July 2014 ZOONOOZ

Brewmaster DinnerSATURDAY, JULY 12, 2014Featuring Green Flash BreweryJoin us at Mombasa Pavilion in July for a delicious dinner featuring the brews of Green Flash Brewery. Our Safari Park chefs will be expertly pairing each course with the highlighted beer selections for a wonderful dining experience.

FOR RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION, CALL 619-718-3000, OR VISIT SDZSAFARIPARK.ORG/PLANYOURTRIP TO BOOK ONLINE AND TO VIEW COMPLETE MENUS.

Winemaker DinnerSATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014Featuring Orfila WineryIn August, the Safari Park welcomes Orfila Winery and its sophisticated selection of wines for the evening, which our Safari Park chefs will pair perfectly with each meal course for your dining pleasure.

Both of these summer celebration dinners include an animal presentation from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Dinner starts at 6 p.m.

Price for each dinner is $79 for members, $92 for nonmembers, plus tax (parking and gratuity not included). Guests will be seated at tables of 8; limited seating. Guests must be 21 years of age or older.

For an additional cost, you can also make a night of it and join in the Roar & Snore overnight camping experience that accompanies each of these dinners!

inside july 2014

on the cover and this page: North American grizzly bear Ursus arctos horribilisPhotos by Ken Bohn, SDZG Photographer

wildlife 8 Getting Your Bearings: The Life and

Times of the Grizzly BrothersScout and Montana have much to teach Zoo visitors about North America’s big, brown bears.BY PEGGY SCOTT

12 Hello, Rhino!Meet the Safari Park’s newest Asian rhino calf. Caution: cute ahead!BY WENDY PERKINS

14 The Biggest “Small Cat” in the New WorldWhether you call them mountain lions, pumas, or cougars, these wild cats now have new digs at the Zoo.BY KARYL CARMIGNANI

explore 17 WorldWild Tours

Travel the world with us—where will you go next?

22 Contemplating ConifersTake some time to see the forest for the trees at the Safari Park’s beautiful Conifer Arboretum.BY WENDY PERKINS

conservation 18 Ten More Reasons for Hope!

From gorillas to the Galápagos and beyond, San Diego Zoo Global is committed to ending extinction.BY KARYL CARMIGNANI

more 2 Chairman’s Note 4 Through the Lens 5 Save the Date 6 You Said It 24 What’s in Store 26 Support 28 From the Archives

FREE! Download the ZOONOOZ App for your iPad at sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz

Commitment to Conservation

In this issue of ZOONOOZ, you’ll !nd an article presenting San Diego Zoo Global’s 10 Reasons for Hope for 2014. "ese are 10 projects that represent the expertise and collaboration that our organization dedicates to wildlife conservation around the world. In keeping with our vision of leading the

!ght against extinction, San Diego Zoo Global is currently involved in 132 conser-vation projects in 62 countries, and, to date, we have helped reintroduce 43 animal species back to the wild. It’s an impressive record that I’m proud of, and with your ongoing and much-appreciated help and support, our e#orts and positive impact on conservation continue to grow each year.

Some notable successes include reintroduced California condors now reproduc-ing in Baja California, Mexico, resulting in the !rst chicks hatched there in more than 80 years; the milestone of reaching 300 giant pandas in zoos and breeding centers, which ensures the genetic diversity to keep that population going for the next 100 years; and increasing the population of alala in Hawaii—nearly extinct in 1994, with only 20 birds surviving—to a total of 108 birds today. A new e#ort we are now involved in is the conservation of Tasmanian devils, helping to maintain a population that is free of the facial tumor disease that is devastating the species. In conjunction with the opening of our Tull Family Tiger Trail at the Safari Park, we are also joining conservation e#orts in Sumatra to protect tigers, as well as rhinos and many other species that live there, from poaching and habitat loss.

We continue to maintain and build upon our !eld stations. Cocha Cashu in Peru’s Manu National Park provides a base from which to study and document a wealth of biological diversity—everything from primates to insects to !cus trees to giant river otters—and also give postdoctoral students unique opportunities for research. In Cameroon, our researchers have made connections and formed strong bonds with local communities, which now actively participate in monitoring pop-ulations of gorillas and chimpanzees in the Ebo Forest, to learn more about the apes and also to protect them from poaching.

Conservation is never easy. It’s a complex endeavor with setbacks, challenges, and disappointments, but seeing the e#orts make a di#erence renews our convic-tion and sense of purpose. "anks to your support, we will continue our commit-ment to lead the !ght against extinction.

Rick GulleyChairman

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBALOFFICERS

Richard B. Gulley, ChairmanWilliam H. May, Vice Chairman

Sandra A. Brue, SecretaryRobert B. Horsman, Treasurer

BOARD OF TRUSTEESM. Javade Chaudhri

Berit N. DurlerClifford W. Hague

Nan C. KatonaPatricia L. RoscoeSteven G. Tappan

Judith A. WheatleyDavid S. Woodruff, Ph.D., D.Sc.

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

William E. Beamer, 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

Richard B. Gulley, 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. GrosvenorJudith C. Harris

Michael E. KassanSusan B. Major

Michael D. McKinnonGeorge A. Ramirez

Thomas TullMargie Warner

Ed Wilson

chairman’s note

2 ZOONOOZ Q JULY 2014

There is plenty to smile about at Albert’s Restaurant at the Zoo this summer! During the popular Albert’s Happy Hour, daily from 3 to 5 p.m. June 27 through September 1, enjoy specially priced wines, beers, and appetizers. Albert’s is also open late during the summer for a leisurely dinner in beautiful and comfortable surroundings. Seating is available until 8 p.m. daily through September 1. Bring friends and family, and come on down to Albert’s for a fun and relaxing summer evening!

Happy HourAlbert’s

SummerShines again this

Happy Hour

Call 619-685-3200 to reserve your table!

Visit sandiegozoo.org/zoo/alberts to see our new summer menu and more information.

Stay for dinner!

Enjoy our all-new summer menu

through the lens


Sumatran tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae

What an exciting summer this is for all of us at San Diego Zoo Global! Our annual summer events, Nighttime Zoo and the Park’s Summer Safari presented by LivingSocial,

are underway and welcoming visitors with all kinds of fun—and lon-ger hours to enjoy them. At the Zoo, Australian Outback continues

to be a hit, and Sydney’s Grill and the Koalafornia Boardwalk are great spots to delight in some of our Aussie-themed entertainment. !e new mountain lion exhibit, made possible by an anonymous friend, is now open as well, and you can read more about these cats in this issue. !e big excitement at the Safari Park is the Tull Family Tiger Trail, the beautiful, new adventure featuring our six Sumatran tigers. If you haven’t seen it yet, I hope you’ll visit to experience it for yourself—I think it’s the best thing we’ve ever built! And the Park’s summer celebration features an Asian theme in honor of Tiger Trail.

I also want to let you know about an event that our friends at Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista are having on Saturday, August 2, from 4 to 7:30 p.m.: the Farm to Bay Food & Wine Clas-sic. It’s a great evening on San Diego Bay featuring dozens of food and beverage vendors, plus live mu-sic, auctions, and animal encounters, all to support Living Coast’s wildlife conservation and education e"orts. We’ve worked with Living Coast on conservation projects such as the reintroduction of the light-footed clapper rail and are pleased to support their e"orts on behalf of local wildlife.

It’s shaping up to be an extraordinary summer, and I hope you can join us at the Zoo and Safari Park for all the excitement!

Douglas G. MyersPresident/CEO

Summer’s in Full Swing

JULY

1 Summer Safari presented by LivingSocial continues, Safari Park

1 Nighttime Zoo continues, Zoo 4 Fireworks-free Fourth of July Roar &

Snore, Safari Park 5, 25 Critter Connections Roar & Snore,

Safari Park 7–11 Summer Camp, Zoo and Safari Park 11, 26 Wildlife Wonders Roar & Snore, Safari

Park 12 Summer Brewmaster Dinner and Roar

& Snore, Safari Park 12, 19, 26 Family Sleepover: Carnivore Campout,

Zoo 14–18 Summer Camp, Zoo and Safari Park 18 Plant Day and Orchid Odyssey, Zoo 18 All Ages Color Safari Roar & Snore,

Safari Park 19 Safari Sampler Roar & Snore, Safari Park 21–25 Summer Camp, Zoo and Safari Park 28–8/1 Summer Camp, Zoo and Safari Park

AUGUST

1 Summer Safari presented by LivingSocial continues, Safari Park

1 Nighttime Zoo continues, through September 1, Zoo

1, 30 Critter Connections Roar & Snore, Safari Park

2, 9, 23 Black & White Overnight, Zoo 2, 22 All Ages Color Safari Roar & Snore,

Safari Park 4–8 Summer Camp, Zoo and Safari Park 8, 15, 23, 29 Safari Sampler Roar & Snore, Safari Park 9 Wildlife Wonders Roar & Snore, Safari

Park 11–15 Summer Camp, Zoo and Safari Park 16 Summer Winemaker Dinner and Roar

& Snore, Safari Park 16 Family Sleepover: Carnivore Campout,

Zoo 17 Summer Safari presented by

LivingSocial ends, Safari Park

ZOONOOZ®

PUBLISHED SINCE 1926JULY 2014

VOL. LXXXVIINO. 7

MANAGING EDITORKAREN E. WORLEY

ASSOCIATE EDITORSPEGGY SCOTT

DEBBIE ANDREENSTAFF WRITERS

WENDY PERKINSKARYL CARMIGNANI

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHER

KEN BOHNDIGITAL IMAGING TECHNICIAN

TAMMY SPRATTDESIGN AND PRODUCTION

DAMIEN LASATER • CHRIS MARTIN HEIDI SCHMID • LISA BISSI

JENNIFER MACEWENPREPRESS AND PRINTING

BROWN PRINTING COMPANY

save the date

SAN DIEGO ZOO HOURSJuly 1–31: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

August 1–31: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK HOURSJuly 1–31: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

August 1–17: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.August 18–31: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WEBSITEsandiegozoo.org

SAN DIEGO ZOO PHONE619-231-1515

ZOONOOZ®sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz

!e Zoological Society of San Diego was founded in Octo ber 1916 by Harry M. Wegeforth, MD, as a private, nonprofit corporation that currently does business as San Diego Zoo Global.

!e printed, hard-copy version of ZOONOOZ® (ISSN 0044-5282) is currently published bimonthly (Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 of each year’s volume; the even-numbered issues of each volume are available in digital format only). Publisher is San Diego Zoo Global, at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, 619-231-1515. Periodicals postage paid at San Diego, California, USA, and at additional mailing o"ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Membership Department, P.O. Box 120271, San Diego, CA 92112.

Copyright® 2014 San Diego Zoo Global. All rights reserved. “ZOONOOZ” Reg. U.S. Pat. O"ce. All column and program titles are trademarks of San Diego Zoo Global.

Annual Memberships: Dual $119, new; $104, renewal. Single $98, new; $86, renewal. Each membership includes unlimited entrance to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Subscription to printed issues of ZOONOOZ: $25 per year, $65 for 3 years. Foreign, including Canada and Mexico, $30 per year, $81 for 3 years. Contact Membership Department, P.O. Box 120271, San Diego, CA 92112.

As part of San Diego Zoo Global’s commitment to conservation, ZOONOOZ is printed on recycled paper that is 30% post-consumer waste, chlorine free, and is Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified.

FSC® is not responsible for any calculations on saving resources by choosing this paper.

5SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL Q SANDIEGOZOO.ORG

I’m still really impressed with @sdzsafaripark. !ey should write a

book on customer service.@mega_agro

Spent the day at SDZ. Didn’t realize how many koalas live there.

Pam Dobbins

Tiger Trail Instagram ChallengeUsing Instagram, take photos or video of yourself and your family at the Tull Family Tiger Trail experience, and tag them with #TigerTrail. You could win a Behind-the-Scenes Safari - Tigers for an exclusive look at our beautiful new Tiger Trail.

Live streaming the @sandiegozoo elephant cam. FULL SCREEN. Monthly

reports are on my other screen. I like the elephants better.@julietmzimmer

One of the best pics I’ve ever taken...can’t believe I caught it...a

cheetah running at full speed (approx. 60MPH). Favourite animal for sure!@David_Savage

Myself and my family are over from Scotland and we had the most amazing

time at the zoo today. Best zoo ever!!!!@jacquijohnson01

!e king of the jungle came out to say hi during our visit to the

@sandiegozoo.@gnarlylens

One of our favorites and nobody ever believes he’s real!

Ziva Gottesman

Had a great time rocking the #ropes course at @sdzsafaripark

this weekend. #leapo"aith@lastadventurer

Love spending my weekends feeding gira"es at the

@sandiegozoo :) #CaliLife@BelleWoodsDC

you said it

!ere’s more to the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park than most guests see—and our behind-the-scenes tours take you there! Venture deep into the Zoo and Park to experience and visit areas not accessible to the general public. A knowledgeable guide takes you o" the beaten path and provides the inside scoop on how we care for our animals, design our trend-setting exhibits, and carry out conservation and research work around the globe. Each tour includes exciting animal interactions. During the summer, these tours sell out fast—don’t miss out on yours!

Ticket to

Call 619-718-3000 to book your tour, or visit us online at sandiegozoo.org and sdzsafaripark.org.

Behind-the-ScenesAdventure

The Life and Times of the Grizzly BrothersBy Peggy ScottASSOCIATE EDITOR

Photos by Ken BohnSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

Getting Your Bearings

Scout and Montana are the Zoo’s big, handsome grizzly brothers.


From fairy tales and Native American folklore to frontier legends, the grizzly has a bear-hug-like grip on North Americans. Some con-sider the grizzly bear to be a symbol of magical power, strength, and maternal devotion. Others see this awe-inspiring animal as a men-ace (its scienti!c name includes the word “horrible”). But one look into the eyes of San Diego Zoo grizzly bear Montana, and it’s obvi-ous that this is a majestic and o"en misunderstood creature. “#ey are incredibly intelligent, resourceful animals,” says Hali O’Connor, a senior keeper at the Zoo. “And the role they play in nature is hugely important.”

Hali has worked closely with seven-year-old Montana and his brother, Scout, since their arrival at the Zoo in 2007. She feels it is a privilege to interact with the grizzly boys and see what wonderful representatives they are for their species. “Visitors see them and re-ally respond to them, and that helps people care about bears in the wild as well,” Hali explains. #e relationship between grizzly and human can be strained at times, yet these bears not only enrich the lives of those fortunate enough to see them but also help keep their ecosystem in balance. “When grizzlies eat fruit, their scat disperses seeds, which helps keep habitats growing,” Hali explains. “And when they dig for food like tubers, plant bulbs, and rodents, they stir up the soil, which releases nitrogen into the ground and keeps the habi-tat healthy. In the spring, the bears may even eat young calves of

bison, elk, and other species, which helps keep those populations in check. Grizzlies are really important.”

Where’s the Bear?#e North American grizzly bear is formally known as Ursus arctos horribilis—and there’s that word! #at part of their scienti!c name can be traced, at least anecdotally, to a misunderstanding. Natural-ist George Ord reportedly misinterpreted the word grizzly, which referred to the grizzled look of this bear’s fur. He thought it meant grisly and used that to form part of the Latin name.

#e grizzly is a subspecies of brown bear that makes its home in western Canada, Alaska, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. Historically, there were about 50,000 grizzly bears in North America. Today, there are only an estimated 1,800 remaining in 5 populations, most of them in the Northern Continental Divide pop-ulation (including Glacier National Park) and the Yellowstone popu-lation. As most Californians know, grizzly bears used to be found in our state, but they were hunted and pushed out by human develop-ment, and the last one was killed right here in San Diego County—in Campo—in 1922. In 1953, a grizzly bear was included on the state $ag, but the California grizzly subspecies is gone.

“Pockets of brown bears, like the Yellowstone population that Scout and Montana came from, are threatened by habitat loss and

Like most young bears, when Scout and Montana were younger, they were playful, curious, and rambunctious.


the expansion of humans into what was the wild, which can lead to con$ict be-tween bears and people,” Hali explains. “#e bears require an expanse of habitat to !nd the food they need to get through the winter. Human land development, oil drilling, logging, and recreation activities can disrupt the bears’ ability to fol-low their natural food sources.” Coexistence is possible, however, if we under-stand grizzlies better—and give them some room.

Bear BasicsColor would seem to be the easiest way to tell grizzly and black bears apart, but in fact, grizzlies come in shades ranging from a light cream to almost black. No matter what their base color is, though, their fur is always tipped with white or tan: the word grizzly means sprinkled or streaked with gray.

Grizzlies are also distinguished from black bears by the prominent hump be-tween their shoulders, a snout that rises more abruptly into the forehead, a lon-ger coat—and those claws! #ey are formidable, each one reaching the length of an adult human’s !nger, and contribute to the bear’s digging ability. “#ey dig underground for food, and sometimes that ground is hard,” Hali says. Size is another giveaway: male black bears tend to measure 2 to 3 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh at most 300 pounds, while grizzlies can surpass 850 pounds, with a shoulder height of over 3% feet. Montana and Scout still have some growing to do, but they are good-sized boys now, weighing over 500 pounds. Like bears in the wild, their weight $uctuates depending on each season’s eating pattern.

Staying Safe in Bear CountryWhile grizzly bears are massive, carnivorous animals, reports of their blood lust can be sensationalized. According to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, most bears avoid people, and most interactions involve both parties running in opposite directions. Bears aren’t usually after you—it’s your stu! they want. "e list of things they find attractive is long:

�Q All human food, pet food, and livestock feed�Q Garbage, cooking pots, oils, and utensils�Q Fuel for stoves and lanterns�Q Unopened canned beverages�Q Cosmetics, insect repellents, lotions, toothpaste�Q Bird seed and hummingbird feeders

Camping safety is a matter of planning. All of the items listed should be stored where bears cannot get to them:

�Q In a bear-resistant food storage box provided at many campsites

�Q In a hard-sided vehicle (not a cooler, tent, or pop-up camper)

�Q In a bear-resistant backpacker food cache�Q Suspended at least 10 to 15 feet o! the ground

and at least 4 feet from each vertical support.

Campers are advised to follow all local regulations and, in general, follow these guidelines:

�Q Do not sleep in the clothes you cooked in—you don’t want to smell like food!

�Q Keep a flashlight and your bear spray in your tent at night.

�Q Keep pets leashed.�Q In a backcountry camp, place sleeping areas at

least 100 yards away from cooking and food- storage areas.

�Q Avoid aromatic foods such as fish and bacon.�Q Never place food inside your tent.�Q Sleep in a tent, not out in the open.�Q Camp away from trails, berry patches, carcasses,

or fresh bear signs.�Q Pack out all garbage and food scraps with you; do

not bury them.If a bear enters your camp and behaves in a bold manner, and attempts to scare it away are unsuccessful, get to a safe area. "e bear is likely human habituated and food conditioned, and it could potentially be quite dangerous. Report any such incidents to local authorities. And, of course, despite what Yogi always said, keep the pic-a-nic baskets to yourself, and never feed the bears.

Those formidable three-inch-long claws come in handy when tackling enrichment items like this flavored ice block.


Oh, Brothers!#e Zoo’s grizzlies bear a striking resemblance to each other, but Hali and other keepers can easily identify them. “Even if Scout wasn’t smaller, we could tell him apart from Montana. His eyes are closer together, and his snout is straighter,” Hali explains. “Montana has a more blockish head,” like the shape of the state that shares his name, “and his muzzle is more concave. He also has darker circles around his eyes.” Then, of course, there are their personalities. “Montana is the ‘artist’ type, taking things in and thinking before he reacts, while spunky Scout is the ‘athlete’ who is energetically bounding around.”

When it comes to their diet, the boys disagree on some foods: Montana loves hard-boiled eggs but Scout only eats the yolks; Scout hates avocado, which Montana thoroughly enjoys. #ey do, however, share a fondness for peanut butter and shank and femur bones—and a strong dislike for papaya. “#eir tastes change at di&erent times of year, just as food sources would be dictated by the seasons in the wild,” Hali says. “Fish isn’t plentiful in the winter, and the boys seem to instinctively not crave it. #eir overall interest in food is also lower during the winter. But berries and fruits are popular in the spring and summer, and they are much hungrier and busier then.” Hali points out that gearing their diet more toward the natural food patterns that bears follow in the wild helps keep these two well ad-justed—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

#e brothers have a playful streak, and they can o"en be seen romping around and wrestling in their exhibit. Keepers work hard to make sure these smart, inquisitive bears are kept busy and en-gaged. “Anything new really gets them going,” Hali says. “#ey re-ceived squares of sod and had a ball ripping them up, playing with them, throwing them in the pool. And they like something as simple as giving them di&erent materials to make their beds. I’ve seen beds with three or four materials in them. Or we might shut the waterfalls o& for a bit to change things up. Anything to keep things interest-ing.” In the wild, bears spend a good deal of time foraging for food, and Hali adds that Scout and Montana get their food in a variety of ways and multiple times a day. “Scattering small food items, giving them whole melons or bones with meat, tossing food into the pool, and burying food in plant, log, and leaf piles—they’re all ways to keep the boys challenged in getting their meals.”

#at keen intellect, which can land grizzlies in trouble out in the world, is one of the reasons Hali is so fond of them. “#at intuitive-ness and sensitivity to their surroundings is part of what makes them bears,” she says. “And we need to appreciate that about them.” Visit Montana and Scout at the Zoo and get to know the grizzly brothers. You can’t “bear” to miss out! Q

Download the ZOONOOZ iPad app to watch the grizzly brothers in action. Visit sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz


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S A N D I E G O ZO O G LO B A L M E M B E R S A N D E M P LOY E E S

RHINOS CAN’T SMILE. But if they could, one of the beautiful behemoths at the Safari Park might have been wearing a Mona Lisa-style smile last winter. Although keepers knew Alta, a 10-year-old greater one-horned rhino, was due to give birth (gestation for this species is 15 to 16 months), they hadn’t seen any of the signs of labor they had observed when she had her first calf. “If we had,” explained Peter Jones, lead keeper at the Park, “we would have started a 24-hour watch.” Instead, Peter got a call on February 25, 2014: Alta gave birth during the night to a male calf, who was named Parvesh.

Weekly hormone analyses from dung samples cue keepers into a rhino’s pregnancy and help them estimate when the calf might be due. Based on that information, the expectant ungulate had been moved into the maternity pen. “!e calf looked great when we saw him in the morning, and we observed him nursing well throughout the day,” said Peter. It took a few weeks to get a weight on the little fellow. Weighing him soon after his birth would have required separating him from Alta,

and no one wanted to stress out Mom. A platform scale was set up—within Alta’s view yet out of her reach—but “we wanted it to be his idea to come into the weigh area,” said Peter.

Parvesh’s name means lord of celebrations in Hindi, and this rhino is indeed something to celebrate. He is the 66th calf of his kind born at the Safari Park. As Randy Rieches, Henshaw Endowed Curator of Mammals at the Park, points out, “With rhino poaching being rampant in every country where rhinos are found, each and every birth that we have in zoos and parks is a major accomplishment and a safety net for the rhinos in their native habitat.” Q

HE!O, RHINO!By Wendy PerkinsSTAFF WRITER

Photo by Ken BohnSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

Say hello to our “little” friend! Take a Caravan Safari or Cart Safari to where Parvesh, Alta, and their cohorts live in the Asian Savanna habitat.

Download the ZOONOOZ iPad app to watch our baby rhino video. Visit sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz

Parvesh is Alta’s second calf. The young male weighed 150 pounds at birth but could someday reach or exceed father Bhopu’s weight of about 3,000 pounds.



The Safari Park’s Summer Safari presented by LivingSocial begins on June 21, and you’re invited to join in the excitement! This year’s event features an Asian celebration, in honor of the new Tull Family Tiger Trail. Enjoy Asian-inspired music, entertainment, and shows, and visit the spectacular Tiger Trail to be immersed in the Indonesian world of the Sumatran tiger. Plus, relax on a late-afternoon Africa Tram tour, and stop by the Bamburi Boat Bar at Mombasa Lagoon for cocktails while you watch the shoebill storks and pelicans. The Safari Park is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through August 17, 2014. Don’t miss it!

Summer SafariIs a Roaring Good Time!

By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER


Kima is more reserved and stoic than his “roomie” Koya, who is playful and has more of an attitude.

Muscles ripple beneath its tawny coat. Golden-green eyes lock onto its subject. Gleaming white fur holds sti! whiskers, which twitch in anticipation. With a silent and graceful leap, the cat covers a car length, landing quietly behind the shrub. A tiny lizard scurries beneath a rock, dodging certain death. Luckily for

the San Diego Zoo’s two mountain lions, Kima and Koya, this missed opportunity is an ex-ercise in enrichment and will not result in hunger; creatures that wander into their home do so at their own peril. Zoo guests can see our mountain lions in action (and at rest, as cats are wont to do) at their brand-new digs in the Northern Frontier zone. "e new $1.5-million space, made possible by an anonymous donor, “highlights the cats’ amazing abilities with better climbing and leaping opportunities,” said Jacob Shanks, a lead keeper at the Zoo. “"e exhibit has really great vantage points that allow for a 360-degree view of the area, including hoofed animals in the distance, which provides built-in enrichment.”

The

Biggest“Small Cat”

in the New World

Download the ZOONOOZ iPad app to learn more about these cats. Visit sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz


Name that CatFew people have actually seen a mountain lion in the wild, but ev-eryone has at least one name for this animal. Puma—re#ected in their scienti$c name Puma concolor—cougar, mountain lion, pan-ther, deer tiger, and catamount are some of the common names for this North American wildcat. Companies have sought the visceral qualities of this cat—agile, powerful, fast, graceful, and intelligent—by using the puma name for their product. Segway’s P.U.M.A. (Per-sonal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) prototype, a German com-pany that makes athletic shoes, and cars and combat vehicles are all named for this versatile felid. With the exception of humans, the

mountain lion has the largest range of any terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, spanning more than 100 degrees of lati-tude. From the frosty climes of northern British Columbia through North America and Central America all the way to Argentina, this cat remains wily, highly adaptable, #exible in diet, and #eet of foot.

Sizing Them UpAs a family of mammals, cats are more varied in size than any other group. From the 5-pound black-footed cat of Africa to the 650-pound tiger of Siberia, these carnivores are split into two main groups: Pantherinae for the 7 species of big cats and Felinae for the 30 species of small cats. Amazingly, mountain lions belong in the latter group. Measuring 3 to 5 feet long, plus a 2- to 3-foot-long tail, adult males range from 116 to 158 pounds, with females about 20 percent smaller.

"ere is a signi$cant size gradient among populations of moun-tain lions, which follow Bergman’s rule: species living closer to the poles tend to have a larger body size than those living near the equa-

tor. Mountain lions found at lower latitudes are as much as 25 per-cent smaller in skull length and body weight than their northern brethren. Another generalization states that cat species living in open environments tend toward a plain coat color, while those from covered environments tend to have stronger coat patterns (stripes, spots, or rosettes). But mountain lions seem to thrive in both habi-tats, as long as there is prey to be had. "eir kittens are born with a spotted coat, which fades to a uniform color as they mature.

As ambush predators, mountain lions are stealthy at stalking, using speed, precision, and the element of surprise. Proportionally they have the longest rear legs of all the cats and a reduced clavicle (collar bone), which enables them to leap, reach, and grab their prey. "e size of their home range re#ects prey availability and whether their meals migrate; hence each solitary cat’s territory varies from 10 to 370 square miles. While they are capable of taking large, deer-sized prey, mountain lions make do with smaller animals when nec-essary. In the absence of deer, they will opportunistically take por-cupines, squirrels, raccoons, and rabbits. Farther south, they subsist on peccaries, pacas, agoutis, armadillos, and capybaras.

Puma TownAlthough Puma concolor avoids humans when possible, the spread of development into more rural areas means con#icts are on the rise. When spotted in a backyard, a mountain lion strikes fear in the hearts of people nearby. However, actual attacks are rare. Between 1986 and 2012, a span of 27 years, there were only 13 con$rmed at-tacks (including 3 fatalities) in California, according to records from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Habitat loss and fragmentation, plus poaching of their prey, pose grave threats to the mountain lion, but it is currently listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a species of least concern, numbering about 30,000 individuals. A subspecies in Florida , Puma concolor coryi, is critically endangered, with 70 to 80 individuals le%. "e mountain lion is also persecuted in retaliation for taking livestock or threatening people and pets.

No matter what you call them, mountain lions play a key role in maintaining ecosystems in California and across the West. A recent Oregon State University report details how reduced populations in Zion National Park led to higher mule deer populations, which in-creased deforestation and erosion that damaged riparian environ-ments. “Learning how to live with and respect wildlife in your own backyard will maintain good numbers,” said Jacob. “And that is good for conservation across the landscape.” Q

!ough encounters with mountain lions in the wild are exceedingly rare, if you do encounter one, make yourself big by waving your arms and acting assertive. !at is usually enough to send the cat on its way. To be safe in nature, always bring a buddy or two and make some noise to avoid accidentally sneaking up on wildlife. Observing these beautiful cats (and other animals) at the Zoo is also a safe bet!

Puma Pair: Kima (male) and Koya (female) were rescued in the Northwest in 2007 and came to the Zoo as youngsters.


Nighttime Zoo returns on June 28 for summer fun! We’ll be Koalafornia Dreamin’ as we pay tribute to the Land Down Under and the Zoo’s Conrad Prebys Australian Outback exhibit. Enjoy live music and special shows at the Koalafornia Boardwalk, the Kangaroo Crossing trampoline act at Sydney’s Grill, and the spectacular Australiana II: Return to the Outback show at Hunte Amphitheater. Finish your evening with the Walkabout procession along Front Street. Bring family and friends for a grand good time! !e Zoo will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from June 28 through September 1, 2014. See you there, mate!

Churchill Polar Bear AdventureOctober 28–November 3, 2015 Chill out with polar bears in their native habitat from the comfort of the Tundra Buggy. $5,924 plus airfare (per person, double occupancy*).

Travel the World with the San Diego Zoo

WORLDWILD TOURSTravel with San Diego Zoo WorldWild Tours™ to some of the wildest places on Earth in 2014 and 2015. Our itineraries highlight the wildlife at each destination and include expert naturalists and a San Diego Zoo escort, plus a group of like-minded travelers. For brochures visit sandiegozoo.org/travel or call Julia Altieri at 619-685-3205.

Adventure to Ecuador and the Galápagos IslandsOctober 17–27, 2014, with extension to Machu Picchu.Explore these wildlife-rich islands aboard a yacht and at the Galápagos Safari Camp.$7,395 plus airfare (per person, double occupancy*).

Wildlife Adventure to IndiaFebruary 1226, 2015, with extensions to Jaipur and Agra as well as Kaziranga National Park.Experience wild India as the forests and grasslands come alive with an incredible array of animals. $6,495 plus airfare (per person, double occupancy*).

*Single travelers are encouraged to book WorldWild Tours™ on a twin-share or single basis.

Botswana’s Animal KingdomMay 17–29, 2015, with extensions to Victoria Falls and Capetown.See an abundance of African wildlife on the Okavango Delta and other nature reserves. $8,995 plus airfare (per person, double occupancy*).

China and Its Giant PandasJuly 2–13, 2015 Encounter giant pandas up close and explore Beijing, Shanghai, and the Yangtze River.$5,195 plus airfare (per person, double occupancy*).

Madagascar: Land of LemursSeptember 26October 13, 2015, with extension to Kruger National Park in South Africa. See lemurs and other animals not found anywhere else in the world.$7,695 plus airfare (per person, double occupancy*).

Exclusive Private Jet Tours

Around the World January 10–February 2, 2015, with stops in Myanmar, Bhutan, Seychelles, Botswana, Namibia, Colombia, Brazil, and Hawaii.$76,950 plus round-trip airfare to departure city (per person, double occupancy*).

Around the World September 30–October 22, 2014, with stops in Peru, Easter Island, Samoa, Australia, Cambodia, India, Tanzania, and Morocco.$70,950 plus round-trip airfare to departure city (per person, double occupancy*).

Ten More Reasons for Hope!By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER


With the audacious vision of ending extinction, San Diego Zoo Global is currently working on 132 con-servation projects in 62 countries. We are committed to saving species worldwide by uniting our expertise in animal care and conservation science with our dedication to inspiring a passion for nature. As human populations overtake wild spaces, economic endeavors like log-ging, fracking, and mining alter habitats. Poaching, pollution, and climate change threaten wildlife, and the need for effective conservation is more urgent than ever. Thanks to our members and supporters, we have now helped to reintroduce 43 species to the wild: 8 species of reptiles and amphibians, 19 bird species, and 16 mammal species. With commitment, collaboration, and your support, we will continue to lead the fight against extinction. Highlighted below are 10 of the species we are working with—our 10 Reasons for Hope for 2014.

In 2002, fewer than 200 mountain yellow-legged frogs were left in the streams of Southern California’s moun-tains. Four years later, a group of tadpoles was rescued from fire-damaged habitat and brought to our Institute for Conservation Research. Our research team devised an innovative method of inducing breeding: placing the frogs in wine chillers to simulate a winter climate and then removing them for “spring”—and breeding season. Years of care and learning about the species has paid off, and more than 300 juvenile frogs have been released into their historic range. Radio transmitters in frog-sized backpacks enable monitoring, revealing a healthy 95-percent survival rate the first month. During one of the post-release sur-veys, a male frog was observed advertising his readiness to mate, boding well for the first generation of wild-hatched frogs to populate the area for the first time in 20 years.

Ebo gorillas were identified in 2002 by San Diego Zoo Global researchers in Cameroon’s Ebo forest. Numbering fewer than 25 animals, the gorillas are isolated from the 2 cur-rently recognized western gorilla subspecies and may represent a unique form of gorilla. In 2012, our Central Africa Program established the Clubs des Amis des Gorilles (Gorilla Guardian Clubs), which are voluntary, community-run clubs, in two villages less than two miles from the gorillas’ habitat. Members monitor the gorillas’ range, record evidence of gorilla presence, and note any threats. They work on sustainable-development projects in the communities, and they engage in outreach and education, with the aim of building a sense of pride in the gorillas and biodiversity of the Ebo forest. In 2014, we will establish a third club, sponsor the annual “gorilla cup” soccer match between all three communities, and develop a detailed map of the gorillas’ range. By gradually engaging the surrounding communities, we are working as a cohesive team to preserve these great apes.

MOUNTAIN YELLOW-LEGGED FROG

WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA

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We partnered with The Nature Conservancy, the Bureau of Land Management, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to preserve the Tecate cypress, a conifer found in Southern California and parts of Baja California, Mexico. Numbers of this noble tree have declined rapidly in the past decade. We have been able to provide a safeguard against extinction from the frequent wildfires that are deci-mating the remaining trees in the United States. Our applied plant ecologists collected seeds from one of the last remaining cypress stands in California. Some of the seeds were frozen and placed in our Native Plant Seed Bank, while the remaining were propagated and used to create a nursery for this species. The resulting seedlings will grow into adult trees, producing thousands of seeds that can then be used to support future reforestation efforts.

Four Tasmanian devils, Conrad, Debbie, Jake, and Nick, arrived at the San Diego Zoo last fall, making us one of two zoos in the United States to highlight this endangered carnivorous marsupial. A deadly and con-tagious cancer called devil tumor facial disease (DTFD) has been wiping out entire populations in the wild. In response, we have partnered with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, a government initiative estab-lished in 2003 to combat the threat of DTFD. This collaborative project works to eradicate the disease, create healthy assurance populations, and raise awareness about the plight of these animals. A disease-free population was recently established on Tasmania’s Maria Island, and we are sponsoring an Australian postdoctoral research fellow to monitor them in their new home.

The recovery of the California condor in Baja California, Mexico, is taking time. After releasing condors there in 2002, we had to wait an-other seven years for the birds to reach sexual maturity, find a mate, lay their first egg, and rear a healthy chick. Researchers scoured Mexican skies for tag-free juvenile birds while monitoring condor pairs. Unfortu-nately, inexperienced pairs tend to select poor nesting sites, resulting in egg loss. Yet in 2012, we were delighted to see a clumsy, tag-free juvenile near a feeding site. Dubbed #675, this was the first condor to successfully fledge in Baja in over 80 years! One month later, on March 24, 2012, a second fledged juvenile later tagged (#682) showed up with its parents. Baja condors now produce 12 to 15 chicks annually in the wild. Com-bined with birds raised in managed care, over 50 condors join the species count each year. As more wild condors transfer to natural foods and lead poisoning becomes better controlled, we should achieve full recovery of this iconic species over the next decade.

TECATE CYPRESS

TASMANIAN DEVIL CALIFORNIA CONDOR

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In 1994, the alala (or Hawaiian crow) population dipped to just 20 birds, and the species is extinct in the wild. Our Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Pro-gram has been working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hawaii Di-vision of Forestry and Wildlife to turn the tide for this last corvid in the Hawaiian Islands. Thanks to the successful breeding program at our bird conservation cen-ters in Maui and Hawaii, the alala population has now increased to 108 birds. Our veterinarians and pathologists have provided expertise in care and disease man-agement, and our geneticists and reproductive physiologists have also played pivotal roles, analyzing 20 years of reproductive, genetic, and demographic data and investigating infertility and development problems. Additionally, our con-servation education team has joined forces with local environmental education groups in Hawaii to pilot a school program to increase awareness and engage the community in alala conservation. There is now great excitement about the pos-sibility of releasing alala back into the wild as soon as this coming fall!

The mangrove finch is the most threatened bird in the Galápagos Is-lands. Threats to the remaining 60 to 80 birds include introduced rats, cats, and disease. But botfly larvae are the grimmest hazard, infesting nests and overtaking and eventually killing chicks. The lack of surviving chicks means the species could go extinct from an inbreeding depression or natural disaster. We are partnering with the Charles Darwin Founda-tion (CDF) and the Galápagos National Park to employ hands-on tech-niques to nurture eggs and then chicks until they are large enough to avoid botfly infestations. So far, our 3 nest collection trips have resulted in the successful transfer of 21 eggs and 3 chicks to the new facility at the Charles Darwin Research Station on the island of Santa Cruz. To date, 15 chicks have been raised and transferred back to a release aviary within the mangrove forest on Isabela Island. Once the birds are released, our CDF partners will use radiotelemetry and observation to monitor the survival of the birds.

Twenty years ago, Anegada iguanas were declining and in serious danger of extinction due to the heavy predation of juveniles by feral cats. We partnered with the Fort Worth Zoo and the British Virgin Islands National Parks Trust in 1997 to begin raising hatchlings on Anegada Island until the juveniles were large enough to survive in the wild. To date, 179 “headstarted” iguanas have been released on Anegada Island, nearly doubling the size of the wild population. As a safety net to extinction, a population has been established in US zoos, and translocated populations have been established in the British Virgin Islands. Our goals include removing feral predators from Anegada Island and restoring iguanas to some of Puerto Rico’s satellite islands, where the species historically occurred.

In an emergency rescue effort, the first 22 Pacific pocket mice found-ers were brought into managed care in the summer of 2012. Housed and monitored at an off-exhibit area of the Safari Park, this endangered spe-cies bred for the first time in 2013, and produced 16 offspring, which are now part of this year’s breeding efforts. Our goal is to establish several new populations in the wild, where this species is an important seed disperser in its habitat. We are researching the survival skills of our wild founders (re-action to predators, foraging behavior, mate selection, communication), as well as their temperament, genetics, and stress response, to inform rein-troduction efforts. Early success is sweet, with our captive-born offspring already reproducing. We are excited to be finalizing the selection of our first release site, with the goal of reintroducing mice in 2015.

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Visiting the Zoo and the Safari Park and learning about these and other amazing species help our conservation efforts. If you want to do more, please visit us online at endextinction.org and consider becoming a Hero for Wildlife. Your participation can make a big difference for these and the many other species we work to save from extinction! n

Not long ago, the future for the giant panda looked grim. Little was known about the ecology and biology of this bamboo-eating bear, and its numbers had plummeted. For-tunately, changes over the last 20 years have benefited the giant panda. The Chinese government has banned logging and started reforestation projects in key habitat while also increasing the number of wildlife reserves from 10 to 65. Sci-entists in China and abroad have collaborated to increase our knowledge of giant pandas, a boon to captive and wild management. Work by our scientists has advanced pregnan-cy diagnosis: from hoping and waiting for a cub to using ul-trasound to visualize the fetus at about 20 days before birth; then to using thermal imaging to reveal pregnancy about 50 to 60 days before birth; to now measuring protein levels in the bear’s urine to determine conception within 30 days of breeding. The captive population of pandas has reached the milestone of 300 bears, the minimum necessary to sustain 97 percent genetic diversity for the next 100 years. With wild populations stabilizing and even increasing, the giant panda may now be a candidate for downlisting from endangered to threatened status.

endextinction.org

GIANT PANDA


Contemplating Conifers

Gaze up into the canopy of the Park’s Conifer Arboretum, and reap the reward of a view that is at once both refreshing and calming.

Savor the sounds of moving water and the wind in the trees at Kupanda Pond. Take some time...take a seat...take it all in.

Pine tree leaves grow in bundles of two to five, depending on the species. The Torrey pine Pinus torreyana, an endangered California native, bears five needles per bunch.


By Wendy PerkinsSTAFF WRITER


In this place, the rustle of leaves moving in the barest breeze trig-gers an instinct to tip one’s head all the way back and breathe deep. A crisp scent !lls the nose as the eyes take in the arcing lines of branches, twigs, and needles overhead. Welcome to the Conifer Arboretum at the Safari Park.

Perched above the Tull Family Tiger Trail, this impressive collection of pines, !rs, cypresses, cedars, and redwoods began to take shape in 1979. Jim Gibbons, then-curator of horticul-

ture, saw the potential in what was a remote slope used as a scrapyard for construction debris. Charles “Chuck” Mastrangelo, a horticulturist at the Park, was there at the beginning of the arboretum’s development and recalls the challenge of sprouting a forest in the San Pasqual Valley. “It wasn’t as simple as just planting trees,” he recalled. “Some of the trees, like the !rs and spruces, don’t do well in the hot, dry summers we have here.” Chuck explained that careful use of drip irrigation and, in some cases, misters helped many of the conifers establish deep roots in their new home. Indeed, look closely at one of the coast redwoods in Conifer Arboretum, and you’ll see small pipes rising alongside its trunk to mis-ters in the canopy that help create the kind of humid environment these trees have in their native Northern California habitat.

"e word conifer comes from the Latin term conus ferre, meaning cone-bearing. What most people call pine cones aren’t exclusive to pines, but they are one of the features that distinguish conifers from other plants. "e cones are the tree’s reproductive organs: male cones release powdery pollen that is wind-carried to pollinate female cones.

Conifer leaves come in distinctive styles. Cypresses and junipers have #at, scale-like foliage while pines, !rs, and spruces bear thin, needle-like leaves. Although they are o$en referred to as evergreens, not all conifers are green. Within the arboretum, you’ll see shades of blue, gray, and gold in the foliage, as well as several brown-leafed or nearly lea#ess trees, de-pending on the season. "e bald cypress and dawn redwood are two of the species in our collection that lose their leaves each winter, making them deciduous conifers.

"e Conifer Arboretum is home to about 160 species of coniferous trees from 33 genera, some of which, like the cedar of Lebanon Cedrus libani and desert cypress Cupressus dupreziana, are almost extinct in the wild. What you can see in the Conifer Arboretum is only one of the rea-sons to visit this spot. It is a garden for the senses. An earthy fragrance from the carpet of fallen needles mixed with the fresh, “green” scent from above is a nosegay all its own. Chirping birds and the bubbling murmur of the Kupanda Falls stream create a soothing backdrop to the whisper-ing breeze raking the canopy. Be sure to include this shady spot on your next visit to the Safari Park and enjoy the forest for the trees. Q

Clockwise from top left: The flat, blue-gray leaves of the Kashmir cypress Cupressus cashmeriana hang from drooping branches, creating the look of a misty waterfall; incense cedar Calocedrus decurrens is a fragrant California native; the lovely ginkgo Ginkgo biloba is included in our collection because it is a close relative of the conifers; coast redwoods Sequoia sempervirens are recognizable by the red-brown, “peeling” bark on their trunk—they are also some of the tallest trees in the Conifer Arboretum; the dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides once coexisted with dinosaurs in North America about 90 million years ago.


what’s in store

Totes $34.95 each, Hats $19.95 each

The rich and lush flora of Madagascar inspires the islanders to create colorful hats and totes.

Which shows your true colors?

Visit our stores at the Zoo and Safari Park to purchase these featured items.

Available in select stores. Limited quantities available.



Satisfy your hunger. Head over to Denny’sfor one of our breakfast, lunch, or dinner entrées.

© 2014 DFO, LLC. At participating Southern California Denny’s restaurants for a limited time only. Selection and prices may vary. The San Diego Zoo is a registered trademark of The Zoological Society of San Diego.

IT’S ALWAYS FEEDING TIME AT DENNY’S.

Proud Supporter of the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.

NEW! Alaska SalmonSatisfy your hunger. Head over to Denny’sfor one of our breakfast, lunch,

2014 DFO, LLC. At participating Southern California Denny’s restaurants for a limited time only. Selection and prices may vary. The San Diego Zoo is a registered trademark of The Zoological Society of San Diego.

IT’S ALWAYS FEEDING TIME AT DENNY’S.

NEW! Alaska Salmon

Visit www.sandiegozoo.org/getaroom for your free member only access.

GET EXCLUSIVE HOTEL RATESUP TO 40% OFF!

The San Diego Zoo & San Diego Zoo Safari Park are partnering with

Code: 0114

Members Only!

(At participating hotels)

When the San Diego Zoo received its !rst giant panda pair, Bai Yun and Shi Shi, on a long-term loan from the Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center in China in 1996, it was a happy ending to a long application

process. How this loan came about—and how we received the permit from the U.S. Department of the Interior to import this endangered species—is a little-known story. Its unsung hero, Murray Hutchison, is the chair of "e Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global. One astonishing fact: the permit application grew from 10 pages to 8,000 be-fore the pandas could land in San Diego!

"e entire process sounds a bit like a spy novel, as Doug Myers, our president and CEO, remembers the story. Murray said, “Let me see what I can do,” when Doug !rst spoke to him about it. "en Murray mentioned someone in Washington, D.C., who knew the permit process, and he knew an attorney who might be able to assist the Zoo. As Doug says, “He knew a guy, who knew a guy, who knew a guy who would help with our request.” Within a day, there was a conference call between Doug and the

MURRAY H. HUTCHISON

By Mary SekulovichSENIOR EDITOR, DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT


While giant pandas may be his favorites, Murray Hutchison also enjoyed meeting Einstein the Eurasian eagle owl, accompanied by senior trainer Alison Holland at the Zoo.

GLADLY GIVING A HELPING HAND FOR PANDAS

support


The Foundation Board of Directors: More Helping HandsSan Diego Zoo Global’s wildlife conservation efforts receive a great boost from its Foundation board of directors, a group made up of philanthropic leaders who strongly support our conservation mission and fund-raising efforts. As its chair, Murray Hutchison believes in bringing people into a closer relationship with wildlife and ensuring that our compelling conservation message, “leading the fight against extinction,” is shared with the global community.

Partnering to Save PandasGiant pandas may be the most recognizable and best-loved species in the world today, but back in the 1990s, biologists didn’t know if we could save the iconic bear. San Diego Zoo Global’s partnership with Chinese researchers began during that decade, and the collaboration helped save pandas from extinction. In San Diego, we’ve had unparalleled success with panda births, more than any other zoo outside of China: 6 cubs born between 1999 and 2012. Bai Yun is a terrific mother, and her second mate, Gao Gao, is a great sire.

attorney. "e permit process had begun, and Murray gen-erously offered to help the Zoo pay the legal fees.

It’s not surprising that all permits to import endan-gered species into the Unit-ed States must go through the Department of the Inte-rior, where they are carefully considered. Every aspect of the Zoo’s proposal was eval-uated, which included per-mission for breeding and re-search as well as for exhibits. Once the Department of the Interior was convinced that our research team, animal care expertise, and facilities were top-notch, the import permit was !nally granted.

It had taken two years and thousands of pages of a meticulously written application, but it was all worth it when Bai Yun and Shi Shi arrived.

Of course, Murray Hutchison was on hand at the Zoo to welcome them on September 19, 1996. It was all part of his lifelong love of animals, family visits to our Zoo as a child, and respect for our conservation mis-sion. Today, nearly 20 years later, Doug emphasizes that it was Murray who started it all and made it work. Mur-ray is modest when he says he was happy to help—but we know we couldn’t have done it without him. Q

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

A once-in-a-lifetime experience: Murray agrees that panda cubs are irresistible, especially when this one-year-old climbed onto his lap at Wolong in 1997.

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from the archives

The Big GuyDuring the 1970s and much of the ’80s, one of the stars of the San Diego Zoo was Chester, an Alaskan peninsular brown bear. Some guests !rst discovered him during their visit, but many people knew of him before even stepping foot on Zoo grounds: they had seen friends’ home movies and photos of him in action (some footage still exists on the Internet!). When a Zoo tour bus pulled up to his grotto, Chester would try to coax a bear biscuit from the driver by waving (!rst his right paw, then his le"), rubbing his stomach, and/or rising on his hind legs to his full 10-foot height.

#e quintessential crowd pleaser, Chester came to the Zoo in 1970 as a !ve-month-old orphan. During his 15 years, Chester displayed cleverness and charisma that were as impressive as his huge size. Jim Joiner, Chester’s main keeper, said he was the most intelligent animal he had ever worked with. He noted that sometimes visitors jokingly wondered if what they were seeing was really “a human in a bear suit.” One thing was certain: Chester was “smarter than your average bear.” He was also one of the most popular animals at the Zoo and is still fondly remembered by many San Diegans. Q


Tickets on Sale Now!

As the sun sets, sample from 150 restaurants, wineries, and breweries. Get wild at one of 6 stages featuring live entertainment or take a moment to meet Joan Embery and her animal friends.

Looking for a little royal treatment in the Animal Kingdom? Leaders of the pack can relax in Riviera’s exclusive VIP lounge, where cocktails and creature comforts reign and the Zoo’s wild things come out to play.

Buy your tickets today. You don’t want to miss San Diego’s Tasting Event.

zoofoodandwine.com 619-718-3000

Proceeds benefit the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 6 p.m. to midnight at the San Diego Zoo

Have you seen the digital ZOONOOZ?Available for your iPad, Android tablet, and desktop computer.

IT’S FREE! Download your spectacular digital ZOONOOZ today!

Enjoy late summer hours at the Zoo and Park—see inside for event dates!

ZOONOOZ®

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBALBox 120551, San Diego, CA 92112

Our digital ZOONOOZ magazine is a beautiful sight to see—and read! It is published every month of the year. Every other month, it accompanies the printed issue, with the same stories but also special added content: videos to play at the touch of a finger, slide shows to see more photos than we can fit in print, and interactive and animated features. The other months during the year have ONLY a digital issue—no printed version, but a full issue of ZOONOOZ complete with articles, video, and interactive features!

The July digital issue is ready to download now. Go to the App Store and search for “San Diego Zoo ZOONOOZ” on mobile devices, or use the address below for the desktop version.

DESKTOP EDITIONS AVAILABLE ATissuu.com/sdzglobal

July 2014 ZOONOOZ

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Transcript of July 2014 ZOONOOZ