Positive reinforcement training is a vital tool in animal care

p o t t e r p a r k z o o . o r g

Winter 2015

Smart animals,

SMART TRAINING

We have been decking the halls here at Potter Park Zoo, gearing up for the most festive time of the year. Looking back at 2015, it is clear we have much to celebrate. We have experienced tremendous growth this year – thanks to YOU, the many donors, members and friends of Potter Park Zoo.

POTTER PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ralph Hansen, President, AIS Construction Equipment Corporation

Ann Marie Gunn, Treasurer, DFCU Financial

Kirstin Parkin, PhD, College of Human Medicine Michigan State University

Tonya Fountain, PhD, Auto-Owners Insurance

Dan Halfmann, Integrated Health Associates

POTTER PARK ZOO ADVISORY BOARD

John Groen, Chair, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Kyle Binkley, State of Michigan

George Berghorn, PhD, Berghorn GroupPost-Doctoral Fellow, Michigan State University

Aaron L. Davis, Fraser Trebilcock

Ralph Hansen, AIS Construction Equipment Corporation

Rick Kibbey

Mary Leys, Accident Fund

Deb Nolan, Ingham County Commissioner

Richard Snider, PhD, Michigan State University

Penelope Tsernoglou, Ingham County Commissioner

The facilities team is the reason Potter Park Zoo looks so good. They are behind the scenes keeping the place running smoothly.

“Think of anything you do at home or hire to have done to keep things in order and multiply it exponentially … that’s what the facilities team does at the zoo,” said Tom Davidek, who leads PPZ’s facilities team.

Every day, the seven full-time, one part-time weekend seasonal and four peak seasonal employees are busy tackling routine tasks around the zoo, including, construction projects, exhibit fabrication, plumbing and electrical, motorized vehicle repair, HVAC, landscape installation, custodial, turf care, tree maintenance and removal, litter pick-up, trash removal, park shelter and special events set-up, snow removal and ice control.

Aside from their ordinary to-do list, the team also lends a hand with some not-so-typical tasks.

“We’ve assisted in unloading a moose transported from Alaska to its new home at the zoo, installed climbing structures and plants in new animal exhibits, helped introduce a black rhino to its new home

POTTER PARK ZOO MANAGEMENT TEAM

Tom Davidek Maintenance/horticultural tdavidek@ingham.org

Sherrie Graham Director (517) 342-2715 sgraham@ingham.org

Dennis Laidler Education (517) 342-2714 dlaidler@ingham.org

Teresa Masseau Registrar (517) 342-2776 tmasseau@ingham.org

Amy Morris External Affairs (517) 342-2718 amorris@ingham.org

Dr. Sally Nofs Animal Health (517) 342-2773 snofs@ingham.org

Rick Parker Guest Services (517) 342-5236 rparker@ingham.org

Jennifer Rostar Special Events (517) 342-2709 jrostar@ingham.org

James Tissue Public Safety (517) 244-8021 jtissue@ingham.org

Cindy Wagner General Curator (517) 342-2771 cwagner@ingham.org

Andrew Wingeier Finance (517) 244-8024 awingeier@ingham.org

POTTER PARK ZOO’S MISSION: INSPIRING PEOPLE TO CONSERVE ANIMALS AND THEIR NATURAL WORLD.

Continue your visit online. Visit potterparkzoo.org for more photos, and up-to-date information on events and animals.

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Send your feedback on this issue and story ideas for future issues to zoocontact@ingham.org.

Zoo Tales is published by the Potter Park Zoological Society for members and friends. An annual subscription is included with every membership.

Correspondence and address changes: 1301 S. Pennsylvania, Lansing, MI 48912-1646

ZOO TALES Winter 2015 Publisher: Sherrie Graham, Director, PPZ Editor: Kathy Backus Designer: Nathan Jones Photography: Kathy Backus, Amy Sebring, Carolyn Schulte and David Ellis Printer: Aldinger, Inc.

Zoo Tales is printed on recycled paper, preserving our habitat for wildlife. Do your part in conserving the environment by sharing this copy of the publication with others.

FIND US ON

FACILITIES TEAM KEEPS PPZ RUNNING SMOOTHLY Page 4-6

SMART TRAINING, SMART ANIMALSTarget training helps keepers and animals work together.

Page 7PUERTO RICAN CRESTED TOADSPPZ assists in reintroducing extinct species.

Page 8-9THANK YOU Thanks to donors, 2105 is PPZ’s best year ever.

Page 10ASK MR. DENNISWhere does PPZ get its animals?

Page 13 CONSERVATION CORNERJoin PPZ’s resolution to change the world.

Message from the directorWe are excited about the new exhibits for the red pandas, ravens and moose. We added to our animal collection by welcoming a new red panda, arctic fox and bald eagle. We offered an enhanced membership program with several new features and benefits. And we expanded enrichment opportunities for our animals.

We are very pleased with all of this progress and we plan to keep the momentum going. With your continued support, we will be able to accomplish even more next year. As you contemplate your year-end giving options, we hope you will consider a donation to Potter Park Zoo.

I hope you enjoy the stories in this issue that highlight some of the accomplishments and successes in 2015. We will be eager to share more as we look forward to seeing you at the zoo in 2016.

Happy Holidays and a very bright and prosperous New Year to all of you, from all of us here at Potter Park Zoo!

Sherrie Graham, Director

TH IS ISSUE

David Ellis got into photography the old fashioned way – at the age of 7, he pestered his parents until they gave him a camera. It was a GAF

110XF basic snapshot camera using 126 film cartridges and Magicubes for indoor shots.

His love for photographing animals brought him to Potter Park Zoo, where he snapped

his favorite shot ever. He captured a picture of one of the otters floating on its back. David likes this photo because it’s a combination of clarity, focus and detail, and also for the way it shows off the otter in such a natural way.

He now resides in Strongsville, Ohio. Growing up, he moved around quite a bit, allowing him to visit many zoos. One of his favorites is Potter Park Zoo.

STARTING THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY

ON THE COVER:

and repaired a broken water bowl in the wolf yard, with two wolves and zoo keepers watching our backs,” said Davidek.

Becoming part of PPZ’s facilities team requires a high school diploma and sometimes a college degree. Experience in caring for facilities and grounds maintenance is essential. Most important, said Davidek, are a positive attitude and a willingness to provide customer service.

PPZ ‘s team has a variety of experiences in different areas. “As a team, we can pull together on any task, project or problem -- and the results are always great,” said Davidek.

The best part of the job, he added, is seeing people enjoying themselves at the zoo.

“Where else can you go to work and see so many people learning about native, exotic and endangered species and their conservation,” asked Davidek. “Realizing what we do as the facilities team plays a big role in that … that makes all the difference.”

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Target training consists of teaching an animal to touch a part of its body to an object. The object is often at the end of a pole of some type. Keepers hold the target in front of the animal and give it the cue

to “target.” Once trained, the animals respond by touching part of their body to the object.

Successful targeting efforts are positively reinforced with food, which the animals

consider a high value reward.

Doppsee, the female black rhino, has mastered raising her feet to allow keepers to check her hooves. This training is a two-person process. One keeper is working with the target and delivering the reinforcement to Doppsee, the other is working with the

rhino’s feet. Doppsee is very tractable, which has been beneficial in her training since she has learned many behaviors relatively rapidly.

“She is typically cooperative about training, which is beneficial considering her size,”

said Pat, who has worked with Doppsee since the animal arrived at Potter Park Zoo

in 2011.

g DOPPSEE, the female black rhino, will voluntarily stand still and have her blood drawn and her hooves checked.

g MALIHA, the new female red panda, allows zoo keepers to touch her, which allows them to routinely check her condition, ensuring she remains in good health.

g ROCKY, one of Potter Park Zoo’s ravens, will present his feet to zoo keepers for a nail trim.

g WILLOW, the female moose, is learning to remain stationary for medical procedures.

Keeper Liz Jagenow said these methods are also being used with Maliha, the zoo’s female red panda. She explained that the animals receive reinforcement for each step they take toward the final desired behavior. These steps are called successive approximations.

“It’s a slow process; a lot of little steps leading up to the desired behavior,” said Liz. “It requires time and lots of patience.”

Maliha is very motivated by food; she loves apples and grapes. She is eager for the high value food reward, making her an active participant in training.

Getting the ravens to participate in their health management means they no longer have to be caught with a net to perform husbandry procedures. Raven Keeper Amy Pierce has developed a trusting relationship with both Rocky and Lily.

She established a bond with Lily the female raven after they bowed to each other. Bowing is part of courtship for ravens.

SMART TRAINING

Training is a vital tool used by Potter Park Zoo’s animal care team to facilitate optimal care and safety for

the animals. It leads to better welfare for the animals by allowing them to voluntarily participate in their medical care and husbandry, thereby reducing stress and eliminating the need for anesthesia. It also allows zoo keepers to develop relationships with their animals by building a positive association.

The zoo uses operant conditioning and positive reinforcement to train many behaviors. Operant conditioning is a learning process by which behavior is controlled by its consequences. Positive reinforcement is the addition of a reward following a desired behavior. This leads to an increase in the likelihood this behavior will be demonstrated again.

Pat Fountain, PPZ keeper for the moose and black rhinos, said target training is the basis of much of the animal training at the zoo and is a great example of the use of positive reinforcement.

RUPERT JR., red panda

LILY, raven

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More than 10,000 tadpoles born at Potter Park Zoo have been returned to their native habitat in Puerto

Rico and released in the last eight years – including more than 4,500 this year. Potter Park Zoo’s Puerto Rican crested toad breeding program is a conservation success story, proving that diligence and expert efforts among the zoo staff can make a difference in the wild world.

“The release of the Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles is another step in the zoo being a leader in conservation and education, as well as a place where we can learn about other parts of the world and see the animals that live there,” said Potter Park Zoo Director Sherrie Graham.

Potter Park Zoo’s keepers have spent years tackling the challenging task of successfully breeding these toads and producing healthy tadpoles in captivity.

“This year, we bred two pair. Both females had breeding experiences, but the males did not,” said Potter Park Zoo Keeper Melissa Lincoln.

The Puerto Rican crested toad is an amphibian that once thrived in its native Puerto Rico and the island of Virgin Gorda. The species was presumed extinct in the late 1960s due to habitat loss and other factors caused by humans. Wildlife advocates and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums intervened on behalf of Puerto Rico’s only native toad and developed a Species Survival Plan (SSP) in 1987, making the Puerto Rican crested toad the first amphibian to have an SSP.

“The SSP coordinator makes recommendations regarding which toads will be bred each year. These individuals

are then separated from the rest of the group and the real fun begins,” said Lincoln.

THE BREEDING OF PUERTO RICAN CRESTED TOADS The breeding process is very delicate. Keepers must replicate Puerto Rico’s rainy season found in the spring and fall. It begins with cooling the toads to 66 degrees Fahrenheit and keeping them in a moist and cool environment for a month. This leads to the toads hibernating and is necessary for good egg development in female toads.

Then it is wake-up time. The breeding room is warmed to 82 degrees Fahrenheit in a three-day period. After a week of feeding and special care, the toads are separated into breeding pairs and moved to a specially designed rain tank, which simulates conditions found in the wild. The toads spend up to five days in the rain tanks. Breeding calls are played on a loop until the toads amplex and the eggs are laid.

RESULTS Potter Park Zoo’s toads produced roughly 4,500 tadpoles. All but 10 of these were shipped to Puerto Rico to be released in the wild. The 10 that remained at the zoo will enter the captive breeding populations to help maintain genetic diversity.

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS“Every year, we tweak a few additional variables so that breeding will continue to improve at Potter Park Zoo,” said Lincoln. “We are very excited to participate in such a wonderful conservation program and look forward to continued success!”

Puerto Rican Crested ToadsPPZ assists in reintroduction of nearly extinct species

The Puerto Rican crested toad Species Survival Plan includes 750 toads at 29 AZA-accredited institutions.

To date, 167,000 tadpoles and 1,000 toadlets have been released in Puerto Rico.

Potter Park Zoo has participated in this effort since 2009 and has sent more than 10,000 tadpoles to Puerto Rico.

BY THE NUMBERS

“She bowed at me, I bowed back at her and that led to the relationship we have now,” said Amy.

The first time Amy clipped Rocky the raven’s nails without having to net him was her happiest day ever.

“It wasn’t stressful for him or me. We were working cohesively together,” said Amy.

Potter Park Zoo hoofstock keepers have been working with Willow the female moose to teach her to allow them to draw her blood, which involves being poked in the neck with a needle. Getting the moose to cooperate with blood draws is far less stressful to her than the use of anesthesia.

“So far, she will target, allow her neck to be touched and tolerate

a blunt needle,” said Keeper Ashleigh Winkelmann. “It’s a process to desensitize her to a sharp poke and get her to stay still while being poked in the neck.”

Working closely with the animals allows keepers to get to know their individual characteristics and develop a relationship. This means better welfare for the animals.

“Every day is a new challenge with the ravens. To create a bond with a species that’s known to be intelligent is awesome,” said Amy.

Training makes keepers’ and veterinarians’ jobs easier and safer, but more importantly, it improves the lives of the animals. Animals receive the best care since they are

DO WE TRAIN OUR ANIMALS?

Why

g Reduces the stress of medical procedures

g Enables better, safer animal care

g Provides mental stimulation

g Encourages positive keeper-animal relationships

g Promotes educational opportunities

choosing to participate in the process. While training helps in performing husbandry tasks such as nail trimming or obtaining animal weights, it is also an enrichment opportunity and mentally stimulating for the animal.

DOPPSEE, black rhino

Amplexed toads

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gMICHIGAN VETERINARY CONFERENCE

g INGHAM COUNTY CULTURAL DIVERSITY LUNCHEON

g VET-A-VISIT

g EARTH DAY EVENT AT THE CAPITOL

g ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION

g ADOPT-A-RIVER

g EAST LANSING ART FAIR

g BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN/INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY

g LANSING POLICE DEPARTMENT GANG RESISTANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING

g COME OUTSIDE AND PLAY AT THE CAPITOL

g INGHAM COUNTY FAIR

g SOLDAN’S PET SUPPLIES’ 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

g LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE STEMFEST

g CELEBRATION CINEMA KIDS’ DAY

Primal Chic Incorporated, Chris TriolaCapitol National Bank, Linnea SnodgrassCheryl M. FronczakSean ShafferHal & Jean Glassen Memorial FoundationRobert & Carol GirvinMerry Strohmer & Richard StephanEllen & Albert BeaudoinMichael & Anne MoodyDennis & Mary SweeneyJean VargasJunis ZumbergBrady BooherFrances DittrichU.S. Forest Service - Northern Research StationMr. & Mrs. Glenn OwensSandra SweetNorma NestleLauren & Patrick ArmstrongRick & Diane Kimball

An annual review of PPZ would not be complete without highlighting one of the greatest collections of

all: the 2,000-plus members and many donors and docents whose support enables every activity here at the zoo. Without you, PPZ would not be the world-class institution it is today.

The following lists many of the programs PPZ’s Education Department has shared free of charge throughout the community in 2015. Participating in these activities is PPZ’s way of giving back to the Lansing area.

This is our chance to be good neighbors to community organizations that share PPZ’s mission and allows us to further spread our message of inspiring people to conserve animals and their natural world.

Roxanne & Allen HansenMr. & Mrs. Gary GirvinMr. & Mrs. Kenny PaulovichGrant UrieMarjorie & Jack HetheringtonEva WicklundBad Brewing Company Karlene RabidouxMelanie CupplesHELO Club, Lori Shader-PattersonEdwin & Ruth BosworthGeneral Motors - Flint Metal Center, John L. HinzeMichelle BadgleyJennie SebrukBonnie & Patrick BoydMurphy BillJohn & Sarah ChapmanJudy & Lonny SnowPatricia & Jeffry ThelenMary & Karl Zollner, Jr.Ina MartinStanley Meng

Mark & Dana StatenRobin LentiniDouglas & Jennifer SanfordJohn & Roberta JacobowitzJan BrighamDavid & Rebecca ShaneDarl Van HeestNeogen Corporation R. Sekhar ChivukulaJeff BrooksDisney EARS to You Program, Kimbery BrydgesAnn Marie NelsonGeorgia CurryJackson National Life Insurance CompanyGerry And Gaelen McNamaraRoger CargillRhonda BurkeRobert & Shannon ArmbrusterJohn & Kathryn MazzoniLinda RectorCampbell/Walker Family, Cathrine Walker

DONOR LIST

PPZ EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FREE PROGRAMS 2015

Thankyou

If you feel you are missing from this list, please contact Kelly Gibson at (517) 342-2717 or kgibson@ingham.org.

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Where do our zoo animals come from? It’s one of the most frequently asked

questions by zoo visitors. Answer: Not where you think.

Many people assume zoos get animals from the wild, but at AZA-accredited zoos, including Potter Park Zoo, less than 5 percent come from the wild. The few animals we do get from the wild are usually animals unable to survive in the wild. For example, our three bald eagles were all sent to PPZ due to permanent wing injuries.

State and federal wildlife agencies are another source of zoo animals. PPZ’s education and exhibit collection includes a spotted turtle, three Mediterranean tortoises and two Asian spiny turtles -- all rare species -- which were confiscated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service or Michigan Department of Natural Resources from people who illegally possessed them.

IF PPZ DOESN’T GET ANIMALS FROM THE WILD, WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? Answer: the vast majority of animals come from where they were born – other accredited zoos and aquariums. This has been the norm for the past several decades, however many people think zoos send out expeditions to capture wild animals. This is not true. Accredited zoos and aquariums have very strict guidelines and protocols to follow in acquiring

new animals, and sending animals from PPZ to other zoos.

There is a process for deciding which animals PPZ is going to exhibit and a specific plan for acquiring them from other zoos.

The zoo’s Animal Management Committee decides which animals to bring to PPZ. The committee consists of staff members representing various departments. They consider the following criteria when choosing new species for the zoo:

1. Conservation status: Is the animal endangered or part of a Species Survival Plan?

2. Does the zoo have suitable exhibit space, amenities and staffing to accommodate the animal’s needs and husbandry requirements?

3. Does the species come with breeding recommendations?

4. Is it a cold weather species? We are open year-round and prefer animals that can be viewed throughout the year.

5. Does the animal have educational value?

6. Is it an animal visitors will find interesting?

These criteria are evaluated, in addition to the species’ availability at other accredited zoos or aquariums, in order to decide which animals to bring to PPZ.

ASK MR. DENNIS ??Question: Where does PPZ get its animals?

Once the Animal Management Committee makes a decision the real work begins. PPZ’s general curator, zoo registrar and veterinarian play major roles in working with the sending institution(s) to coordinate the transfer.

PPZ zoo keepers communicate with keepers from the other zoo to gather information on the animal, including behaviors, diet, training and enrichment. The goal is for a smooth transition, allowing the animal to adjust easily to its new home.

The maintenance staff readies the animal’s exhibit, while the education and marketing departments collaborate to introduce the new animal to the community.

Next time you see new animals on exhibit at Potter Park Zoo, you’ll know how they got here.

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A resolution to

RESOLUTION #1: CONNECT TO NATUREg Get yourself (and your kids) outside. Play in

your back yard, go to a park or take a walk in the woods or around the block.

g Check out www.greenhour.org for ideas on connecting kids with nature.

g Join an environmental organization: learn more, participate in activities, contribute to the mission and volunteer.

RESOLUTION #2: BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTISTg Citizen scientists are ordinary people across

the country who collect information to be used by scientists in research studies.

g Check out these citizen science programs, appropriate for all ages:

• National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Watch -- www.nwf.org/Wildlife/ Wildlife-Conservation/Citizen-Science/Wildlife-Watch.aspx

• Bird-watching programs offered by Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology -- birds.cornell.edu/page.aspx?pid=1664

• Project Frogwatch USA -- www.aza.org/frogwatch. Potter Park Zoo hosts Frogwatch training each spring.

RESOLUTION #3: GO NATIVE (PLANTS, THAT IS)g Plant native species in your yard or garden.

Native plants are hardier and provide habitat for native wildlife.

g Get involved in a local restoration project with a local nature center or other organization, such as an invasive species removal day.

g Plant trees. Help clean the air.

RESOLUTION #4: BE AN INFORMED CONSUMERg Buy products from companies committed

to sustainably sourced palm oil. Palm oil is found in many products from candy to beauty products. By farming sustainably, the land and wildlife are less impacted than with other methods. Learn more at www.rspo.org

g Try switching to products using natural abrasives such as silica or walnut shells. Many products contain tiny plastic beads. These beads are too small to be filtered by water treatment plants, resulting in an accumulation in lakes, rivers, oceans and the bellies of animals.

g Buy Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee. Get your jolt and save the rain forest at the same time.

RESOLUTION #5: REDUCEg Replace plastic or paper shopping bags with

stronger, reusable bags. They’re not just for groceries. Lots of styles are available and can be used for trips to the mall, bookstore, craft store, etc.

g Use a reusable water bottle and/or coffee cup to reduce plastic bottles and styrofoam cups.

g Adjusting your thermostat and turning off lights will save energy and money. Turning off your computer at night, changing light bulbs to compact fluorescent or LED and unplugging appliances when not in use will save even more energy.

Consider making a resolution that will change the world. Kick off 2016 with a conservation resolution. Go beyond “Reduce, Reuse and

Recycle” and adopt one of the resolutions below. Stay tuned to the Potter Park Zoo blog, where we will feature a different conservation story each month.

CHANGE THE WORLD

Meet the latest additions to Potter Park’s animal family and exhibits. Stop by to see each of them next time you visit the zoo.

PPZ’s male arctic fox has a new companion. A female arctic fox has joined him in the exhibit. She was born May 24, 2015, at Great Bend Zoo in Kansas. Her coat is white, typical of arctic fox found in snow-covered areas. The male is a blue morph, and will never be completely white. This coat variety is found where snow isn’t present all winter. Arctic fox do not hibernate; they store food for winter by burying leftovers or hiding them under stones. This behavior is called caching. They have a keen sense of smell and this assists them in finding these food stashes. Both male and female have playful personalities and can be seen interacting regularly.

ARCTIC FOX

Rupert Jr. and Maliha have moved into their new PPZ home. They have been exploring their expanded exhibit, which allows for greater enrichment opportunities and is a habitat more closely matching their native environment. They are often seen lying on the branches in the tallest points of the exhibit, much as they would in their native habitat. Support for the red panda project was jump-started by a generous contribution of $30,000 from Jeff and David Williams of Williams AutoWorld in Lansing. The red panda is an endangered species native to Asia. They can be found from Nepal to the Sichuan Province in China.

NEW RED PANDA EXHIBIT

NEW at the ZOO

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Thursday - Sunday

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Potter Park Zoological Society1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave.Lansing, MI 48912-1646

Amanda Sinift and her family have been to Potter Park Zoo at least five times this year. She

can’t recall a favorite visit because they enjoy it so much every time. However, a particular trip to the zoo this summer does make her smile.

“My boys love sitting at the food court and watching the peacocks,” said Amanda. “We had just seen the movie ‘Jurassic World,’ so they decided to name each peacock after characters in the movie.” Now when Brennan, 9, and Aidan, 8, visit the zoo, they look to find the peacocks they named. The family loves the size and layout of Potter Park.“It’s just the right size,” said Amanda. “The exhibits are close together, which keeps the kids entertained the entire time.”

So many memories are made at Potter Park Zoo. We would love to share your favorite tale. Share your memories with us and we will share them with our readers in a future issue. Send your tales to zoocontact@ingham.org.

WE WANT YOUR FAVORITE TALE

The first thing the Sinifts do upon entering the zoo is check the schedule for Keeper Talks. They recently caught a zoo keeper near the eagle exhibit. The keeper willingly answered every question the boys asked. “The boys are at the ‘age of a million questions’,” said Amanda. “They were rapidly firing questions at the keeper and she took the time to answer every one.“From interacting with the keepers, you can tell they have a real passion for the animals and care about the people visiting, including kids with an incredible curiosity about animals.” It’s not just the animals the Sinift boys are interested in at the zoo. They enjoy walking the paths through the herb garden. Brennan and Aidan have flower beds they tend to at home. “Now they want to grow some herbs in their gardens,” said Amanda.

Amanda and her husband Brian love Potter Park Zoo as much as the kids. They would come to the zoo even if they didn’t have kids, said Amanda.Amanda always has her camera on hand when at the zoo. Photography has been her passion since middle school, when she got caught taking her parents’ camera to school. The big cats are the animals she loves photographing the most, which is another reason she loves the zoo!

P O T T E R P A R K Z O O . O R G

FOR ANIMALS

INCREDIBLEAN

CURIOSITY