CONNECT May 2014 FEATURES 8 THE AZA ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER RESPONSE INITIATIVE STEVE OLSON 12 FORGING PARTNERSHIPS TO PROTECT AFRICA'S ELEPHANTS JIM BREHENY 16 FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP AZA On Capitol Hill JENNIFER KEATON 18 ZOOREADY CONFERENCE YVONNE NADLER 25 ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITTEE 28 CGF UPDATE 35 TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM JOINS FORCES WITH FLINT HILLS RESOURCES TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN STEM EDUCATION LESLIE PEART IN EVERY ISSUE 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO 6 CONSERVATION & RESEARCH 22 MEMBER NEWS 30 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD 31 BIRTHS & HATCHINGS 39 EXHIBITS 42 ANNOUNCEMENTS 45 MEMBER UPDATES ON THE COVER 47 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS On 29 October the Senate unanimously passed a resolution officially designating 2 48 CALENDAR November, as National Bison Day. Legislation in the House of Representatives, H.R. 3400, the National Bison Legacy Act, would adopt the North American bison as the na- tional mammal of the United States. This bipartisan legislation has been introduced by Representatives Clay (MO-01), Fortenberry (NE-01), Serrano (NY-15), and Noem (SD-At Large). Please visit the AZA Legislative Education Center at www.congressweb.com/aza to send a letter to your representatives encouraging them to cosponsor this legislation. For more information about the coalition, please visit www.votebison.org. NORTH AMERICAN BISON ©THINKSTOCK PHOTOS 2 CONNECT May 2014 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO he Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) represents the gold standard for zoos and president Taquariums in the United States. The Association is actively engaged in ensuring that federal, state and local government policies fully support accredited zoos and aquariums and that your representatives fully understand the value AZA-accredited facilities bring to their communities. More than 180 million people visit AZA-accredited institutions annually in the United States, and direct spending by those institutions contributed $13.2 billion to the United States GDP. It’s a compelling story, and the involvement of AZA members plays an important part in the telling of the tale. AZA has the resources and expertise to help you communicate effectively with Congress, federal agencies and state and local government, but it is your voice that carries the real weight. AZA works throughout the year to build strong relationships with members of Congress and various federal agencies and to keep you informed about important federal and state legislation that affects the AZA community. Each spring we invite you to Washington, D.C., to bring your federal officials personal stories about the AZA-accredited facilities in their districts and states. This year’s advocacy events on Capitol Hill took place on May 6th and 7th, with the AZA signature & Capitol Hill reception being a real highlight. A sincere thank you goes out to all those who participated – the conservation, education and economic impact stories you told resonate deeply with members of Congress. ceo In addition, the bipartisan Congressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus now stands at more than 80 members, with new members continuing to join. The Caucus holds briefings and assists AZA members in sharing information on Capitol Hill. Our collective footprint touches 166 Congressional Districts across the country, but just 56 of those are members of the Caucus. Is your U.S. Representative one of those not a part of the Caucus? I challenge you to find out, and if they have not joined the Caucus, please invite them to do so. I also wanted to share with you that the Association recently hired Rob Vernon as its senior vice president of external af- fairs. Many of you met Rob in Memphis at the AZA Mid-Year Meeting. He has extensive Capitol Hill and state government experience, and will be working closely with AZA’s government affairs staff to enhance dialogue between government and AZA members. Prior to joining AZA, Rob worked as an executive director at global public relations firm GolinHarris’ Washington, D.C., office. At GolinHarris, Rob provided both traditional and social media communications and public policy counsel to a variety of clients, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Infosys, the Florida Lottery, Sargento Foods and the National Industries for the Blind. Rob is a valuable addition to the AZA team, and I hope you will reach out to him with any ideas you might have. Building and cultivating relationships with federal, state and local government officials is vital in today’s sophisticated and rapidly changing world of communications. If you have not done so recently, I encourage you to visit the AZA Legislative Education Center on the AZA website (www.aza.org) and learn how AZA can help you communicate effectively with all levels of government. Editorial policy: CONNECT is published by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the advancement of zoological parks and aquariums for conservation, education, scientific studies and recreation. Issued to members as a free service; not available as a subscription. Mailed during the first week of the month. Articles submitted for CONNECT do not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies of AZA. Mission: CONNECT is a forum for promoting AZA’s mission by highlighting zoo and aquarium trends, industry initiatives, conservation efforts and member achievements. Copyright policy: All items appearing in CONNECT are copyright of AZA. Permission to reprint items must be obtained by contacting AZA’s Publications Department at [email protected]. Advertising policy: Advertising is available. AZA reserves the right to refuse advertising not consistent with its mission. Ad contracts are issued on an annual basis, and ads are accepted on a one, three, six, nine or 12-time basis. Deadline for insertion orders is the first of the month preceding publication. Deadline for artwork is the 10th of the month preceding publication. Rates and mechanical require- ments are available upon request. May 2014 CONNECT 3 AZA BOARD & STAFF AZA STAFF AZA BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONNECT STAFF 2013 - 2013 Tim Lewthwaite, Editor OFFICERS Lisa Cadigan, Designer, Cadigan Creative CONNECT EDITORIAL BOARD CHAIR Melinda Arnold, Dickerson Park Zoo Jackie Ogden, PhD Martha Fischer, Saint Louis Zoo Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Julie Larsen-Maher, Wildlife Conservation Society Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Tim Lewthwaite, AZA Publications Manager Ph: (407) 938-2831, E-mail: [email protected] Kristin L. Vehrs, AZA Executive Director CHAIR ELECT AZA STAFF Dennis E. Pate Jim Maddy, President & CEO Executive Director and CEO, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Kristin L. Vehrs, Executive Director Ph: (402) 738-2014, E-mail: [email protected] Paul Boyle, PhD, Senior Vice President of VICE CHAIR Conservation & Education Jill Nicoll, Chief Operating Officer Steve Burns Director, Zoo Boise Rob Vernon, Senior Vice President of External Affairs Ph: (208) 384-4125, x203, E-mail: [email protected] Debborah Luke, PhD, Vice President of board & staff Conservation & Science PAST CHAIR Denny Lewis, Vice President Accreditation Programs Tom Schmid Jennifer Keaton, Vice President, Congressional Affairs President and CEO, Texas State Aquarium Steve Olson, Vice President Federal Relations Ph: (361) 881-1242, E-mail: [email protected] Phil Wagner, Senior Vice President of Finance DIRECTORS Candice Dorsey, PhD, Director, Animal Programs Jim Breheny Jeff Dow, Director of Sales & Marketing Executive Vice President and General Director, Zoos and Aquarium Jennifer DiNenna, Manager, Accreditation Jonathan Little Cohen Director of the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society Jennifer Fields, Communications Coordinator Ph: (718) 220-5101, E-mail: [email protected] Allegra Formento, Marketing Assistant Lynn B. Clements Rachel Gauza, Citizen Science Program Specialist Director, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Rebecca Greenberg, Program Assistant, Conservation Ph: (757) 385-0241, E-mail: [email protected] & Science Jim Hekkers Shelly Grow, Director, Conservation Programs Managing Director, Monterey Bay Aquarium Melissa Howerton, Vice President, Conferences & Membership Ph: (831) 647-6825, E-mail: [email protected] Tim Lewthwaite, Publications & Brand Manager Gregg Hudson Nette Pletcher, Director of Conservation Education Executive Director and Chief Executive Offi cer, Dallas Zoo Management, Inc. Barbara Pueschel, Board & Committees Liaison Ph: (469) 554-7510, E-mail: [email protected] Nancy Ramos, Receptionist Amy Rutherford, Professional Development Program Manager Dennis W. Kelly Ana Maria Sanchez, Controller Director, Smithsonian National Zoological Park Barbara Skewes, Manager, Member Information Services Ph: (202) 633-4442, E-mail: [email protected] Sarah Sullivan, Manager, Digital Media Kevin Mills Gina Velosky, Manager, Business Development & Marketing President and CEO, South Carolina Aquarium Cheryl Wallen, Meeting Planner Ph: (843) 579-8555, E-mail: [email protected] Amos Morris Association of Zoos & Aquariums Zoo Director, Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710 Ph: (812) 435-6143 x401, E-mail: [email protected] Silver Spring, MD 20910 Douglas G. Myers 301-562-0777 (phone); 301-562-0888 (fax); President and CEO, San Diego Zoo Global www.aza.org Ph: (619) 557-3999, E-mail: [email protected] John T. Walczak Director, Louisville Zoological Garden Ph: (502) 238-5335, E-mail: [email protected]