MARCH 2017 A publication of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Parting with Plastics Reducing Disposable Plastic in Our Operations GREEN PURCHASING AND INVESTING SUSTAINABILITY SPARKS BY THE NUMBERS Adopting Green Purchasing ENGAGEMENT, CREATIVITY AND ACTION Climate Change and Investing Strategies Sustainability Programs Engage Staff and Going Green in 2015 Interns and Volunteers March 2017 Features 20 24 30 Parting with Plastics: Green Purchasing Sustainability Sparks Reducing Disposable and Investing Engagement, Creativity Plastic in Our Operations Association of Zoos and and Action Disposable plastics are Aquariums-accredited What do team building, everywhere and can have facilities tie reduced cost savings and urban devastating impacts on purchasing of carbon- gardening have in common? wildlife. Since mass production producing electricity They are all outcomes of started in 1950, plastics have to concerns about sustainability programs and permeated our world at a global warming and the initiatives at Association frenetic pace with roughly 300 acidification of oceans. of Zoos and Aquariums- million tons manufactured Others are making accredited facilities that have worldwide in 2013. packaging changes to successfully engaged staff, reduce their contributions BY WANDA EVANS interns and volunteers. to landfills and to address BY EMILY BRYANT the dangers to wildlife that are posed by improperly discarded plastic. BY TOM PRICE March 2017 | www.aza.org 1 7 16 60 Member View Departments 7 Conservation Spotlight 11 Reintroduction 15 By the Numbers 40 Faces & Places Utah’s boreal toads are taking ABQ BioPark released Climate change and going 43 Calendar conservation to the classroom 54,000 Rio Grande silvery green in 2015 minnows in 2016 45 Exhibits 8 Art 16 Research This month’s selection of Elementary school 12 Grant 46 Announcements students create, auction Mystic Aquarium Receives what has been published sculptures inspired by grant for collaboration 49 Advertiser Index 17 Green Denver Zoo exhibit with Marine Science Magnet High School Detroit Zoological 60 Births & Hatchings 9 Conservation Society recognized for sustainability efforts Drought prompts 13 Conservation Grants About the cover Tennessee Aquarium Fund Update Pink-backed Pelican to launch rescue of Conservation through endangered Barrens coexistence in Kenya’s topminnows South Rift Valley 10 Animal Health 14 Green Tales A proactive training Data drives progress and program involving voluntary we need your help ultrasound and x-ray © Sinclair Miller, The Maryland Zoo The © Sinclair Miller, VISIT US ONLINE Editorial policy: Connect is published by the aza.org Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the LIKE US ON FACEBOOK advancement of zoological parks and aquariums for facebook.com/Association conservation, education, scientific studies and recreation. Issued to members OfZoosAndAquariums 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 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER opinions and policies of AZA. twitter.com/zoos_aquariums Mission: Connect is a forum for promoting AZA’s mission by highlighting zoo E-MAIL THE EDITOR and aquarium trends, industry initiatives, conservation efforts and member [email protected] 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 requirements are available upon request. March 2017 | www.aza.org 3 EDITOR Tim Lewthwaite GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lisa Cadigan, Cadigan Creative ADVERTISING Gina Velosky (301) 562-0777, ext. 254, [email protected] EDITORIAL BOARD Thom Benson | Tennessee Aquarium Julie Larsen-Maher | Wildlife Conservation Society Tim Lewthwaite | Editor The Art of Communication Kristin L. Vehrs | Executive Director Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facilities have public relations, marketing, education and communications teams skillfully plying their trade throughout the year—educating a wide range of audiences about the vital role our facilities play in communities, wildlife conservation and animal welfare. President and CEO Whether it is on social media, in the Dan Ashe press, in classrooms, on grounds or in Executive Director print, these professionals must navigate Kristin L. Vehrs General Counsel an ever changing landscape to ensure our Jack Keeney key messages resonate with our diverse Chief Operating Officer audiences. One key to success is to be open Jill Nicoll to innovation and to be aware of what Senior Vice President of Conservation and Science Debborah Luke, PhD might touch people in new ways. Senior Vice President of External Affairs Last year, the Smithsonian National Rob Vernon Zoo participated with the Washed Ashore Senior Vice President of Finance Phil Wagner project to exhibit a series of dramatic, even SAFE Project Manager beautiful, sculptures that were created Jackie Ogden, PhD from trash that has been collected from Vice President of Animal Programs Candice Dorsey, PhD our nation’s shorelines. This powerful Vice President, Conferences and Membership art form delivered a strong message Melissa Howerton about plastic pollution in our oceans and Vice President of Congressional Affairs waterways. Other facilities have used Jennifer Keaton Vice President of Accreditation Programs poetry, music and art to supplement more Denny Lewis traditional methods of communicating Vice President of Federal Relations with our guests and other wider audiences. Steve Olson For a full listing of AZA’s staff, visit www.aza.org/staff Many of these efforts have involved partnerships with other cultural institutions. Collaborations with like-minded organizations can amplify our messages and help us reach AZA BOARD OF DIRECTORS new audiences. Chair AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are trusted voices on wildlife conservation and Dennis W. Kelly | Director, Smithsonian National Zoological Park animal welfare issues, but we cannot stand pat, the work we are involved in is too important. Chair Elect Communication done well is an art, and art done well is a powerful form of communication. Jim Breheny | Executive Vice President and General Director, Zoos and Aquarium, Wildlife Conservation Society, Jonathan Little Cohen Director of the Bronx Zoo Vice Chair Gregg Hudson | Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Zoo Management, Inc. Past Chair | Dennis Kelly Steve Burns Director, Zoo Boise Directors Director, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Jim Anderson | Executive Director, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo Bob Chastain | President & CEO, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Suzanne M. Gendron | Executive Director Zoological Operations and Education Ocean Park Corporation Chris Gentile | Director, Western North Carolina Nature Center Christopher Kuhar, PhD | Executive Director, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo John Lewis | Zoo Director, Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Steve Marshall | Zoo Director, El Paso Zoo Adrienne Rowland | Director, Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Peggy Sloan | Director, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher 4 www.aza.org | March 2017 Midwest Tongs has a complete line of Professional Cleaning Equipment Thanks to Lakeside Nature Center for their support. Midwest Tongs was asked to design a line of The Professional Cleaning Tools TRANSFORMER that are aesthetically pleasing, safe, and effective when ™ used in beautiful zoo enclosures. 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Netting animal to be carried in net with rated 100-lb, burst strength. 3 sewn-on handles. • Collapsible handle for easy • Made from aircraft grade materials. transporting. • Extension handle available. 1-877-US-TONGS 4 www.aza.org | March 2017 TONGS.com 049F-Connect Full Pg Ad.indd 1 5/10/16 2:06 PM Conservation Spotlight Utah’s Boreal Toads: Taking Conservation to the Classroom By Chris Schmitz © Utah’s Hogle Zoo © Utah’s In Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah’s Hogle Increasing Awareness Zoo’s biggest local conservation program to Protect Toads is monitoring the state’s amphibian Few people in Utah have ever seen these populations, particularly boreal toads toads, or know about their existence until (Anaxyrus boreas). Boreal toad populations they visit them at the Zoo. Toads are often have declined severely in the last two not considered charismatic, particularly decades from habitat disruption,