing Brandywine Zoo, the first Association of Protecting Snow Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited Sure, Lincoln Park Zoo's Urban Wildlife zoo member. Leopards in Information Network's (UWIN) trail “These new members represent Kyrgyzstan cameras have photographed squirrels, endless possibilities on behalf of wildlife,” The passion Lincoln Park Zoo’s keep- but moose? That's a first, thanks to our says Urban Wildlife Institute Director ers have for animals extends far beyond neighbors to the north in Edmonton, Seth Magle. “As we begin to analyze the zoo grounds. For Keeper Allycia Darst, Canada, the first international member of similarities and dierences across cities this meant traveling to the Tien Shan UWIN. The world’s largest urban wildlife and countries, we can truly begin to Mountains of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia Keeper Allycia monitoring infrastructure has gone conti-conti- understand human-wildlife conflict and to assess habitat quality for the ever-elu- Darst, who cares for nental with the City of Edmonton and the implement solutions to better coexist sive snow leopard thanks to the generous carnivores at the University of Alberta. with species right in our backyards.” support of donors Bruce and Mary Feay Kovler Lion House, Chris Bijalba Chris The multi-city study seeks to help What’s next? Currently, UWIN is Bijalba Chris by by through the Feay Scholarship Fund. traveled to Kyrgyzstan people and animals thrive together by also piloting a program in South Africa There are between 4,000 and 7,500 to help assess habitat Photo gathering and analyzing data on urban and aims to be intercontinental by 2020. Photo snow leopards in the wild across 12 coun- quality for wild snow biodiversity and, ultimately, discover- discover- Baboon pics await. Until then, it seems tries. In Kyrgyzstan, the species’ popula- leopards. Zoo donors ing and applying solutions to existing or all 12 UWIN cities have one thing in In Spine Form tion sits between an estimated 150 to 500 Mary and Bruce Feay potential human-wildlife conflicts. Also common: lots of deer. If visitor numbers spike at Regenstein individuals. Though the International generously supported Small Mammal-Reptile House it may Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) her participation in the be due to lesser Madagascar hedgehog changed the snow leopard’s status in the conservation project. tenrec babies. A prickly pair of these small wild from endangered to vulnerable last mammals was born on June 23 to their year, the wild population is still in decline first-time mom as a part of the Lesser due to poaching and retribution killings Madagascar Hedgehog Tenrec Species by shepherds for livestock loss. Survival Plan® (SSP). Turns out, snow leopards are hard to Their sex is yet to be determined, spot. Darst’s team, which included 13 sci- though zoo vets deemed them healthy entists, spent 12 days in the field hiking up after their initial examination. About a to elevations of 12,800 feet on the lookout month after birth, the babies were fully for leopards. They didn’t encounter any spined and half-adult-size. leopards, but Darst says this was expected “Hedgehog” is actually a misnomer and the expedition was still a success. in the species’ name. Tenrecs belong to The team encountered evidence of snow a dierent taxonomic family and sepa-sepa- leopard prey species—ibex goats, argali rately evolved a similar appearance and sheep, marmots, and snowcock pheas- defensive adaptation: rolling into spiny ants—in 23 of the 34 two-by-two-kilome- Darst Allycia by Photos UWIN membership (as of early October, 2018) spheres for protection from predators. ter areas they surveyed, indicating these This tenrec subspecies is native to the areas were viable habitat for the stealthy New Visitor Center Opens • Chicago, Illinois: Lincoln Park Zoo’s • Denver, Colorado: University of forests of Madagascar. Tenrecs, primarily predators. The trackers also encountered Urban Wildlife Institute Colorado Denver Lincoln Park Zoo is free and open 365 days a year, providing 3.6 million annual visitors nocturnal, communicate through touch, snow leopard tracks likely belonging to a • Indianapolis, Indiana: The Center • Austin, Texas: St. Edward’s University with access to the wonders of wildlife. We needed a visitor center to match. This fall, scent, and even echolocation clicks. female and a cub. for Urban Ecology at Butler • Long Beach, California: California the new Searle Visitor Center will become the welcoming gateway for guests entering Curator Dan Boehm reports that the Looking back on the trip, Darst says, University State University Long Beach the zoo on the east side. youngsters have been climbing on tree “As an animal keeper, I obviously feel a • Madison, Wisconsin: University of • Los Angeles, California: National The $9 million center, designed by Ross Barney Architects, will house restrooms and branches and exploring their exhibit. great connection to the animals in my Wisconsin-Madison Park Service a Member Lounge, and be a guest services hub with informational kiosks, stroller and Their dad remains behind-the-scenes, as care.