PUBLISHED FOR FRIENDS OF THE ME mp HIS ZOO EXZOO- BERANCE! Exzooberance™ is a bimonthly Memphis BERANCE! Zoological Society publication providing information for friends of the Memphis Zoo. Send comments to MZS, 2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, TN 38112, call (901) 276-WILD In this issue: or log onto www.memphiszoo.org. Vol. XVIII, No. 6 Cover Feature — Memphis Zoological Society SunTrust Zoo Lights Board of Directors as of July 2009 Join us for even more lights, activities and more Officers: Zoo as we bring back more of your favorite Kelly H. Truitt, Chair holiday event! Diane Smith and John W. Stocks, Jr., Vice Chairs Gene Holcomb, Treasurer Joseph C. DeWane, M.D., Secretary 3 Time to Re-Zoo Carol W. Prentiss, Past Chair Directors: Get the latest info on your Zoo membership, F. Norfleet Abston Jason Rothschild and see the latest benefits of being a member as Robert A. Cox Karl A. Schledwitz Thomas C. Lucy Shaw we make some changes in 2010. Farnsworth, III Richard C. Shaw 3 Diana Hull Brooke Sparks Henry A. Hutton Joe Warren 4 Creature Feature — Dorothy Kirsch Robin P. Watson Robert C. Lanier Russell T. Wigginton, Jr. Meet the Grizzlies Joyce A. Mollerup The Zoo has become the new home to five Honorary Lifetime Directors: grizzlies living in Teton Trek. Learn about these Donna K. Fisher Roger T. Knox, President Emeritus new residents from the keepers who know them Scott P. Ledbetter best. Frank M. Norfleet Senator James R. Sasser Rebecca Webb Wilson 5 Give the Gift of Zoo Ex Officio: Dr. Chuck Brady, Zoo President & CEO This holiday season, stock up on gifts for all Pete Aviotti, Jr. your Zoo lovers with these great Zoo gift ideas. Bill Morrison, City Council Representative Bob Drake, Docent/Volunteer Representative Give a whole year of Zoo with a membership in 2010! Credits: Abbey Dane, Editor / Writer Brian Carter, Managing Editor Departments: Geri Meltzer, Art Director 4 Jennifer Coleman, Copy Editor Toof Printing, Printer 2 Spot You at the Zoo Exzooberance paper generously donated by International Paper employees 6 Conservation Zoo Admission Hours: 7 Education Programs March - October 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. November - February 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 8 Special Events • Grounds close one hour after last admission • Zoo Closed: Thanksgiving Day, 9 November/December Calendar Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Our Mission: 10 Zoo News Connecting people with wildlife. 11 Rendezvous Recap Memphis Zoo, Ya Ya and Le Le are trademarks of the Memphis Zoo. 12 Kids’ Activity Page The Memphis Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. ©2008 Memphis Zoo 1 SPOT YOU AT THE ZOO Special Feature As a perk to your Memphis Zoo membership, members were offered the chance to see Teton Trek before the rest of the public. We spotted these members enjoying the new Teton exhibit during our members-only preview. Come see Teton Trek in lights at SunTrust Zoo Lights this holiday season, and you may be spotted in the next Exzooberance! Trek! Member Preview Samuel and Judith Fleischhacker enjoy the scenery Sandy Smith and granddaughters Addison and Alden Thomas step out of of the 20-ft. waterfall next to the grizzlies. Memphis and into Yellowstone as they pass through the Great Lodge. Guy and Mary Whalen with their children Matthew Clifton and Addison Wilson view the four timber wolves. and Sarah at the overlook. Matthew could barely These pups will provide endless entertainment keep his eyes off the grizzlies! for your entire pack. Zachary Lucia plays on the rocks at this 30-ft. geyser, inspired by Old Faithful. It welcomes guests as it erupts every 60 seconds. 2 Creature Feature Meet Our Grizzly Cubs Introducing five furry residents of Teton Trek! Every animal at the Memphis Zoo is different and has its own personality that makes it stand out from the others. Read about our five grizzlies as our keepers share what makes each one special. “Cochise” is one of three orphaned “Else” is the female cub from “Yukon” is the other male cub who cubs who came from Yellowstone Yellowstone. Although she is the came from Yellowstone. For now, he Basin. He is calm, easy-going, and a smallest, she has the biggest is the “medium-sized” of the three. good brother. He seems to “look out” attitude and seems to be the main He is adventurous, tending to go off for his siblings, sometimes taking on instigator of play sessions. She’s on his own more than the others. a protector role. For the time being, feisty and very fun to watch! He has also proven to be a “true he is the largest of the three cubs. grizzly” by swimming and fishing! Check our Web site for updated “Hydee” is the female from Alaska. “Peak” is one of two grizzlies from information on our two older, Alaskan She is laid back, watchful, and very Alaska. He is very playful and has grizzlies, “Hydee” and “Peak.” Visit smart. She is smaller than Peak and had great relationships with all of them when they go on exhibit at has the typical look of a grizzly bear. his caretakers. It’s very easy to fall Teton Trek soon later this fall! While in Alaska she proved to be an in love with Peak! expert den digger! 4 A ADDITIONAL MEMBERS DISCOUNT! Members save an additional 10% in the Zoo’s gift shops November 20, 21 and 22. Total member discount of 25%! HOLIDAY SHOPPING at the memphis ZOO Visit the three Zoo gift shops this holiday season for even more gift ideas as well as a selection of Zoo ornaments of your favorite animals. This holiday, give the gift A. Best Buddy Backpack $21 C. Wolf Stuffed Animal $17 of Zoo! B. Hot Hugs Lion $33 D. Blanket Friends Polar Bear $15 Heat up in the microwave for a Also available in wolf, elephant, panda, warm cuddle penguin, giraffe, tiger and sea turtle B C D giFts AVailable at the ZOO’S giFT shops or by calling (901) 333-6776. 5 Conservation by Dr. Erin Willis, Memphis Zoo Researcher After estrus, giant pandas experience a phenomenon known as pseudopregnancy, where the female exhibits behavioral, physiological and hormonal changes similar to pregnancy. Therefore, monitoring hormonal patterns that are usually different in pregnant animals compared to non-pregnant animals is not effective at determining the pregnancy status of the panda. It has been impossible to determine whether a giant panda is pregnant until about two weeks prior to birth when ultrasound can be used to detect a developing fetus. The fetus is too small to see with ultrasound prior to that. With a panda’s gestation typically ranging anywhere from 85-185 days, having to wait until two weeks before birth to confirm a pregnancy is quite a long time. Unraveling the Mysteries of Giant Panda Pseudopregnancy Recently, I made a great discovery in unraveling the mysteries of giant panda pseudopregnancy. I found that a particular protein that usually increases in response to inflammation also increases in response to pregnancy in the giant panda. In pregnancies that were carried to term, this protein increases in the first week of gestation. Not only does this new “panda pregnancy test” determine if a panda is pregnant very early in gestation, it also provides information on whether a panda has lost a pregnancy. Since ultrasound could only be used very late in gestation, a pregnancy that was later lost could very easily go undetected. With early pregnancy detection, we can now distinguish between a true pseudopregnancy and a lost pregnancy. A diagnostic pregnancy test for pandas has evaded scien- tists for decades, but with the development of this technique, breeding and conservation efforts for these endangered bears will be significantly improved. This test also has the potential to easily determine the reproductive status of female giant pandas in the wild! Animal Enrichment Giving Tree by Dara Reinbold, Zookeeper The holidays are quickly approaching, and the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) is inviting you to participate in its annual Animal Enrich- ment Giving Tree program. As you might remember, the idea is similar to the Salvation Army’s Angel tree. Simply pick a gift off the tree in the Zoo’s lobby, purchase it (or donate money for the item) and then bring it to the Zoo to be given to the animals. Keepers request specific items for their areas. The gift you pick is one that comes straight from the people who know the animals’ needs best. Enrichment is intended to encourage behaviors that are appropriate for the species, and that satisfy an animal’s physical and psychological needs. Enrich- ment is everything from puzzle feeders and safari balls to new sounds, new smells and new textures. We hope that everyone will take part in the Enrichment Giving Tree and make 2010 a very happy new year for our animals and zookeepers alike! 6 - ø - ø • • • Discover more programs ‘EdzoocationEdzoocation 09 and get •more information at PPrrOOgrgrAAmmSS memphiszoo.org/education. r The Zoo in Early Winter s r s Walking Homeschool Stroller Cubs December 5, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. • $10 for members and $20 for non-members To u r Workshops • 10 TO 10:45• A.M. (includes Zoo admission)• Dec. 5 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. $5/MEMBERS ; $15/NONMEMBERS Pre-registration required for very limited space $30/MEMBERS ; $40/NONMEMBERS , (INCLU D ES ONE A D ULT AN D ZOO A D MISSION ) $5 OFF IF PARENT ASSISTS The Zoo takes on a very different look in winter when all the tropical REGISTRATION DEA D LINE : ONE WEEK RECOMMEN D E D AGES : plants have gone inside.