ANIMALS OF THE NIGHT EXHIBIT WILL BE CLOSED FOR CLEANING & UPGRADES. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we are excited to update the homes for our nocturnal animals. Animals of the Night will be closed for the month of January. Please keep an eye on our social media channels for any updates. P.05 P.08 CREATURE FEATURE: KEEPER FEATURE: FRANCOIS’ LANGUR ALLISON BRUNNER When you round the corner of our Where are you from originally? My family CHINA exhibit, you will meet the ... has lived in O'Fallon IL, near St Louis ... P.11 P.14 IN THE NEWS: SAVING A SPECIES: JA RAFFE GIANT PANDA Grizzlies’ Ja Morant visits baby giraffe Since Le Le and Ya Ya arrived in 2003, named Ja-Raffe, after him, at ... Memphis Zoo has played a role in a ... CONTENTS 3 / EXZOOBERANCE FRANCOIS’FRANCOIS’ LANGURLANGUR When you round the corner the troop will assist in helping care for other langurs’ young. It is a behavior called allomothering or of our CHINA exhibit, you “aunting”. will meet the largest Everyday our troop gets a different kind of plant to Francois’ langur troop in the browse on, in addition to their other diet items that United States. Memphis Zoo include large amounts of leafy greens. In addition to is home to nine langurs. Our greens, our troop enjoys a sweet potato. troop was established in They are considered endangered in the wild, with a population that is declining. Langurs are threatened by 2003 when our CHINA agriculture, hunting, logging, and illegal pet trading. exhibit opened to the public. “Something we can do here in Memphis is buying local! When we purchase goods produced close to home, it This Asian-native monkey was named means less energy and resources are used to move after the French Consul in China who those items around. This helps all wildlife, “said langur discovered the species. These unique keeper Rachel Peters. animals are known for their distinct facial markings – their faces are Memphis Zoo is home to Tanah, Jay Jay, Jean Grey, completely black except for the two Raven, Rook, Ripley, Reagan, Reese, and the newest white strips of fur along both baby Reed. mandibles from mouth to ears. The hair “The kids love to play by running, jumping, chasing, on the top of their heads also and swinging all throughout the habitat. Tanah is resembles a mohawk. Along with their frequently seen being groomed by her children, distinguishable facial features, these especially Raven who is a mama’s girl. Jay Jay is the monkeys are also known for their long watchful protector of his family and often sits high up tails which help as they jump from tree in the habitat for a good view of all the shenanigans. to tree in the wild. Langurs are small And best of all, guests can watch new baby Reed animals. The males typically only weigh explore! Every day he gets more comfortable with his up to about 16 pounds and the females gangly arms and legs and spends more time causing can weigh up to 12 pounds mischief, mostly by jumping on his unsuspecting Langur babies are born entirely bright siblings and friends,” said Peters. orange and their color changes to The group is on exhibit all day but is more active when black as they mature. It is believed that the weather is cooler. In extreme heat they are given langur babies are born orange so that access to their air-conditioned rooms. the troop understands it is a baby and that it must be cared for. Females in Next time you are at the Zoo, come by and say “hello” to our troop. 4 / EXZOOBERANCE Eco-friendly New Year’s Resolutions It is a new year, which means a lot of us have come up with some resolutions. Memphis Zoo’s Green Team has some simple ways you can make your 2021 a little eco-friendlier. 1 Switch to reusable shopping bags It is believed we use up to 100 billion plastic bags every year, and most of those plastic bags are tricky to recycle, ending up in a landfill. Shopping with reusable bags is an easy way to stop pollution and help our environment. Go Paperless 2 According to a study by University of Southern Indiana, Americans will go through 85 million tons of paper in one year. Fortunately, there are many ways you can choose to go digital— whether it is your bills or receipts from the stores you shop at. Going paperless can help with organization but can also help with the environment. 3 Shop Local Shopping local not only helps the environment, but it also helps the communities we live in. By shopping locally, you can help curb the resources and energy needed for transportation and packaging at big box stores. When shopping at local grocery stores and farmer’s markets, it is likely you will get fresher produce too. A win, win! 4 Make your meals from scratch and meal plan You can reduce your diet’s impact on the planet by changing the way you eat. Processed, packaged convenience foods are drowning in wasted energy, oil, water, and trees. These meals also lack in nutritional value. When possible choose meat, fruits and vegetables that are organic. Cooking in bulk is also helpful when it comes to this resolution. Your wallet, waist and the environment will thank you for it! 5 Invest in a reusable water bottle or cup. This is a great way to stay hydrated, reduce plastic use and help the planet. Metal or glass is best to avoid any BPA toxins. Choose a bottle or cup with some fun designs to show off your personality. 5 / EXZOOBERANCE KEEPER FEATURE: ALLISON BRUNNER Where did you go to college and what was your major? I attended the University of Denver in Colorado. I got my BS in Biology. Like I said, I knew I wanted to work with animals, but I didn't know in what capacity. So I worked towards a more general degree that would hopefully give me the most options. What is your favorite species to work with at the zoo? Where are you from originally? The "favorite animal" question is the My family has lived in O'Fallon, IL, hardest. I like all the animals I work with, (near St Louis) for the last 15 years so for different reasons. The large, that's where I consider home. charismatic animals like the big cats, hippos, and okapi are always fun to work Where did you work before the with but I'm learning about the joys of Memphis Zoo? working with some smaller, more obscure The last zoo I worked before Memphis animals. Milly, our Kirk's Dik-dik, is a little was the Denver Zoo, but I took a big hoofed angel that I've been spending a lot break before joining this team while of time with building a relationship. getting my master's degree. What do you like to do in your free time? What department do you work in? I binge watch a lot of TV. But I also like to I work in Zambezi and Cat Country. craft sewing and cross-stitching. I've also been trying to spend more time in my How long have you been a kitchen, learning to cook new things. zookeeper? I've worked in zoos since 2014, but Do you have any pets? this is my first full-time keeper I have a cat named Laney. She loves that I position. I was hired in March 2020 work at a zoo because I come home full-time. smelling like all sorts of strange things. Have you always wanted to work What is your advice for anyone that with animals? wants to be a zookeeper? Yes! I knew from a young age that I This field is competitive so my advice wanted to work with animals, but I would be to be persistent and never give really didn't know how. It wasn't until up. If this is what you want to do, keep about halfway through college, when I working hard and applying until did my first internship, that I found I something happens. Stay positive and wanted to be a zookeeper. After keep in contact with former interviewers starting my first internship I just could and ask for feedback on how you can not see myself doing anything else. improve for the future. 6 / EXZOOBERANCE 7 / EXZOOBERANCE Photography by Phillip Van Zandt 8 / EXZOOBERANCE Photography by Phillip Van Zandt Phillip Van by Photography 9 / EXZOOBERANCE Photography by Phillip Van Zandt 10 / EXZOOBERANCE WANT TO SEE EXCLUSIVE MEMPHIS ZOO CONTENT? Follow our Zoo Dude on social media for an inside look at our amazing animals. Need a laugh? Check out his dad jokes too. @realzoodude CROCS REALLY DON'T EAT THAT MUCH! Typically our crocs will eat only a chicken throughout the week! They don't need much, because they aren't very active! Check out their feedings for yourself at 10:30 on Saturdays! 11 / EXZOOBERANCE IN THE NEWS: JA MORANT VISITS JA-RAFFE Grizzlies’ Ja Morant visits baby giraffe named Ja-Raffe, after him, at Memphis Zoo. “NBA’s Ja Morant gets baby giraffe named after him ... Meet Ja Raffe!!! Ja“ Morant meets Ja Raffe. Never has there been such a Memphis“ Zoo names newborn giraffe “Ja Raffe” after Grizzlies bond between a man star Ja Morant. and a giraffe. 12 / EXZOOBERANCE Saving A Species: Giant Panda By Beth Roberts, Senior Conservation Biologist Since Le Le and Ya Ya arrived in 2003, Memphis Zoo has played a role in a consorted worldwide effort to research and conserve giant pandas in the wild and captivity.