MARCH/APRIL 2017 MEMPHISZOO.ORG EXZOOBERANCE is a bimonthly Memphis Zoological Society publication providing information for friends of the Memphis Zoo. Send comments to MZS, 2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, TN 38112, or call (901) 333-6500 or log onto memphiszoo.org VOL. XXVII, No. 2 MARCH/APRIL 2017 Our Mission Connecting people with wildlife Memphis Zoo, Ya Ya and Le Le are trademarks of the Memphis Zoo. Memphis Zoological Society Board of Directors as of June 2016 Officers DIANE SMITH, Co-Chair GENE HOLCOMB, Co-Chair DOROTHY KIRSCH, Secretary RUSSELL T. WIGGINTON, JR., Treasurer THOMAS C. FARNSWORTH III, Vice Chair JOSEPH C. DEWANE, M.D., Past Chair Directors W. LYNN CARSON SAMANTHA BOGGS DEAN DELISA EDDINGS DAVID HOPKINS HENRY A. HUTTON MARIA LEGGETT JASON MAYKOWSKI SCOTT MCCORMICK JOYCE A. MOLLERUP BRANDON GARROTT MORRISON CAROL W. PRENTISS JERRY SHORE RICHARD W. SMITH KELLY H. TRUITT MARIO L. WALKER BYRNE WHITEHEAD Honorary Lifetime Directors DONNA K. FISHER ROGER T. KNOX SCOTT P. LEDBETTER SENATOR JAMES R. SASSER REBECCA WEBB WILSON Ex Officio DR. CHUCK BRADY, Zoo President and CEO BILL MORRISON, City Council Representative One In A Million Credits LAURA DOTY 4 Editor/Writer Edzoocation MANGAN HOLCOMB PARTNERS Art Director 10 Creature Feature BRITNEY BOSWELL Contributing Artist 7 Kid’s Page JENNIFER COLEMAN Copy Editor 2017 Special Events 12 TOOF PRINTING and Calendar Printer 8 Exzooberance Paper generously donated by International Paper Employees ZOO ADMISSION HOURS March – October 16 • 9 a.m. – 5p.m. October 17 – February • 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Grounds close one hour after last admission Membership Zoo closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Goes Green! The Memphis Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is a member Don’t forget, membership cards are of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. now printed at the Zoo when you Wanna talk? Give us a buzz. © 2016 Memphis Zoo arrive. These will no longer be mailed. [email protected] 2 MEMPHISZOO.ORG EXZOOBERANCE 3 n October 2006, Katie Campbell (now Katie Madere) was en her mother and two friends to the white sandy beaches of Destin, route to the Memphis Zoo from the University of Mississippi Florida. with her newfound Kappa Delta sorority sisters for a freshman After graduating from Ole Miss, Katie moved to the Bluff City pledge retreat. The day was supposed to be filled with getting- to attend graduate school for speech pathology at the University to-know-you icebreakers, sisterhood-bonding activities and of of Memphis. As a result, Katie met Joey Madere through a course, animal sightings. But for Katie, it classmate. Not long after, wedding bells would turn out to be so much more. began to ring, leading the Missouri native IAs she hopped off the bus and headed back to the Zoo to celebrate yet again—this for the Zoo entry gate, Katie walked briskly time, for her wedding day. to catch up with a friend, passing a girl in The traditional wedding ceremony the process - a small detail, but one that was held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in was very important. As Katie entered the Zoo, Downtown Memphis on Oct. 8, 2016, and confetti rained down, music began to play, Zoo was followed by a reception inside the Zoo’s employees broke out in dance and a gift bag Teton Trek, of course. After all, Katie was a full of goodies was thrust into her arms. To legendary lifetime member, who even before her great surprise, Katie was the Zoo’s one- that exciting day in 2006, had taken many millionth visitor for the year, marking the Zoo’s elementary school field trips to the Zoo. first time to accomplish the feat that is now Aside from the obvious, Joey and Katie a yearly occurrence. The influx in attendance, selected Teton Trek as the place to celebrate which was an increase of 32 percent from the start of their lives together because the previous year, was due to the opening of they fell in love with the laid-back feel. The the Northwest Passage Exhibit and the Zoo couple was also very impressed with the celebrating its 100th birthday. Photo credit: Zoo’s staff, who were incredibly helpful. To honor Katie as the one-millionth Creation Studios Showcasing Memphis was also a big reason visitor, the Zoo gave her items from the gift for the choice. Since Joey’s family is from shop and a lifetime Zoo membership. Zookeepers also named a Louisiana, many of them had never visited the Bluff City. To giraffe born that day “Angela Kate,” with Kate being a reference ensure they would see the best of the best, a reception inside the to Katie. She also received a $2,000 travel stipend to use as she Zoo was a must. pleased. Without hesitation, Katie used the cash to fly herself, Joey and Katie still live, work and play in Memphis. by MURRAY LACE, contributer to EXZOOBERANCE One in a Million 4 MEMPHISZOO.ORG One in a Million Photo credit: Creation Studios EXZOOBERANCE 5 low Prices! Proud to support the Penguin Rock Exhibit Visit fredsinc.com for a fred’s Pharmacy or fred’s location near you. 3/4_2017_Exzooberance_Animal_Ad.indd 1 2/1/17 9:24 AM 6 MEMPHISZOO.ORG CREATURE FEATURE Incredible feats of engineering! by LAURA DOTY, Marketing and Communications Manager Imagine if your feet were directly connected to your head. the animal senses danger, it can retreat within itself entirely. A For cephalopods, there’s no need to imagine – it’s their reality. leathery hood covers the opening of the shell. Once safe from Cephalopods, which means “head-foot,” are a group of animals danger, they ascend to shallower waters to hunt for their prey, whose feet, or tentacles, are attached to their heads. This group which could include shrimp, crab and fish. includes cuttlefish, octopi, squid and nautiluses. While the nautilus does not have strong eyesight, they do Unlike its other cephalopod relatives, the chambered have a strong sense of smell and touch. Food is located by smell, nautilus has an external shell. In fact, it is the only cephalopod and with over 90 appendages, they are able to transfer food to that has developed this outer shell for protection. Unlike snails, their beak to feed. Their tentacles, the most of any cephalopod who live in the innermost chamber of their shell, nautiluses live are made up of grooves and ridges that are covered by a sticky in the outermost chambers. When a baby nautilus hatches, they adhesive, instead of suckers like on an octupus. live in four chambers, but as they grow and mature, they add a “The thing I love most about chambered nautiluses is how new layer. Most adult nautiluses average 30 chambers. unique and different they are,” said Summerford. “They are very “These shells are actually an incredible feat of engineering. mysterious creatures and we are learning more and more about The inner chambers are filled with a gaseous mixture, and them as we continue to care for them in captivity as well as study depending on whether the nautilus wants to move up or down, them in the wild.” they increase or decrease the level of liquid that fills each The Memphis Zoo currently exhibits three chambered chamber,” explains Bryan Summerford, Aquarist. nautiluses in the Aquarium. They have been part of the Eager to avoid predators during the day, these mighty collection since 2016. swimmers travel to depths ranging from 600 to 2000 feet. If EXZOOBERANCE 7 ANIMALS IN ACTION DAY 2017 EVENTSATURDAY, DATES SEASONAL EXHIBITS OPEN April 8, 2017 INCLUDED WITH GENERAL ADMISSION SATURDAY, March 4, 2017 FOR MORE INFORMATION, Sarah, one of our keepers, explains that Animals in Action VISIT MEMPHISZOO.ORG. means several things at the Memphis Zoo! “We focus on animal encounterstraining demonstrationsand shows for the between public, the animal animals Everyone’s favorite seasonal exhibits are returning and their keepers, and enrichment items for this Spring. Be sure to check out the Giraffe Feeding the animals. These experiences encourage Adventure, where you get up-close and personal with the physical activity and mental stimulation for Zoo’s tallest residents. It’s $5 per feeding. Don’t forget the animals, which is very important to their about our Camel Excursions, near the well-being. Hope to see everyone enjoy the Outpost restaurant, which are $5 per ride. day as much as the animals will!” Swing by Stingray Bay, which allows you to interact with stingrays and sharks for just $2/Members; $3/Nonmembers. MEMPHIS ZOO MEMORIAL DAY ROAR AND POUR All NEW Join us this holiday weekend to participate in these great activities. MoreMay details 25, to come! 2017 FRIDAY, Event! THURSDAY, April 21, 2017 7-10 P.M. ZOOM THROUGH THE ZOO $100/PER PERSON TO PURCHASE TICKETS, PLEASE VISIT OUR May 28, 2017 SUNDAY, WEBSITE AT MEMPHISZOO.ORG Join the Memphis Zoo for Roar and Pour! This premier MEMBERS NIGHT culinary and cocktail event features heavy hors d’oeuvres May 29, 2017 from some of the South’s best chefs paired with unique MONDAY, adult libations. MEMORIAL DAY (WE’RE OPEN!) JAGUAR BLUFF CITY A Culinary and Cocktail Experience FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 $100/per ticket 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Join the Memphis Zoo for Roar and Pour! This premier culinary and cocktail event replaces Wild World of Wine and Beer and Zoo Brew as the Zoo's signature spring conservation fundraiser. To purchase tickets, please visit our website at memphiszoo.org, or calf 901.333.6572. For more information, please see the Special Events Page! MEMPHISZOO.ORG 8 ® S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 LEGO® Seasonal Exhibit Exhibits March Open Open 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 St.Patrick’s Day Daylight Saving Time Begins Spring Break Camp 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 First Day of Spring 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 April Fools’ Day 2 3 4 April5 6 7 8 Home- school Animals in Action Day Day 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Roar and Easter Pour 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 EXZOOBERANCE 9 EDZOOCATION SPRING BREAK CAMP 2017 HOMESCHOOL DAYS Conservation Camp: Going, going, saved! While exploring the This two hour program takes our popular zoo classes and adds Zoo and participating in fun games, crafts, and interactive a homeschool twist.