Spring 2021 | Member Magazine Reid Park Zoological Society ZooFriendZ is a very special circle of people who are invested in the future of Tucson’s Reid Park Zoo by donating $500 or more annually. Join ZooFriendZ Today! ONLY $42 MONTHLY! For more information, contact Gail Brown at [email protected] or (520) 881-4753. Reid Park Zoological Society 1030 South Randolph Way Tucson, Arizona 85716 P: (520) 881-4753 President & CEO Nancy J. Kluge TUCSON'S BIGGEST BABY Chief Development Officer Gail Brown Elephant 98,000-gallon pool, Director of Marketing & Events Deborah Carr calf Penzi is but her team has Director of Business Operations & CFO nearly 1 year smaller pools and Tong Cheng old — and mud wallows that Director of Human Resources Helen Smart we're not she can explore. Director of Zoo Operations exaggerating Sue Tygielski, PhD when we say Another important Chief Philanthropy Officer growth moment Diana Whitman she is one big baby! that happened 2021 Board of Directors recently for Penzi is the Society Board Penzi recently development of her tusks! Chair Foundation Board Dr. Shane Burgess Chair Nate Clark passed the 1,000-pound Penzi's care team recently felt Vice Chair mark. When Nandi was a calf, tiny tusks developing in Penzi's Cathy Hutchens Vice Chair Mica Bane she reached 1,000 pounds mouth. While it will be quite Secretary Robert Charles Treasurer about a month after her first a while before the tusks are Steve Larsen Treasurer birthday, so Penzi is outpacing visible from afar, this important Patricia O'Callaghan Secretary Bridget Stephenson her older sister by about two milestone reminds us of Past Chair Lisa Lovallo Dr. George Ball months for this milestone. Penzi's role as an ambassador Susan Beesemyer Kathy Alexander Chad Driedger for her species! Susan Beesemyer Mike Halle Penzi is very food-focused Matt Bingham Sheldon King Chad Driedger Jason Lazarow right now, and is often seen Our community loves Penzi, Neal Eckel Mike Halle trying to stuff more food in and we hope that love inspires E. Courtney Johnson Sheldon King her mouth than she can chew! conservation action to protect Steve Larsen Jason Lazarow She is learning about elephant elephants globally. Edmund Marquez Richard White manners and seeking out her own food instead of taking Standing up to poaching and Emeritus Director refusing to take part in the Denice Shepherd from the items her mother and Donna Warfield ivory trade is an important Jim & Terri Zarling sister collect for themselves. Her favorite snack right now is part of helping Penzi's wild cucumber slices! counterparts thrive. 1030 S Randolph Way See Page 11 for details on Tucson, AZ 85716 Right now, Penzi is still a little Penzi's 1st birthday bash! ZOO HOURS: hesitant to get in the herd's October-May 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. June-September 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Here's a look at the Zoo through your eyes! Tag us on social media to enter your own photos for the next issue of Zoo & You! jocey.ohphotography on IG danieljhartman on IG stephpastore on IG Daniel Plumer on FB Zoo & You 3 FLAMINGO THE NEW FLAMINGO LAGOON IS OPEN! The Chilean flamingo flock’s vibrant pink feathers will welcome you during your next visit to the Zoo! This project is part of Phase 1 of the Zoo’s ongoing 10-year Master Plan. The newly renovated space offers the flock a 50 percent increase in their total landmass and walkable water space. The new habitat features many modern comforts to help the flock thrive, including misters, a separate feeding pool, a night house, and an advanced water filtration system. As part of the move, the Zoo’s vet team performed ← a health exam on every flamingo in the flock, gently checking their weight, drawing blood, providing vaccinations, and giving each bird a physical examination. The flock is doing well in the new habitat. Zoo & You 4 A ZOO BUILT BY YOU The new Flamingo Lagoon was built by and for the community with funding coming from a combination of tax dollar funds and private donations. Board Member Mica Bane and her husband Jeff Bane are the habitat’s lead sponsors. “These wonderful and colorful birds are such a delight to observe,” Mica said, reflecting on her long- time appreciation for this colorful species. Prior to moving to Tucson, the Banes were a part of a Flamingo Club — a group of friends that travelled both the improvements for board I quickly learned this together, golfed together, the community as well as is an active, working board and had regular flamingo- the birds. “Jeff and I love and each member brings a themed parties throughout animals and feel compelled distinct skill to the group.” the year. “Over the years for future generations to have our love of this bird came to opportunities to enjoy the “Outside of the zoo we are mean a great deal to us and is family environment created involved in our community centered around friendship, by zoos,” Mica said. “This and enjoy family, friends, family, fun and many new home for our flock will travel and golf. I retired cherished memories.” present a bright welcome of in 2017 during the time of my chairmanship of the She appreciates the role color to our zoo entrance, improve the breeding area for RPZS board. These were zoos play in providing years of growth and set the similar opportunities for the our birds as well as provide much-needed water filtration foundation for the 10 Year communities they serve. Master Plan as well as the “Zoos are critical and they and night house capacity. We are thrilled to be able to help management agreement are a very affordable way with the city,” she said. “The for families to spend time in accomplishing so much for our flock.” community passing the small together as well as learn sales tax in 2017 has allowed about our environment. It is Mica has been on the Reid the board to move forward always a joy to visit the zoo Park Zoo board for a decade. with reimagining the zoo, and see families enjoying the “I met a current board adding exhibits as well as outdoors as well as hear the member who encouraged upgrading infrastructure and laughter and see the smiles me to meet with the much-needed maintenance. on children’s faces.” management team and make Jeff and I are thrilled to be When the Banes heard about an application for the board a part of this great gift to this beautiful new habitat, due to my HR and insurance the City of Tucson and our they were excited to support background. Joining the community.” Zoo & You 5 FOR THE BIRDS, LITERALLY! Conservation is most for each box successful when so they can partnerships are formed be installed and organizations work to provide the together. Reid Park Zoo ideal nesting has worked to protect both requirements native and non-native bird for each species by doing just that. species. Recently, Reid Park Zoo Additionally, received a grant from Zoo staff is Freeport-McMoRan Sierrita continuing Operations, which facilitated to develop a partnership with the AZA’s Andean for the flamingos but are at Tucson Audubon Society. As Highlands Flamingo SAFE risk due to unsustainable a result of this partnership, (Saving Animals From lithium mining, as well as a pollinator garden was Extinction) Program. Through changes in climate leading developed at the Zoo, and this program we are learning to unpredictable rainfall. nest boxes were installed to more about the three Along with its partners protect our native birds. The species of flamingo (Chilean, around the world, Reid Park pollinator garden provides James’s and Andean) that Zoo staff is developing an food and shelter, while the live in the salt flats — called educational toolkit that can 26 bird boxes will provide salars — at elevations of up be shared with other zoos nesting opportunities for to 14,000 feet in the Andes and aquariums to inform and kestrels, owls, Lucy’s warblers, mountains. Researchers engage our guests to take and brown flycatchers. have documented that these action to protect this vital Staff from Tucson Audubon salars provide vital feeding habitat. identified the best locations and nesting opportunities Zoo & You 6 Our Most Important Partner in Conservation: YOU! We can protect species are being made around the world by taking to recycle lithium action together. To protect from batteries and local bird species, we to develop more encourage you to create environmentally- a bird friendly habitat at friendly mining your home or talk to your practices. You can apartment complex about help by letting landscaping in a way that companies know provides bird habitats. you care about this Tucson Audubon Society issue. has great resources to help Lastly, you can help you get started! native and non- You can help make a native species all difference in protecting the around the world habitat of Andean Highland by decreasing flamingos by joining in efforts the amount of to reduce the need to mine fossil fuels burned for new lithium, an element through your daily actions. Burning more carbon, the thicker the found in rechargeable blanket. batteries used in electronics fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and and electric cars. Buying gas, releases carbon dioxide Actions such as not idling new electronics only when into the atmosphere. Carbon your car, supporting absolutely needed is one dioxide is a heat-trapping alternative energy, and step. As consumer demand gas that forms a blanket turning off lights when you for more sustainability in around the E arth, trapping leave the room can help! products increases, advances in the Earth’s heat.