32085 8/8/06 8:28 AM Page C1 RIVERBANKsRIVERBANKs september-october 2006 32085 8/8/06 8:28 AM Page C2 contents Volume XXV, Number 5 Riverbanks is published six times a year for The Observation Deck 1 members of Riverbanks Society by Riverbanks Zoological Park and Botanical Who’s Afraid of the Black-Footed Cat? 2 Garden, Columbia, SC Plan Your Visit 4 Understanding the Birds and the Bees 6 Riverbanks Park Commission James E. Smith, Chairman In the Kitchen with Chef Marcus 9 Ella Bouknight Heavenly Hibiscus 10 Lloyd Liles J. Carroll Shealy Riverbanks Adventures 14 Jan Stamps Tracey Waring Riverbanks ZOOfari 16 Robert P. Wilkins Lawrence W. Johnson, Charismatic Critters 20 Chairman Emeritus Dreamnight at the Zoo 22 Riverbanks Society In the Know 24 Board of Directors Fall Bulb Sale 26 H. Perry Shuping, President Jeremy G. Wilson, Vice-President Sharon Jenkins, Secretary Mike Brenan Donna Croom Robert G. Davidson William H. Davidson II Thomas N. Fortson Steve Graves Mary Howard Mark D. Locke, MD, FAAP Richard N. McIntyre Dorothy G. Owen C.C. Rone, Jr. Bud Tibshrany James S. Welch 10 Roslyn Young Anny Zalesne Don F. Barton, Director Emeritus 2 Riverbanks Senior Staff Satch Krantz Executive Director Riverbanks Magazine Kim M. Benson Dixie Kaye Allan Director of Human Resources Executive Editor/Art Director George R. Davis Director of Finance Monique Jacobs Ed Diebold Editor Director of Animal Collections Dargan Davis Kevin Eubanks Copy Editor Director of Guest Services Ashley Walker Chris Gentile Graphic Artist Director of Conservation Education Larry Cameron Eric Helms Photographer Director of Risk Management & Facilities 6 Melodie Scott-Leach Director of Horticulture Tommy Stringfellow Director of Marketing Subscriptions to Riverbanks are $24 per year. Members of Riverbanks Keith Benson, DVM Society are entitled to one free subscription along with free admission and Senior Veterinarian guest passes, discounts at Zoo & Garden gift shops, invitations to special Andy Cabe events and much more. To subscribe to Riverbanks or to join the Society, Curator of Horticulture call 803.779.8717 x1111 or x1239. John Davis Riverbanks Zoological Park and Botanical Garden is accredited by the Curator of Mammals American Zoo and Aquarium Association and the American Association Scott Pfaff of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta. Curator of Herpetology Martin Vince Curator of Birds Front cover: Black-Footed Cat Photograph by Larry Cameron 32085 8/8/06 8:28 AM Page 1 The Observation Deck une 21, 2006, was an their primary reason for visiting Columbia), then we have J historic day for Riverbanks had a $4 million impact over the past 32 years. For every Zoo & Garden as we additional dollar they spend in the Columbia area buying welcomed our 20 millionth visitor, gasoline, eating in restaurants, staying in hotels and Angel Caudle and her family from stopping at a convenience store, the figure naturally Monroe, North Carolina. goes up—$5 equals $20 million, $10 equals $40 million. While the details of that day are I will leave it to you (and our community leaders and covered elsewhere in this issue, I elected officials) to determine a reasonable number. want to take a moment to reinforce Regardless, the impact of Riverbanks on our community the significance of this incredible is significant indeed. milestone. As Riverbanks’ Kudos are certainly in order for those visionary men executive director, I am frequently and women who, over 35 years ago, worked so tirelessly asked by local elected officials to to bring a zoo to Columbia. Their only motivation was to quantify the Zoo’s economic impact on our community. entertain and educate the youth of Columbia through the I have learned to hate this question, because there is no development of a small children’s zoo on the banks of the “right” answer. Tourism officials, market researchers and Saluda River. Their efforts have paid dividends far beyond university professors have spent years trying to agree on a that original vision and created one of Columbia’s most uniform economic impact formula. As a zoo director with valuable assets. 30 years of experience, I can tell you there is no such Finally, thanks to you, our valued members, whose animal. Communities and organizations are just too support has greatly contributed to the 20 millionth diverse for a one-size-fits-all formula. milestone. Keep visiting! You soon might be number I can’t tell you how many times over the years I have 21 million. attended city and county council meetings and listened to various officials claim that their festival, which clearly attracts a local audience, has a multi-million dollar impact on the community. Some of these figures are so outrageous that they defy common sense and logic. Others are more reasonable, and probably quite accurate, having been based on a study specific to the institution. For this reason, I tend to shy away from directly answering the question. Instead, I tell folks to just consider the facts and arrive at their own figure. For example, we know through visitor origin surveys (zip codes) that approximately 20% of our visitors come from out-of-state. This has held true from almost the day the Zoo opened in 1974. Therefore, 20% of 20 million equals 4 million out-of-state visitors. If each one of these people spent just $1 in the Columbia area while visiting Riverbanks (surveys indicate that for the vast majority of our out-of-state guests, seeing the Zoo and Garden was Mission statement It is our mission to foster appreciation and concern for all living things. We are dedicated to providing: ◆ the highest standards of care for our animal and plant collections. ◆ a diverse educational and high-quality recreational experience for all Riverbanks visitors. ◆ all the resources at our disposal for the conservation of the earth’s flora and fauna. 1 32085 8/8/06 8:28 AM Page 2 who’swho’s afraidafraid ofof thethe black-footedblack-footed cat?cat? By – Sara Floyd, Mammal Keeper Black-footed cats take in virtually all the moisture they need from their prey, so they hardly ever need to drink water. Walk through the Riverbanks Conservation Outpost While excellent diggers and climbers, these cats in the middle of the day, and you may pass by the often take over another animal’s burrow or an empty black-footed cat exhibit without seeing much more termite mound to use as a den instead of making than some spotted fur or a paw sticking out of a their own. Like domestic cats, black-footed cats sleep hollow log. But if you look closely, you’ll see an most of the day (up to 20 hours); and being nocturnal, animal that looks remarkably like a small house cat. most of their activity happens at night, which is why Don’t be fooled by its mild-mannered appearance. It they are usually tucked away, catching a few winks may be a member of the cat family (Felidae), yet it’s during the public hours at the Zoo. anything but tame. In fact, black-footed cats have such Black-footed cats are solitary and usually come a reputation for ferocity in their homeland of southern together for a short time only to breed. If breeding is Africa that when it comes to hunting prey, legend has successful, then about two months later they will have it they are capable of bringing down giraffes. a litter of anywhere from one to four kittens. The Such legends may be a bit far fetched, but the truth mothers take care of the young and often move them about these cats is anything but dull. Weighing in at from burrow to burrow to keep them safe from only 2-4 pounds, black-footed cats are possibly the predators like owls, snakes and jackals. When a smallest cats in the world. They get their name from predator is spotted, the mother issues an alarm call. the black soles of their feet. Being from a particularly The kittens instantly freeze and don’t move until she hot climate, they have some remarkable ways to deal issues a call of “all clear” letting them know that they with the heat: Extra fur around their soles helps to can start to make their way safely back to her. protect their feet from the hot ground, and they soak In the wild, a black-footed cat’s day primarily up virtually all of the moisture they need from their consists of looking for food, avoiding predators, prey, so they hardly ever need to drink water. searching for shelter and raising its young. In a zoo 2 32085 8/8/06 8:28 AM Page 3 setting, most of these needs are already met. So how the captive population as well as to help educate do black-footed cats spend their time in zoos? our visitors about these fascinating animals. The staff That’s where we, the keepers, come in with at Riverbanks has high hopes that we can work together something called “enrichment.” to preserve black-footed cats and their habitats in the Enrichment is basically the introduction of anything wild for many years to come. new or different that challenges an animal mentally Next time you visit Riverbanks make sure to take and physically with the aim of improving its well being an extra moment to visit Alex and Hiari in the and quality of life. Taking many forms, enrichment can Conservation Outpost and marvel at these be anything that stimulates an animal, from seeing its tenacious, giraffe-hunting cats. own reflection in a mirror and foraging for small pieces of food in a pile of straw to snacking on tasty frozen treats or knocking down a tower of cardboard boxes.