mym letter Volume 30, Number 2 Indianapolis Zoological Society 1200 W.Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46222 (317)638-8072 BOARD OF TRUSTEES John T. Neighbours, Chairman IN THIS ISSUE: Kathryn G. Betley, Vice Chairman Dr. Robert B. Hirschman, Secretary Special Events Calendar 3 James D. Keckley, Treasurer Roy A. Shea, President & CEO Dolphins Arrive at Indy Zoo 4 David R. Bomberger Michael G. Browning Thomas B. Clark A Dream of Africa 6 Larry A. Conrad Herbert P. Crane Don B. Earnhart Wild Wolf, Tame Do 8 Dr. LaForrest D. Garner S Betty D. Givens Earl A. Goode Science for Conservation 9 John T. Hackett Ronald Hicks John R. Hodowal Kids Page: Home With the Dolphins 10 Martha D. Lamkin John L. Larson Michael S. Maurer Dr. Emery P. Miller Donors Corner 11 L. Steven Miller Thomas M. Miller Education Calendar 12 J. D. Pace, II Ronald K. Pearson Dean H. Phillips Zoo Treks Travel Opportunities 14 Thomas E. Reilly, Jr. Rudy S. P. Reyes James M. Rogers Signature 16 Randall D, Rogers Thomas H. Sams Pauline K. Selby Jeffrey H. Smulyan Sidney H. Weedman Dorothy L. White Mrs. Donald E. Wood ZOO GUILD REPRESENTATIVE Vicki Carson On the Cover: "Dolphins," from the oil painting by N.A. Noel. Read about the arrival Roy A. Shea, President & CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo's seven bottlenosed Travis W. Edenfield, Marketing Director dolphins on page 4. Zoosletter Staff Nancy Gholson Miller, Editor T. J. Banes, Media Manager Sheila Dull, Publications/Visuals Coordinator 1989 Operating Hours: Zoo Information: January 1 - March 31: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (317)630-2030 April 1 - May 31: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends Membership Information: June 1 - September 4: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (317)630-2050 September 5 - October 31: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends Group Reservations: November 1 - December 31: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (317)630-2000 Animal Adoption Information: (317)630-2020 Open 365 days per year, weather permitting 2 "Walk for the Wild" Guilds "Zoo Festival" in Benefits Animal Adoption Sixth Year Program The Indianapolis Zoo Guild's "Zoo Festival Hop into your Rockports for the First '89," benefitting the zoo's winter operating Annual "Walk on the Wild Side," sponsored fund, is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, at by Rockport Shoes and WXTZ and 6 p.m. at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. benefitting the New Zoo's animal adoption Themed the "Big Splash," the event will program. The 1.5 mile walk —about 30 offer dinner, dancing to the music of Etc. and minutes —is scheduled for Saturday, April 8, silent and live auctions. at 8 a.m. Syndicate items will include a playhouse/ Entry forms are available at participating storage shed, a tennis bracelet, a spa, a trip Rockport Shoe dealers or may be picked up and a big screen television. The door prize is at the zoo on the day of the race. A $2 entry two roundtrip tickets aboard TWA to any fee will entitle walkers to a ribbon, badge, destination in the continental United States. Amigo souvenir—Amigo is the mascot of the Adopt an Animal program —and a coupon The event is not black tie, but a jacket is offering $2 off zoo admission or a free train recommended. Tickets are $45 per person ride and carousel ride. and include beer, wine and dinner. Seating Limited for Reservations are limited to 650 guests 21 "Breakfast with the Easter So, lace 'em up and join the fun! years of age and older. The registration deadline is April 1. Tickets and programs Bunny" will be mailed in advance. For more information, contact Charlotte Seating for the zoo's first "Breakfast with Members: the Easter Bunny" is limited to the first 700 Campbell at 253-1632 or mail a check, members to respond to this announcement, See FREE PARKING COUPON payable to the Indianapolis Zoo Guild, to so don't delay! on page 15 Zoo Festival '89, Indianapolis Zoo Guild, P.O. Box 40731, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Scheduled for Saturday, March 25, with seatings at 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., the event will feature a breakfast, an Easter sing-along and visits with the Easter Bunny "Country Fair Spring and the Talking Egg. Photos with the Easter Holiday" Celebrates WXiN TO AIR ZOO SPECIAL Bunny will be available for $1.50 each. Hoosier Rural Heritage WXIN-Channel 59 will air a special on the Cost for "Breakfast with the Easter Indianapolis Zoo's bottlenosed dolphins from 8 Bunny" is $3.50 per member (you must "Country Fair Spring Holiday" will make to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, March 13. Plan to bring your membership card as usual) and its New Zoo debut on Saturday, April 22, tune in or tape it! $5.50 per non-member. Youngsters must be from noon to 4 p.m. accompanied by an adult. The event will highlight Indiana's rural Beginning March 1, tickets may be heritage with agricultural and craft purchased at the zoo admission gate or demonstrations, exhibits and activities. MasterCard/Visa reservations may be made by calling Tammy at 264-2264. Among the activities planned are butter churning, sheep herding, sheep shearing, quilting, beekeeping, hay rides and a pie- eating contest. ©© The Indianapolis Zoo Guild's In addition to the above activities, Second Annual "Steak Out" Hoosier artists and entertainers will be is heading your way. So, featured throughout the afternoon. And, mark your calendars for themed foods will be offered. Saturday, July 29, and plan So, if you enjoy arts, crafts, foods or life to join in the fun! on the farm, plan to join us as we celebrate Indiana's rural heritage in a big way! o ^ 3 DOLPHINS ARRIVE AT INDY ZOO Following Seven Months in Florida Keys by T.J. Banes, Public Relations Mananger "Dedication" is a word that rings loudly in the ears of the Indianapolis Zoo's dolphin trainers. Equally haunting is the word, "persistence." And a constant echo comes in the form of "patience." All three words equal a formula that has brought the zoo's marine mammal trainers one step closer to offering landlocked Hoosiers and their out-of- state visitors a better understanding of the life and habits of the bottlenosed dolphin. No where else in the Midwest can the public have the educational opportunity provided by the Indianapolis Zoo's two-million-gallon whale and dolphin facility — the world's largest totally-enclosed environmentally-controlled pavilion. The formula began taking shape more than a year ago when the Indianapolis Zoo applied for a permit to collect the federally-protected animals. A successful expedition was conducted from June 2-7 and by the zoo's Grand Opening Day (June 11) trainers had already begun planning for the next phase of the zoo's educational offering. The dolphins and their keepers took residence in the southern Florida Keys and began the first stage of training: getting acquainted with each other. Working on a rotation basis, Indianapolis Zoo keepers (a minimum At left: The dolphin's perpetual "smile" of three at all times) remained in makes just being around it an enjoyable Florida during the seven-month Above: Sunset in the Florida Keys is experience for many. especially spectacular when bottlenosed acclimation process. Here, they worked dolphins are in view. The Indianapolis around the clock feeding and caring for Zoo's dolphins and keepers spent seven Far right: Working with marine the dolphins in a remote open water months in Florida, awaiting the mammals such as bottlenosed dolphins facility. completion of the Whale and Dolphin means actually getting into the water with Pavilion. the animals, as demonstrated here by "When we first collected the dolphins, Marine Mammal Keeper Jacey Courneen. they'd scatter to the far corners of their holding area," says Jacey Courneen, one of the When visitors come to the New Indianapolis Zoo's trainers who remained with the dolphins during the Whale and Dolphin Pavilion, they will meet: entire seven months. "They've come a long way. Now Kimo—a male dolphin whose name means "friend" in they compete for our attention." While in Florida, Hawaiian, and who is described by his trainers as "low- the dolphins were fed approximately 18 pounds of keyed" with a gentle personality; herring and capelin four times a day. "They reached a point where they didn't come out just for the food, Nova—a female who is thought to be the oldest of the they came out to be touched. They're a lot like little group and is nicknamed " the princess" because of her kids. They're leery at first of what is different but dominance; once that becomes familiar, they're more at ease with the situation," Courneen says. Ripley—a female named because her dorsal fin is rippled, was the first dolphin to eat from the trainers' One of the first lessons taught to the dolphins is hands; that of stationing, staying in one place during feeding and training. "What they learn isn't as Sundance—a male who was at first thought to be clumsy important as getting them to respond to you. That's but received his name because of his love of basking at where the training really begins, through the surface of the water; communication," says Peter Noah, senior keeper. China—a female with a distinctive underjaw that makes The transport to Indianapolis was accomplished her look as though she is always smiling; by having the keepers, the marine mammal curator Shiloh—a female who although she is nearly the largest and a veterinarian accompany the dolphins.