zoonooz august 2015

inside august 2015

wildlife

Mammal of Mystery: Devi the Hippo Calf

Boy or girl? Funani knew, but everyone else would

have to wait to find out!

A Pollinator Problem: How Do You Value a Bee?

Honeybees, native bees, and other pollinators are

under threat. Find out what you can do to help!

conservation

explore

New Digs for DholesA pack of Asiatic wild dogs has taken up residence in the Safari Park’s former tiger exhibit, and to their pleasure, they have the run of the place!

on the cover: East African river hippopotamus calf Hippopotamus amphibius kiboko

©Ken Bohn, SDZG Photographer

From the Archives

Support

Through the Lens

Chairman’s Note

You Said It

more

Keeping Flamingos in the Pink at the ZooThe once-a-year flamingo roundup is carefully choreographed to make sure the flock stays healthy.

Furniture Makes the Home —Even for Animals!From logs to tree trunks to root balls, the Horticulture Department provides animals with the best seat in the house.

CALIFORNIA IS FACING UNPRECEDENTED DROUGHT CONDITIONS. As a conservation organi-zation, we at San Diego Zoo Global continue to do our part and place an emphasis on recycling and reusing water. Overall, our organization recycles more than 16 million gallons of water annually, and we have an active employee task force that continues to seek ways to increase that amount.

At the Safari Park, we have an onsite water treatment plant that processes and recycles 100 percent of the Park’s wastewater, which is then reused for irrigation in the large field exhibits. We are currently ap-plying for funding to upgrade this system from secondary treatment of wastewater to tertiary treatment, which will make the water available for even more uses. We use direct site drip-line irrigation in watering our plant collections, landscaping, and browse sources, which brings water directly to the base of the plants where it is needed.

At the Zoo, we collect rainwater in reclamation gutters and in 6 rain barrels located strategically throughout the grounds, which can capture 3,500 gallons for various uses. You can see one of the rain barrels at the Queenslander House in Australian Outback and read information about the importance of water conservation. The Zoo’s ponds and pools are equipped with extensive filtration and recycling units, so they rarely need to be drained and refilled. For instance, the hippo pool has only been drained twice in the last 20 years. During the month of June this year, the Zoo reduced its water use by 17.1 per-cent, exceeding the 16-percent reduction goal from the City of San Diego.

All of our facilities implement a wide variety of ways to conserve water, including cleaning with tools rather than hoses, installing low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, and motion-detecting sink faucets in restrooms, and tracking and quickly fixing any leaks. We use drought-tolerant plants, mulching, and xeriscape methods in our general landscaping, and our employees practice conscientious water use in all our office areas. Signs and graphic panels also inform visitors about what San Diego Zoo Global is doing to reduce and reuse water.

On grounds and in education programs at the Zoo and Safari Park, we share water conservation information and techniques with our guests that they can use at home, such as sweeping and using blowers to clean patios and sidewalks instead of hosing them with water. The Safari Park’s Biofiltration Wetland serves as an outdoor classroom, where thousands of schoolchildren participate each year in hands-on water programs that teach the importance of preserving this precious resource. San Diego Zoo Global partners with the San Diego County Water Authority to promote the “When in Drought” communications campaign, which gives San Diegans tips on how to save water. We have also hosted water conservation workshops for local water agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public.

Everyone needs water, and it will take all of us working together to conserve it. Every drop counts, now more than ever.

Robert B. HorsmanChairman

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

OFFICERSRobert B. Horsman, ChairmanSandra A. Brue, Vice ChairmanJudith A. Wheatley, SecretarySteven G. Tappan, Treasurer

BOARD OF TRUSTEESM. Javade Chaudhri

Berit N. DurlerRichard B. GulleyClifford W. Hague

Linda Lowenstine, D.V.M., Ph.D.George A. RamirezPatricia L. Roscoe

TRUSTEES EMERITIFrank C. Alexander

Kurt Benirschke, M.D.Thompson Fetter

Bill L. FoxFrederick A. Frye, M.D.

George L. GildredYvonne W. LarsenJohn M. Thornton

Albert Eugene TrepteBetty Jo F. Williams

James Lauth,General Counsel

Douglas G. Myers, President/CEO

Charles L. Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus

THE FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

OFFICERSMurray H. Hutchison, Chair

Maryanne C. Pfister, Vice ChairSusan N. McClellan, Secretary

Richard M. Hills, TreasurerMark A. Stuart, President

Robert B. Horsman, Ex officioDouglas G. Myers, Ex officio

BOARD OF DIRECTORSChristine L. Andrews

Joye D. BlountRick BregmanLisa S. Casey

Douglas Dawson Berit N. Durler, Ex officio

U. Bertram Ellis, Jr.Arthur E. Engel

Craig L. GrosvenorMichael Hammes

Judith C. HarrisMichael E. Kassan

Susan B. MajorMichael D. McKinnon

Thomas TullMargie Warner

Ed Wilson

Every drop counts

chairman’s note

4 ZOONOOZ n AUGUST 20154

5SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL n SANDIEGOZOO.ORG

Members get up closeFREE all year long!

Start your membership today. Call 619-718-3000 or visit sandiegozoo.org

Caribbean flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber ruber

Photo by Ken BohnSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

through the lens

sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz

Where’s the tiger Dada @sdzsafaripark fun!

pablo_law

ZOONOOZ n AUGUST 2015

Another wonderful visit to the park yesterday. Your staff was helpful and so knowledgeable

about the animals, as usual. So glad to be a member and able to visit often. Best investment!!! Beverly Hilton

Another beautiful day @sdzsafaripark! Big thanks to Aaron for a great behind-the-scenes tour.

#stopkillingrhinos @CAO916

Join our friends @sdzglobal & write “Stop Killing Rhinos” on your hand & tweet it

using #rally4rhinos. Please RT. @Chargers

you said it

66

Feeding a giraffe called Wanda was a highlight of our

visit to @sdzsafaripark #sandiego @motherofalltrip

Most amazing experience at San Diego Zoo, saw this a

mazing animal #soSweet #orangutan @sandiegozoo @actornicole

Since I was a wee lad, watching Sat. morning nature shows, I’ve

wanted to come here. Dream come true. @sandiegozoo @brandoncozart

Backstage Pass was awesome, during our son’s Make-A-Wish trip last year. His favorite animal was a tiger and we got to meet Connor, and his mom is Mek from the

Fresno Chaffee Zoo. We loved the zoo it’s so beautiful can’t wait until we go again someday. Nancy Navarro

Feeding the giraffes! #socool #giraffe #sandiegozoo

brittanyking31


MAMMAL OF MYSTERY:

DEVI THE HIPPO CALF


s mysteries go, it wasn’t so much a case of “whodunnit” as “what is it?” It was pretty

clear to keepers on March 23, 2015, that Funani the African river hippo had giv-

en birth to a calf. They also knew Otis, the father, had definitely played a role

in the arrival. But it would be more than two months before anyone

could answer, with any certainty, whether the pair had produced a son or a daughter. Funani, of course, had the information, but she wasn’t telling. Nor was the notoriously protective mother letting anyone close enough to get a good enough look. Inquiring minds—and camera phones—would have to wait.

By Peggy ScottASSOCIATE EDITOR

Photos by Ken BohnSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

A

Funani is always ready

with an encouraging

“nudge.”


Funani is a famously protective hippo mom, and keepers respect her wishes.

Game ChangerWith the baby’s birth, hippo keepers knew that things had just become cuter—and a bit more complicated. “The arrival of a calf changes everything,” explains John Michel, senior keeper. “With a male and female pair, the routine is for them to go on and off ex-hibit together. But add a calf, which must be kept separate from the father, and the situa-tion completely changes.”

The youngster’s arrival turned life at the Zoo’s hippo barn into a game of musical chairs of sorts. “Otis is out on exhibit in the pool Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,” John says. “Funani and her calf go out Tues-days, Thursdays, and weekends.” One as-pect, John notes, did not change. “Funani runs things. If she doesn’t want to shift off, she doesn’t,” he explains. “She and the calf

were out in the main exhibit for about two weeks after she gave birth. Otis moved from the barn to another outdoor area and back again during that time. You don’t want to stress a mother hippo.” John adds that Otis’ personality is a big help during a change of routine. “He is a laid-back, go-with-the-flow guy,” John says. “You couldn’t ask for a more mellow fellow.”

Mom Said NoWith Funani, however, “mellow” isn’t usu-ally the first word that comes to mind. “She has always been a doting mom,” John says. “But with this calf, she’s been super protec-tive.” One reason for her hyper-vigilance, he muses, might rest with the calf ’s size. “Fu-nani has had 7 calves here at the Zoo in 20 years,” John says. “This calf was the small-

est and a little bit wobbly at first, so maybe she’s just being extra careful.” During the early days, Funani kept the calf tucked pro-tectively under the elephant ear plant at the edge of their pool, always positioning her-self between her baby and the viewing glass. She would frequently nurse the baby up on the beach toward the back of the exhibit, keeping one wary eye on her adoring pub-lic. The only individuals deemed acceptable, besides her keepers? A mother mallard who was also raising a family in the hippo exhib-it. “One afternoon, the ducklings were nap-ping on Funani’s back, which was the only part of her showing above the surface of the pool,” John recalls. “It was quite a sight.”

Funani’s sensitivity, combined with her species’ natural behaviors, made the gender guessing game even more challenging. A

Funani keeps Devi, her “mini-me,” right by her side.


water-loving creature, the hippo’s habit of spending up to 16 hours a day submerged earned it its name, a Greek word that means “river horse.” Well, you may be able to lead a horse to water, but you can’t make a river horse show you its calf! By the time keep-ers started looking for “clues,” the calf was already able to push up to the surface of the pool. This meant the chance for a good look as Funani nudged the baby upward against the exhibit glass had already passed them by. “It was pretty funny to see us trying to get a peek,” John recalls. “There we were, crouched along the glass with our cellphone cameras, trying to get a definitive photo.” And as senior keeper Jen Chapman noted in a blog about Funani’s baby, sometimes nature works against you. Those wrinkles in a baby hippo’s skin? Yes, they’re adorable—

but they can also “often hide certain charac-teristics we are looking for in determining gender!” she wrote.

It’s a Girl—and an HonorOnce “Bellywatch 2015” finally paid off, the calf was at last determined to be female. Picking a suitable name was the next step. The hippo crew had wanted to pay trib-ute to David Smith, a much-beloved fel-low keeper, but when the calf turned out to be a girl, his coworkers researched the feminized version of his name: Devi. The name fits in more ways than one. “Devi also means ‘goddess’ in Hindi, which is very fitting— since many of us were kneel-ing in front of the viewing glass, as if genuflecting, while we’d try to get a glimpse of her belly!” Jen wrote.

These days, Devi has grown into her own and filled out nicely. She follows her mother around and willingly approaches her keep-ers. Funani has relaxed a bit, but she still tries to stay in front of Devi and guide her. Mother and daughter are interacting with their neighbors, the okapis and duikers, and Devi’s confidence grows each day—along with her personality. Jen calls the connec-tion Devi has with her mom “amazing,” and the little one is developing into a well-rounded hippo—in every sense of the word!

There’s a new routine at the hippo barn these days, one that brings smiles to the keepers’ faces. “We open the gate for Funani and Devi to come in and here they are, trot-ting toward us, looking like the Clydesdale and the Chihuahua,” John says. “How could it be cuter?” n


Play fighting is one way calves learn about hippo life.

Funani kept her baby safely

tucked under the elephant

ear plant at the pool’s edge.

By Paige HoworthANIMAL CARE MANAGER, ENTOMOLOGY

Photos by Tammy SprattSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

istory holds many lessons; bits of knowledge that can be applied to situations seemingly un-like the original event. Take Black Tuesday, the day of the catastrophic crash of the stock

market in 1929 and the Great Depression that followed. I remember learning about that in history class, and it was also presented as a warning and a caution to be vigilant—not

just regarding stocks and bonds but as a metaphor for paying attention to signs of trouble in any situation before there’s a crash. Well, entomologists are seeing that it’s almost Black

Tuesday for bees. I can’t help but wonder: are we writing the script now for a future without them, and how will humans deal with the consequences?

Pollinators are not as big a concern for most people as their stock portfolios, but they should be. Since we have not “hit bot-tom” yet—and there’s no index to tell us how close we are—it is easy to leave the worry for another day. But rest assured, the warning bells are ringing. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, beetles, and flies are in crisis worldwide, suffering from pesticide exposure, habitat loss, and disease. Polli-nators make fertilization possible for many plants; without them, food as we know it would simply not exist. No fruits, veggies, peanut butter, or chocolate—and that’s just a start. If this sounds like the same old sto-ry you hear about humans and nature all the time, stay with me a little longer. This is more than another wildlife-in-crisis sto-ry, and I guarantee that it will affect you personally—and definitely financially—if people stay on the current course.

What is the cause of this alarming de-cline? Most of the reasons have to do with urbanization and agriculture. While those may seem only marginally related to you and me, the reality is that our culture re-sults from our choices—and the market always follows demand.

Pesticidesll insects are affected by contact

with insecticides. A newer class of systemic insecticides called

neonicotinoids has been shown to severely affect bee health. In agricul-ture, this type of insecticide is most often applied as a seed coating, and the insect nerve poison subsequently shows up in

The last pair of hind legs on a honeybee is adapted to shape and carry a pollen pellet as the bee goes about its daily foraging.

The pollen caught among the tiny hairs on these honeybees’ bodies will be brushed off when they visit another flower, effectively cross-pollinating the plant.

By drawing the droplet in and out of her mouth repeatedly, moisture evaporates and the nectar becomes more of a pellet than a drop. She will then swallow it and regurgitate it back at the nest. Masked bees are a solitary species that often uses old burrows of other insect species for a nest.

Some bees have a different way of transporting pollen. This female masked bee, Hylaeus sp. is about to concentrate a drop of nectar to make it easier to carry back to her nest.

every tissue as the plant grows: leaf, stem, pollen, and nectar.

As a result, though the insecticide is targeted at “pest” insects, there can be serious consequences for any insect that visits the plant for nectar or pollen. Some need only be present when the planting occurs, since some of the chemical seed coating is released as crop “dust” in ag-ricultural plantings. The effects of these pesticide exposures include immediate death by contact, but some are sublethal, meaning that the animal does not die right away but experiences disorientation, loss of navigational ability, paralysis, and even memory loss as the result of contact.

This is not just an agricultural issue; many products containing this type of insecticide can be found in local home improvement stores for landscaping use. Federal regulations govern the concentra-tions of these poisons used in agriculture, yet there are no restrictions for home use, and that sets up a dangerous scenario. Consumers often do not follow the in-structions for application and the concen-trations can be many times higher than federal regulations allow. This means more of the poison finds its way to bees and other animals through gardens and runoff from irrigation.

It is important to note here that the majority of research on pesticide effects in pollinators has been conducted in hon-eybees because they are managed com-mercially, making them more accessible and measurable. Since their biology is very similar to that of native bees, we can assume that the damaging effects from pesticides are also suffered by native bees.

Why are native bees important? Be-cause no pollinator serves our plants bet-ter. Native bees have evolved alongside the flowering plants that they pollinate, and they are usually much better at it than non-native honeybees. It’s easy for honeybees to get all the attention, be-cause they are used in commercial agri-culture and are relatively easy to study. But native bees such as mason bees, min-ing bees, and leafcutter bees have been quietly carrying their weight in our eco-systems for millennia.


Measuring a mere 13/64 inches (5 millimeters) long, sweat bees Lasioglossum sp.—a native bee—are the largest group of bees; small but mighty indeed!

Habitat Matterss human populations grow, less

space remains for native pollina-tors to thrive. Overgrown spaces

with wildflowers, weeds, and nest-ing sites are disappearing, banished in favor of manicured lawns that eliminate key nec-tar and pollen sources—like dandelions—and encourage pesticide use. Agricultural practices also alter land that was once suit-able pollinator habitat. Instead of a diver-sity of nectar and pollen sources, acreage is filled with insecticide- and herbicide-laden monocultures as far as the eye can see.

Two types of genetically modified (GM) crops are routinely used in agriculture. One is an insect-resistant type, in which a bacterium that is lethal to certain chewing

insects is incorporated into the genome of the plant, and the target insect species are killed when they feed on the plant. The sec-ond is an herbicide-resistant variety, which is definitely a problem for pollinators, espe-cially butterflies and bees. In herbicide-re-sistant GM crops, the plants are engineered to be resistant to applications of certain herbicides. They can withstand repeated applications of herbicide, which kills all the flowering weeds surrounding the planted area—the ones the pollinators depend on.

This is of particular concern for mon-arch butterflies, whose larval host plant is milkweed. Milkweed thrives in disturbed habitats and has historically been found adjacent to crops. Most people are familiar with the epic migration of the eastern mon-

arch butterfly population to the oyamel fir tree forests of Central Mexico. Over the past few years, the count of overwintering mon-archs in the protected reserves has revealed a catastrophic drop—down an incredible 90 percent from the 20-year average and stand-ing at an all-time historical low since the migration was discovered in the 1970s. Lack of available host plants due to GM-related herbicide application has been identified as a key factor in this staggering decline.

Diseasehere are a great many parasites

and pathogens that burden pol-linators, and the ones causing

the most damage are introduced species. Native bumblebees suffer from a


The percentage of managed honeybee

colony losses experienced by beekeepers in

the US in the April 2014-

April 2015 year.

Direct pollination includes everything from cucumbers to squash, coffee to basil, strawberries to cantaloupes, cashews, and everything in between. Indirect pollination includes the insect-pollinated foods like alfalfa and clover that we feed to our livestock (from which we get milk, eggs, and meat).

The estimated percentage of the

animal and plant products in our diets that can be

traced, both directly and indirectly, to

insect pollination.

The percentage of decline in overwintering

monarch butterflies in the Central Mexican butterfly preserves

from the 20-year average, as measured in the winter

of 2013-2014.

The percentage of the Earth’s

flowering plants that depend on insect

pollination to set seed or

produce fruit.

The dollar value of insect-pollinated crops in the

United States.

Beekeeping is a tough business, and the rewards grow smaller each year. At this time, there are only about 2.5 million commercial honeybee colonies in the United States. For perspective, it takes 1.6 million colonies to pollinate the annual California almond crop alone.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL n SANDIEGOZOO.ORG 21

The native bee house at the Zoo shows a number of ways humans can provide nesting habitat for bees.

A bundle of cut bamboo culms makes a good nesting option for some bees.

Different types of bees seek out holes of various diameter and depth. Use the Internet to determine which species you may have in your area and what their preferences are.

A log with holes drilled into the end is another way to invite native bees to nest in your yard.

ZOONOOZ n AUGUST 2015

PH

OTO

BY K

EN B

OH

N,SD

ZG22

Pollinators need more than just one organization’s efforts: they need your help, too. Just as numerous bees contributing a bit of nectar to a hive creates an abundance of honey, each seemingly small choice and effort an individual person makes builds momentum in pollinator conservation.

BUY ORGANIC: If you don’t currently buy any organic foods or clothing, think about picking even one item the next time you visit the store. You could

potentially lower the demand for crops produced using pesticides and reduce the overall application (over one BILLION pounds yearly in the US) of these chemicals.

STEM THE GM: Even if you don’t care whether or not you eat genetically modified crops, buying GM food supports the practice of widespread

herbicide application in agriculture and the resulting decimation of pollinator habitat. Organic items cannot intentionally include GM crops; those labeled “Non GMO” have been positively determined not to contain them. One non-GM item in your basket is a small step in the right direction for pollinators.

BUILD YOUR WAYSTATION: Create a habitat in your yard, garden, or flowerbox that invites pollinators. Plant some milkweed for monarchs and

include other plants that attract and sustain pollinators. Some great planting information can be found online; just search for “pollinator garden.”

AVOID PESTICIDE USE AT HOME: See aphids on your outdoor plants? Wait a few weeks, and you are likely to see them disappear into the mouths

of hungry ladybugs! Hold off on the pesticides, and give the natural system a chance to find its balance. If you must use pesticides, read the manufacturer’s instructions for the recommended concentration and only use it at or below that level.

LET PART OF YOUR YARD GO WILD FOR POLLINATORS: Long, overgrown grasses create a perfect habitat for nesting and overwintering

native bees, and flowering weeds are a staple nectar and pollen source for bees and butterflies. Keep in mind that most native bees are solitary and do not sting readily. They are good, safe neighbors—especially if you have a garden.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD: Most people have no idea that the sustainability of food as we know it is so tightly linked with the health of pollinators. Share what you know!

non-native fungal disease, while honeybees struggle with introduced ectoparasites such as varroa mites and fungal infestations from nosema spores.

A combination of all these—and prob-ably other—factors has created the phenom-enon known as Colony Collapse Disorder, which is decimating honeybee colonies in the United States. The precise cause is still unknown because the bees simply disap-pear, taking the evidence with them. But one thing is clear: life is hard for honeybees these days.

Choose and Tellhe magnitude of the problem

makes it seem like there is no stopping it, but the reality is that

a steady stream of small choices can help turn the tide. Once the threats to pollinators are understood, everyone can contribute to the solution by making dif-ferent choices.

At the San Diego Zoo, we are committed to helping pollinators recover. We’re spread-ing the word about the pollinator crisis in our education programs and through advocacy of the Pollinator Garden, which is located at the entrance to Elephant Odyssey. This beautiful space is dedicated to helping sus-tain bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, flies, and beetles by providing a steady supply of pesticide-free nectar and host plants, as well as suitable living spaces for native bees.

The Pollinator Garden also hosts a mon-arch waystation. This area includes a dedi-cated section of native milkweed available for monarch butterflies to lay eggs from spring through fall, helping to boost the West Coast population. Monarchs have deservedly been in the spotlight recently; they have been advo-cated for endangered species protections due to their alarming decline and the potential threat to the eastern population. In one re-sponse to the 2014 Presidential Memorandum “Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators,” the federal government has recently set aside almost $2.5 million for monarch butterfly habitat restoration and educational outreach.

The monarch is a highly recognizable, iconic species—and many more species need our help. As a result, we have just fin-


When a beehive was discovered in an irrigation box on the Zoo’ gorilla habitat roof, the bees were carefully relocated. The sweet reward of honey straight from the comb went to the gorillas and other primates!

PH

OTO

BY PAIG

E HO

WO

RTH

,SDZG24 ZOONOOZ n AUGUST 2015

ished construction on a facility for rearing lesser-known imperiled San Diego butter-fly species. We are working collaboratively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in giving some of these endangered pollinators a population boost in the near future. If you have never heard of the quino checkerspot butterfly, the Hermes copper, or the Laguna Mountains skipper, it is our hope that you will learn about them through the efforts of the San Diego Zoo’s Butterfly Conservation Lab—stay tuned!

Beyond butterflies, honeybees also get a hand here at the Zoo. They gather in swarms while looking for a new home, and when they swarm in undesirable spots at the Zoo, we find them a more suitable place to go. For the past two years, we have been main-taining honeybee colonies on grounds and do live removals of swarms and established hives in problem places wherever possible.

Raising Voices, Rising Actionollinators are at a crossroads, and it seems that their advocates are being heard at long last. In 2013,

the European Union banned the use of certain neonicotinoid pesticides for two years, pending further evaluation of their effects on pollinators. In our own country, tireless invertebrate conservation advo-cates have facilitated state legislation in Oregon requiring pollinator education and testing as part of the pesticide ap-plicator licensing process, to avoid indis-criminate use. And there is now a tremen-dous focus on the monarch butterfly and government-wide attention to the pollina-tor crisis in general.

Most importantly, pollinators have YOU. From The Great Sunflower Project to Bumblebee Watch to Journey North, citi-zen science projects for these vital creatures abound. There has never been a better time to get involved and help underscore the val-ue of pollinators. Your choices matter, and the vibrant, flowering world that we live in depends on it.

Black Tuesday for bees? Not on our watch. So find your pollinators, make your contribution, and help bring back the buzz! n

This female leafcutter bee Lithurgopsis apicalis has already gathered a good load of pollen but still seeks more.

A honeybee Apis mellifera and a green sweat bee Agapostemon texanus share the bounty of a cactus blossom.

Monarch butterflies have been in the spotlight lately due to an alarming decline in their numbers.


NEW DIGS FOR DHOLES


The pack of eight dholes is settling in nicely to their spacious exhibit at the Safari Park.

NEW DIGS FOR DHOLES


By Karyl CarmignaniSTAFF WRITER


Asiatic wild dogs, also called dholes, are energetic and highly social animals.

ith a mixture of grace and curiosity, the pack lopes effortlessly throughout its new three-acre exhibit. Last spring, a family pack of eight Asiatic wild dogs Cuon alpinus, also called dholes (pronounced “doles”), moved into the former tiger habitat in the Asian Savanna area at the Safari Park. This is the first time that Park visitors have been able to see these beautiful wild dogs on exhibit at the Park. The auburn-colored dholes have erect ears, a dark tail, and a creamy white underbelly and leg accents, making them both camouflaged and striking in the grassy, light-dappled exhibit.

Dholes are super-sensitive animals, skittish to the point of potentially overheating under stress. But “this pack sur-prised us with their hardy way of adjusting to their new environment and different keepers,” said Tina Hunter, senior keeper at the Safari Park. Made up of one female and eight males, including Lucius, who is the father of the rest of the group, the highly social pack has been added to the Park’s Behind-the-Scenes Safaris. “Dholes are unique animals that most people have never seen before,” said Tina. “They will be an exciting addition to our safaris.”

W28 ZOONOOZ n AUGUST 2015

Dhole HouseOnce the tigers moved into the new Tull Family Tiger Trail, their former exhibit was found to be a great habitat for the dholes. The six separate indoor bedrooms are arranged in a horseshoe shape. “The tigers, as a soli-tary species, weren’t so keen on this arrange-ment, but the highly social dholes like to keep an eye on each other,” explained Tina. There is a feed chute on each door that was used to dispense bones and other treats for the tigers, which also works for dhole treats. The vast outdoor area of the dhole habitat needed a few adjustments. “Dholes are great diggers, so the underground, three-foot bar-rier along the fenceline was closely inspected and reinforced before they moved in,” said Tina. Dholes are also devoted water lovers, so the existing pool is a favorite hang-out spot. “We built a shelter over part of the pool so the dholes can spend more time in the wa-ter, even when the sun is strongest.”

Dhole DramaWhile the keepers are still getting acquaint-ed with each dog, there is a clear hierarchy in the group that must be adhered to. “We always feed them in order of dominance,” said Tina, which avoids conflicts later. For instance, Lucius recently lost his top-dog status to one of his sons, Sanuk, so he is now fed second. Each animal gets a special ground-meat canine diet daily and a rab-bit and femur bone weekly. “We hand-feed them so each animal gets its fair share.” It can be difficult to tell the dogs apart, aside from Lucius missing a piece of his ear and the youngsters lacking white fur on their chest and feet. But the individuals reveal themselves in other ways. “We go by be-havioral differences more than physical dif-ferences,” explained Tina. Even that can be challenging, as “they rarely want to be sepa-rated from one another.”

Dholes are pack-driven animals, and their keepers are learning the etiquette of the pack dynamics while also working with individuals for husbandry purposes. To maximize animal welfare and healthcare and minimize stress to the animals, each dhole—Sanuk, Lucius, Beni, Jetsan, Katsu, Torma, Kono, and Yoshi—will be schooled in practical behaviors like station (staying in

a particular spot), down, sit, target, rise up, present paw, and open mouth. This train-ing is accomplished through positive rein-forcement with rewards, which deepens the animals’ relationship with their keepers and keeps the sessions upbeat and constructive.

Dhole TalkDespite the dholes’ resemblance to domestic dogs, they are still wild carnivores that de-serve a wide berth. “They can be aggressive, so we only go in with the young ones,” said

Tina, “and always with two keepers.” She explained that the dhole’s greeting includes snapping at each other—an expression of endearment for them, but not so endearing for humans. Dholes can be quite vocal, too, calling to keep in touch over short or long distances, which is handy when they are cooperatively hunting. Living in close-knit packs of 5 to 12 dogs—there is one breed-ing alpha pair and the rest help tend to the pups—communication in the form of whis-tles, barks, growls, alarm calls, and other chatter is key.

The International Union for Conserva-tion of Nature estimates that there are fewer than 2,500 dholes remaining throughout their range in Asia, with a downward trend continuing. Threats include loss of habi-tat and prey base (mostly deer and other hoofed animals), and dholes are listed as endangered. Besides the Safari Park, only two other facilities in the US have dholes: The Wilds in Ohio and the Minnesota Zoo.

San Diego Zoo Global has been breeding dholes since 2001 in an off-exhibit breeding site; 20 pups have been born there to 4 dif-ferent mothers. Our newest litter of dholes was born in January 2015, bringing our current off-exhibit pack population to 12. Because of the breeding success, the animal care staff was able to form the non-breeding group that has taken up residence in the Asian Savanna exhibit. So take a Behind-the-Scenes Safari and check them out. I double dog dare you! n

Dholes use water to stay cool and hydrated. They enjoy their pool at the Safari Park!

Dholes are unusual animals that few people have ever seen. They are a part of the Behind-the-Scenes Safaris at the Park.



Keeping Flamingos in the Pink at the Zoo

By Karyl CarmignaniSTAFF WRITER



Athena Wilson carefully holds a flamingo on its way to its exam.

Keepers Mike Touch and Rhonda Bennett confirm the bird’s tag number.

or decades, Zoo visitors have been greeted on the front plaza by a flurry of pink-feathered, high-stepping, long-necked, boisterous birds whose avian drama unfolds each day like a soap opera. To ensure these beauti-ful Caribbean flamingos are “in the pink,” the Zoo’s flamingo roundup is organized and orchestrated each spring. Instead of cowboy boots and lassos, this roundup requires catchers, handlers, flock monitors, and a brigade of devoted staff, all working to make sure each bird gets top-

notch care during its annual exam at Flamingo Lagoon. The Bird Department and vet-erinary staff coordinate with other departments to make sure this three-hour event goes off without a hitch.

There are about 40 staff members in with the birds, while numerous other employees assist on the outside. They deliver bubble-wrap-covered barriers to protect the birds, whisk away sandbags when the roundup is completed, and transport young birds to the lower duck pond. “This is the one time of year when each and every flamingo gets a hands-on physical exam by our veterinarians,” explained Amy Flanagan, animal care supervisor. “We couldn’t do it without the help of many other departments!”

F

PH

OTO

BY

JOO

P K

UH

N,S

DZG

PH

OTO

BY

JOO

P K

UH

N,S

DZG


A vaccination is administered by

Brian Opitz (right) while Jessica Theule

keeps the bird still.

PH

OTO

BY

SDZG


Team RoundupFlamingo Lagoon was designed with this health-care process in mind. Five keepers form a line, gently herding the birds toward the holding area. As the barricades ap-proach, other bird species (ducks, geese, and crested screamers) that may have been in-cluded in the group dart out of the way past the keepers. The flamingos are corralled past cushioned barriers in the deep end of the lagoon, while one spotter is stationed on the bridge to observe the birds for signs of fatigue. If any are noted, that bird goes to the front of the line.

A few birds at a time are funneled into

a smaller area to be calmly caught by three catchers and then handed off to a handler, who holds the bird throughout the process of visiting each health station. Amy ex-plained that the birds are held “like a foot-ball under the arm,” with the head and neck supported by the keeper’s other hand. The legs are folded underneath the bird. “They are pretty docile while we’re holding them,” she said, “but they can grab your hair or nose on occasion.”

Once a bird is secured, it is taken to vari-ous stations on the lagoon shore. The bird’s leg band number is matched with its infor-mation card and its microchip is checked. Each bird is weighed (most weigh between

6 and 11 pounds) and gets a West Nile virus vaccination. A blood sample is collected and a physical exam is conducted, which includes inspecting the bird’s beak, legs, toes, wings, feathers, eyes, and ears. The process is thor-ough, since the birds are only handled once a year. Zoo veterinarian Meg Sutherland-Smith, D.V.M., explained, “The information and experience gained by getting our hands on the flock once a year helps us manage any medical conditions that the birds may devel-op throughout the year.”

Foot Map JourneyEach bird’s information card includes a “foot map,” similar to a fingerprint for humans, so animal care staff can monitor each flamingo’s feet for any cracks or lesions that may develop. Flamingos are long-lived birds, with a possible lifespan of more than 50 years in zoos! Since they spend a great deal of time with their feet submerged in water, it’s important to monitor their web-bing and toes and those famous long legs. Monitoring foot condition allows animal care staff to decide if any changes need to be made in the birds’ environment.

Since there are usually between 6 and 12 young birds that hatched the previous year, they will need a follow-up booster vaccine

Amelia Suarez holds the flamingo on the scale while Jessica Theule notes the weight.

After the bird’s checkup, it happily spreads its wings and returns to its flamboyant flock.

PH

OTO

BY

SDZG

PH

OTO

BY

SDZG


in a few weeks. They are gathered up and taken to the African Marsh Pond located at the bottom of Hippo Trail, which avoids causing stress for the rest of the flock when booster shot day comes. Amy explained that cart drivers with carriers are ready to safely move these birds.

Each bird is carefully and efficiently handled. After the health checks, the f la-mingos are released back into their lagoon, where they shake it off and get back to the leggy business of being a f lamboyant f la-mingo. “This year we were able to process 78 flamingos in just over 3 hours,” said Amy with pride. “Each year we refine the process and get better and more efficient. The annual flamingo roundup is truly the biggest collab-orative avian health care project at the Zoo!” That’s a bright feather in the Zoo’s cap. n

It takes a village for the annual flamingo roundup! A few key players (left to right): Amy Flanagan, Athena Wilson, Mike Grue, and Anne Clayton.

Special care is paid to flamingo feet, and each bird has a “foot map,” similar to a fingerprint, that is used to monitor changes over time.

PH

OTO

BY

JOO

P K

UH

N,S

DZG

FURNITURE MAKES THE HOME—EVEN FOR ANIMALS!

The beauty of a branch is that the animal has a choice of ways to use it.

By Judy BellSENIOR HORTICULTURIST


hen people find out I work for the San Diego Zoo, they almost always say, “How cool! You get to work with all the animals!” Well, yes… and no. As a horticulturist, I use my knowledge of plants to try to make the animals’ habi-tats enriching, fun, safe, and, more than anything else, a comfortable home.

Creating a new exhibit from scratch or even remodeling an existing space takes teamwork. Through multiple meetings, horticulturists, arborists, keepers, behaviorists, archi-tects, construction and maintenance staff, curators, and operations personnel work together toward a common goal: an excellent home for the animals. The questions in the design phase are many. What should the habitat look like? What does the animal need to thrive, physically and mentally? How can we foster the animal’s expression of natural behaviors? These questions help us define what “furniture” will be needed. Huge tree stumps, logs, large trees, shrubs, tall grasses, specialty plants, and more are supplied by the Horticulture Department.

W37SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL n SANDIEGOZOO.ORG

A tangle of thick branches adds important elements to a gharial’s zoo home and gives Zoo visitors a glimpse into what its natural underwater surroundings are like.

FURNITURE FOR FAUNAany of the Zoo’s exhibits have massive logs for the animals to climb on, over, and under. One way to get furniture

like this is to have a big storm. Then we gath-er up any downed trees that fit the bill as can-didates for placement inside an exhibit. The best trees to use are eucalyptus, because they have hard wood and many natural oils that make them water repellant and resistant to rot. Other tree species can be used, but they may have to be replaced in a matter of years, a costly aspect to “re-furnishing.” I used to feel a bit sad when a tree was felled, until I realized that no tree in the Zoo could have a better “afterlife” than to be a jungle gym for a young orangutan or gorilla. No tree, branch, or rootball is ever wasted here at the Zoo. Many of the original pieces of eucalyp-tus wood placed in the gorilla exhibit when it was built in 1991 are still there. They are

considered “antique furniture” at this point! Moving these pieces takes teamwork and

the right kind of equipment. A crane lifts logs into a big truck for transport to a hold-ing area and unloads them. Cranes come into play again when it’s time to place the furni-ture in an open-topped exhibit. If the exhibit has a roof or netted top, we also need a door, at least as wide as a Bobcat® (the tractor-type bobcat, not a feline). Sometimes we just use good ol’ muscle—and a lot of it!

FIT AND FUNCTIONn occasion, an exhibit getting a “re-model” already has some plant ma-terial in it to work with. However,

if there are large trees positioned close to the exhibit’s perimeter, we determine if they need to be relocated. Trees in such a spot may provide an avenue for escape as they grow—especially for arboreal primates. Such

huge trees pose another problem in a closed exhibit if they press against the wire bar-rier. In either case, the Zoo’s tree crew uses their abundant skills to artistically “reduce” the canopy. And they continue to do so on a regular basis for the lifetime of the exhibit.

In addition to taking steps to ensure the trees don’t harm the exhibit structure, we also consider and plan for ways to protect the flora from the fauna. Barriers to guard trees from inquisitive and diligent chewing crit-ters come in all shapes and sizes. Large rocks placed around the base of a tree are one way to prevent root damage from animals that like to dig. Wire mesh covering branches and tree trunks discourages chewing and bark removal that, if continuous, could even-tually cause the death of the tree. These solu-tions work well with most hoofed species and small primates.

Creating naturalistic habitats for great

M

O


Unlike most pet domestic cats, zoo

felines are encouraged to use the furniture as a

scratching post!

apes provides a completely different chal-lenge. By nature, they are in a constant state of “eating their environment,” and as a re-sult, they need regular reminding that the landscape is not their lunch. This reminder is usually reinforced by a protective “hot wire,” which sends a mild electric pulse to discour-age contact. The large trees will continue to provide shade as long as the protection is in place and the animals don’t figure out how to get around it. In the case of many primate exhibits, we use fake trees or metal arma-tures with rope hammocks for convenient and comfy places to hang out and relax. We have also created faux ficus trees by using cuttings of ficus rooted in manmade struc-tures. These are placed within arm’s reach of the primates, so they can browse on the ma-terial at their convenience.

PRIME PLACEMENThe overall selection and placement of plant material is critical to the ulti-mate success of an exhibit. A plant’s

roots stand a much better chance of survival if they can be sheltered by a deadwood log or tucked away between rocks. If plants that are not typically used as browse are used as exhibit plantings, the inhabitants may not see them as edible and pass them by.

Regular replanting and reseeding of ex-hibits is a way of life for our horticultur-

ists. By using a variety of grasses —clump-ing and running, warm season and cool season—there will always be something green to prevent erosion and compaction from the pitter-patter and heavy footfalls of the animals. Any plant material with the ability to reseed and naturalize within the exhibit holds a distinct advantage in these tough conditions.

The best strategy is to plant early and often, hoping to engage the animal inhabit-ants with many types of plant options, in-cluding enrichment in the form of browse (cut material and leafy branches, sometimes with fruit or flowers). We seek to keep ani-mals occupied by climbing on deadwood, swinging on ropes, and munching on browse that has been tossed into a ham-mock by a keeper, rather than destroying the landscape plants. All of these strategies work wonders to keep animals away from the live plants inside an exhibit.

From big statement pieces to the small flourishes, plant material has a positive ef-fect on our animals’ homes, and it’s a part of being a zoo horticulturist that brings a great deal of satifaction. On your next visit to the Zoo or Safari Park, watch for the ways we use logs, branches, and plantings to help the animals thrive. Who knows, you might even get some ideas for your own pets at home! n

T

Carefully selected and installed furniture provides a safe environment in which zoo animals can exhibit natural behaviors.


Clockewise from top left: A dead tree stump makes an excellent nest site for many cavity-nesting bird species; in their native range, cheetahs often perch atop low tree branches (and termite mounds) to get a better view of their surroundings; a massive tree trunk in the Safari Park’s cheetah habitat gives the cats there the same ability; trees add a veritcal element to an animal’s habitat; large boulders placed around the base of a tree protects the plant’s roots from the curious snouts and hooves of these peccaries; a stout tree trunk, also called deadfall, makes a perfect perch for this Andean bear.


support

A plush toy might just be a cheetah cub’s best friend.

WHEN WISHES COME TRUE AT THE ZOO AND SAFARI PARK

Conversations with keepers at the San Di-ego Zoo or Safari Park often begin with “What if. . . ” or “Did you know. . . ?” Stay a little longer and you might hear what they use to help enrich the lives of animals in their care. It could be a favorite scent for giant pandas, a giant bone for jaguars, large balls for elephants, tigers, and bears, or a veggie ladder for parrots. Even new mulch or plants in a habitat can interest animals and encourage them to investi-gate their home. They may also look for new—and often yummy—surprises, like raisins strewn among leaves for the bono-bos or meatballs hidden for big cats.

Our keepers may not have a fairy god-mother who grants wishes, but they do have

an amazing group of generous Zoo and Park donors who check out our Wish List each month. These supporters purchase items as diverse as Panda Cam equipment, a clock radio to entertain great apes, or hammocks for marmosets and clouded leopards. You

can even feed a gorilla or lion for a day or a week. And don’t forget “snow day” enrich-ment for polar bears and giant pandas: one snowball is just $5 and fits most budgets.

Looking back to November 19, 2006, when our first Wish List debuted on the Zoo’s website, we added up the num-bers and realized that we’ve raised over $900,000 for our animals. More than 6,500 donors have purchased close to 26,000 items for the species they love! In the first 10 minutes after the Animal Enrichment Holiday Wish List program went live that first year, we received 2 donations. Our first purchase was for an enrichment food puz-zle for gorillas: $42. Great apes and other primates love manipulating the feeders un-til the treat falls out or they scoop it out—providing hours of stimulation and fun for these intelligent animals. Our most expen-sive item back then was for a necropsy table for the Zoo hospital: $25,000.

So if you have ever wanted to buy a gift for your favorite cheetah, macaw, orang-utan, or meerkat that will help them live a healthy lifestyle, you can visit the Wish List on the Zoo’s website at sandiegozoo.org/wishlist. Each month you will see who is celebrating a birthday and can choose from items that will make them and their keep-ers smile. And, yes, we do believe that ani-mals can smile! n


By Mary SekulovichSENIOR EDITOR, DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Orangutan Indah explores her creative side with paper and nontoxic paints.


By creating a Charitable Gift Annuity or including the Zoological Society of San Diego in your will or trust, you can help protect wildlife. To receive more information,

please call 619-557-3947 or visit our website at zoolegacy.org.

You can help secure the future for wildlife!

Heritage Guild

from the archives

Be Fruitful...Arriving in San Diego as a pair from the Cal-cutta Zoo in 1940, Rube and Rubie the African river hip-pos quickly became popular with visitors and staff—not to mention the stork! Their first calf, a “little” lady named Lotus, was born in 1943, and over their 40-plus years at the Zoo, they produced 10 more offspring together.

One of Rube and Rubie’s favorite things was water-melon, and watching them enjoy the juicy fruit became a “must-see” among Zoo visitors. The pair would scoop up the whole melons and chomp down, popping the treat like humans would a grape. Rube also impressed anyone

within earshot with his vocalizations. Cued by a keeper mimicking the sound, Rube would open his mouth, lift his chin, and let loose with what sounded like a cross between a bellow and a snore. The sound reverberated throughout the canyon where the hippo pool stood. It caused more than a few people to cover their ears!

Hippos have an average life span of 25 to 30 years in the wild, but Rube’s 51 years made him one of the oldest hippos in zoos. The legacy of this beloved “power couple” lives on—today, the pair have been immortalized as two of the Zoo’s popular costumed characters! n


PUBLISHED SINCE 1926 AUGUST 2015 n LXXXVIII–NO. 8

SAN DIEGO ZOO HOURS: August 1–31: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; September 1–7: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

September 8–25 and 27–30: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; September 26: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK HOURS: August 1–16: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; August 17–31: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

September 1–6: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; September 7–30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about our animals and events, visit sandiegozoo.org or call 619-231-1515.

The Zoological Society of San Diego was founded in Octo ber 1916 by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D., as a private, nonprofit corporation that now does business as San Diego Zoo Global.This digital edition of ZOONOOZ® is currently published every month. Versions are available for download on iPads and a PDF version is available for viewing on Kindle Fire, desktops, Android devices, and smartphones. Publisher is San Diego Zoo Global, at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, 619-231-1515. Copyright® 2015 San Diego Zoo Global. All rights reserved. “ZOONOOZ” Reg. U.S. Pat. Office. All column and program titles are trademarks of San Diego Zoo Global. Annual Memberships: Dual $125, new; $110, renewal. Single $102, new; $90, renewal. Membership includes unlimited entrance to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

MANAGING EDITOR KAREN E. WORLEY

ASSOCIATE EDITORS PEGGY SCOTT

STAFF WRITERS WENDY PERKINSKARYL CARMIGNANI

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL™ PHOTOGRAPHER KEN BOHN TAMMY SPRATT

DIGITAL IMAGING TECHNICIAN TAMMY SPRATT

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION DAMIEN LASATERKERRI ABRAMSHEIDI SCHMID-ROMEROSTEPHANIE BEVIL-PAGADUANDENNIS CORBRANKAMBIZ MEHRAFSHANIKRISTIN NIELSENKIM TURNERLISA BISSI

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL™ VIDEOGRAPHERS LEE RIEBERMARIA BERNAL-SILVADUSTIN TRAYER

zoonooz august 2015

Documents