2018 Annual Report Providing a level of excellence that makes the Rosamond Gifford Zoo a national leader in animal care, conservation and visitor experience. ROSAMOND GIFFORD ZOO AT BURNET PARK BY THE NUMBERS 796 animals at the zoo 53 Golfodulcean poison dart frogs hatched A Joint Message from the President of the animals sponsored through the Adopt an Animal program Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo 721 and the Chairman of the Board 355,621 visitors 7,633 member households 1,449 new members When we look back on 2018 at the zoo, one word roars to mind: Dinosaurs! With only 12 weeks and a limited budget, and thanks to our dedicated board, staff and supporters, 35,572 volunteer hours valued at $1.06 million we launched our Dinosaur Invasion! Memorial Day weekend and enjoyed an enormous amount of excitement on the part of our guests through Labor Day and beyond. 84,400 social media followers The dinosaurs demonstrated how well our Friends and County teams can rise to the occasion on behalf of the zoo, they gave us yet another opportunity to talk about the zoo’s conservation mission – 34,552 plush animals sold at The Curious Cub Gift Shop through a story about extinction and they lent excitement to all areas of the zoo. Perhaps most importantly, the dinosaurs helped us attract over 350,000 visitors and gain close to 1,500 Nearly 100,000 visitors engaged with our summer Zoo Guides new memberships! And we received wonderful feedback about zoo memories that will be cherished for years to come. 85,250 gemstones and fossils discovered at EarthWorks! Friends and the County also worked together to negotiate the rigorous process of gaining accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). AZA remains the gold standard for measuring the Zoo Camp and Edventure Academy attendees performance of zoos and aquariums in animal care, wildlife conservation and guest experience, and 1,437 2018 was our 30th year of continuous AZA accreditation. 9,081 Zoo to You traveling education program participants After months of submitting records and documentation to AZA, we had a thorough three-day inspection by the Accreditation Committee in July. We were very pleased to be granted another five years of accreditation in September, and we remain one of only 233 facilities with that designation. $12,473 earmarked for conservation through The Curious Cub Gift Shop round-up feature Also in 2018, we acquired a pair of very rare animals, Amur leopards, the world’s most endangered big cats. Welcoming Tria and Rafferty to the zoo allows us to participate in the Species Survival Plan for 325 birthday parties and catered events these critically endangered animals. In 2019, the Friends will be fundraising to renovate the former lion exhibit for these beautiful and rare felines. As always, we couldn’t accomplish any of this without your support. Every visit you make, every membership you purchase, every lunch, gift or event you enjoy here directly contributes to animal Dilophosaurus, a fan favorite during welfare and conservation at your zoo. Dinosaur Invasion!, delighted guests by spraying water across Wildlife Trail. Sincerely, Janet Agostini Carl Isley President & CEO Chair of the Board ON THE COVER: Rafferty, a male Amur leopard, was acquired from the San Diego Zoo on June 27. Amur leopards are the most critically endangered species of big cats. Animal Updates Two male Bactrian camels, Patrick and George, A male capercaillie and a female green jay were acquired from the Milwaukee County Zoo in January. were acquired on loan from the Bronx Zoo in March. They have been in training and appearing at daily camel A violet turaco chick, Beaker, hatched at the zoo in demonstrations for several months. March and was hand-reared by staff. He recently was Two female Caiman lizards were acquired and are now transferred to the Philadelphia Zoo. on exhibit together in the USS Antiquities Cave. Four baby meerkats were born at the zoo on May 1. Fred the red fox, a rescue animal who spent his first three They were the first meerkats to be born here since 1990. years at the zoo, went to live at the Potawatomi Zoo in A pair of Amur leopards was acquired in May and June. South Bend, Indiana. The female, Tria, came from the Greenville Zoo on May 6. A male Humboldt penguin chick hatched at the zoo on She was joined by a male , Rafferty, from the San Diego February 25. A naming vote resulted in his being named Zoo on June 27. Felix, which means “happy” in Spanish. Two Von der Decken’s hornbills were acquired, a female A female fennec fox, Pink, was acquired from from the Charles Paddock Zoo and a male from Sea World the Kansas City Zoo. She is on exhibit with our San Antonio. male fennec fox, Todd, in Animal Adaptations. A female golden lion tamarin, Elsie, was acquired from The zoo acquired two Heritage Breeds of livestock for our the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in May. She has joined our Domestic Animal Barn. Four San Clemente Island goats male GLT, Picante, on exhibit in the Social Animals wing. A female Caiman lizard and three Black Welsh Mountain sheep arrived on April 5 from Mack Brin Farms in Ballston Spa, NY. These are both endangered breeds of domestic livestock. The commitment and generosity of the individuals, groups, corporations and foundations listed here help make 2018 Donor Roster continued the Rosamond Gifford Zoo a national leader in animal care, conservation and guest experience. $125-$499 Michelle Base Lynn and Sean Branagan Joseph Cassant We thank you for your support. Angela Abbott Andrea Bastedo and Mike Mourey Ms. Aubrey Branagan Ms. Bethany Catalano Nicole and William Abold Sharon Bauer and Heather Losee Mr. David Brancato Mr. and Mrs. Vasily Cateforis 2018 Donor Roster Margaret and Lawrence Abrahamson Talitha Baxter Pamela Brandes and Ravi Dharwadkar Emilie Cecire Anne and Russell Acevedo J. Henry Beard Mr. Paul Brandofino Sarah Chan and Linda Olson James Aiello Melvin and Gail Beebe Sara Jo Brandt-Doelle and Klaus Doelle Phyllis and Richard Chapman $50,000-$99,999 $1,000-$2,499 Cindy and Joe Verzino* Annette Hannon and Lindsey and Shawn Akley Mr. Beebe Ms. S. Brazell Melissa and Richard Chapman Triad Foundation, Inc. Robert and Janet Agostini* Janet and Larry Wolf Catherine Carducci Nicole and Kevin Alden Judith Beeles and Candice Zaia Nicole Brec Melisa and Brian Chappell Fred J. Harder Foundation Anonymous Jenny Henderson and Cody Henderson Nina Alfano Ms. Stacy Beeles Ms. Mary Breeze Michael Chappell Association of Zoos & Aquariums $500-$999 Margaret Hermann* Lisa and Nick Alibrandi Ms. Brittany Belding Gwyneth Breeze-Hrycko Ms. Jessica Charbonneau $10,000-$24,999 Bond, Schoeneck & King, LLP 1886 Malt House Suzanne and Timothy Hession Lew and Dawn Allyn Ms. Karina Belyea Katie Brennan and Chris Grilli Margaret Chase and Katie Chase AXA Foundation Kathy, James, and Mathew Burns* AAZK Rosamond Gifford Zoo Chapter Mr. Lawrence E. Higbee Theresa and Richard Amidon Justin Benagh Lillian Brennan Ms. Mary L. Chauncey C & S Companies Cryomech, Inc. Anonymous Ms. Rachel Hoover Heather and David Amidon Joy and Douglas Bennett Ms. Kristy Brightman-Frame Tanner Choiniere Carrier Corporation Daynia and Paul Dodd Carl and Barbara Austin* Carm Iorio and Sam Iorio Janet Ammentorp Chelsea Bentley Elizabeth and Dennis Brokamp Mary Christie and Andy Christie CNY Works Dunk & Bright Furniture Company Andrea and Tim Barnhart* Natalya and Justin Iorio Kathy Anderson and Nancy Whelan Bridget and Robert Benz Meg Brooks and Bob Chestnut Angela and Anthony Christodoulou Gary and Michele Combs* Ryan Elliott* Ms. Leah Barry Mr. and Mrs. Carl Isley* William Anderson Barbara Bergeron and Glenn Spiegel Monica and Norman Brown Ms. Sharla Christopher M&T Bank Ernst & Young, LLP Kimberly Beeman Ms. Lauren Kesterke Carol Andrews Dr. Zina Berry Geri and Dave Brown Mr. Rick Church National Grid Barbara Ferro Mr. and Mrs. Stan Blenke Judy Kilpatrick* Jillian and Nathan Andrews Nancy and Thomas Bezigian Jason Brown Kristie and Tom Ciancaglini The Pepsi Bottling Group Frank and Frances Revoir Foundation Boliver Road Elementary Ms. Sally Kuralt Martha Angelone Sarah and Jeffrey Biesiada Kathleen and Michael Buda Cara Claflin Ellenrose Galgano Eric Smith and Gina Bousson-Smith* Ms. Jacquelyn Leonardo Anonymous (5) Mr. Sean Biggie Leslie Buecheler and Jessie Buecheler Joseph Clain $5,000-$9,999 Jud and Roz Gostin* Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Rachel Littlefield-Kovacs Brittany Antonio Elizabeth Bigness Diana and Robert Burchhardt Colleen and Jeremy Clark Byrne Dairy, Inc. Mary Ellen Greco Sullivan and Ms. Susanne Brodeur Marian and John Loosmann Leslie and Craig Archer Ms. Catherine Bills Mary and Robert Burdick Phyllis Clark Century Heating Timothy Sullivan* David Burch* Danielle Maguire and Brian Atzberger Sharon Archer and David Archer Mariah Bird Elizabeth and John Burlew Nicole Clark and Dan Clark Green Family Foundation, Inc. Yazan Hamad Lia and Dean Burrows Fred and Virginia Marty* Alysha and Anthony Ardizzone Birnie Bus Janet and George Burman Zack Clark Rick and Laura Iorio* Hancock Estabrook, LLP Lauren Burton and Joseph Baldwin Gerald and Mary Mathews* Mr. Eric Argentine Genevieve Birren Melody Burnam and Charles McGrail Judith and Philip Clayton KeyBank of New York Ms. Heidi Holtz* Colleen and Dave Butler* Green Lakes Krista Argese Marilyn Bittner and Lynn Bittner Brenda Burnard Stacey and Bradley Clements Zalie and Bob Linn* INFICON Patricia Callahan Software Consulting, LLC* Amanda Armitage Mr. Michael Black Gail and Robert Burns Madeleine Cleworth Northwestern Mutual J.W. Burns & Company Inc. Annette and Nick Cerrone* Michelle and Jeremy McKay* Sara and Kevin Ashman Elizabeth and Ian Blackburn Kevin Burns Brittany and Kyle Clifton R.P. Dodd Group, Inc.