zoogram
fall/winter 2012
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Chairman
W. Robert Zinkham
Vice-Chairman
Edwin R. Brake
Vice President
Anne L. Donahue
Vice President
Eric G. Orlinsky
Vice President
Hugo J. Warns III
Secretary
Christopher A. Pope
Treasurer
Charles E. Vieth
Beth I. Blauer
Mary Kay Burch
Richard J. Corcoran, Jr.
Joanna D. Golden
Herbert Goldman
Barry P. Gossett
Ingrid Harbaugh
Donna L. Jacobs
Francis X. Kelly III
Allan Levine
Gabrielle M. Melka
Hon. Catherine E. Pugh
Dr. Sidney B. Seidman
Carole Sibel
Hon. Shawn Z. Tarrant
Christopher G. Thomaskutty
Kenneth L. Thompson
William J. Toomey II
Earl S. Wellschlager
Warren W. Wilson
James D. Witty
Honorary
John H. Claster
Hon. Elijah E. Cummings
Norman C. Frost, Jr.
Elizabeth Grieb
Michael D. Hankin
Stuart S. Janney III
F. Ross Jones
A.B. Krongard
Hon. Catherine O’Malley
Roger G. Powell
Hon. William Donald Schaefer*
Elizabeth K. Schroeder
Edward N. Tucker
Ex-Officio
Matthew D. Gallagher
Jill H. Kamenetz
Robin Sabatini
Thomas J. Stosur
*Deceased
President
Donald P. Hutchinson
Zoogram Editor
Sarah Evans
Content Editor
Lori Finkelstein
Project Manager
Anne Ragland Finney
Zoogram Designer
Suzanne Glover Design
Vol. 37, #3, Fall 2012
Zoogram is published quarterly by The
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
©2012 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is
managed by the Maryland Zoological
Society, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c)(3)
corporation. Public funding for the Zoo
is principally provided by the state of
Maryland, Baltimore City, and Baltimore
County.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is
accredited by the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums.
letter
from the president
www.MarylandZoo.org
A
s many of you know, the Zoo’s fiscal
year runs from July 1 through June
30. With all of the data now in for
Fiscal Year 2012, we have been assessing how
well we hit our marks. I am pleased to report
several significant milestones for FY2012,
including welcoming 409,843 visitors to the
Zoo.
Surpassing the 400,000 mark for visitation
is a particularly encouraging highlight for
us. The number has been trending upward
since FY2009, when we had 330,681 visitors, and shows that more and more people are
choosing the Zoo as a favorite destination. Some new promotions, including staying open late
on Thursdays in August and bringing back the popular Zoo Zoom 8K race, brought people out
and reminded them of what a spectacular place this is. A mild winter and some notable animal
births also spurred visitation. Without doubt, though, visitors come because of the experience
we offer, and for that we have our incredible animals and dedicated staff to thank.
The Membership Department generated over $1 million in revenue in FY12, a milestone not
reached in many years. This tells me that visitors appreciate the value of Zoo membership.
We also got great support from our business and community partners who invested in corporate
memberships, which also are on the rise.
I continue to believe that the key to our financial success is finding economies and efficiencies
in spending while offering our guests and dedicated members reasons to come to the Zoo, and
reasons to return. As a non-profit organization, we challenge ourselves to increase revenue each
year to support our operating budget, and I am confident that we are on the right track.
We have plenty on tap for the coming year, including breaking ground on a phenomenal new
penguin exhibit. It should be a game-changer for our organization and all who support us.
I invite you to read more about it in this issue of Zoogram.
Don Hutchinson, President/CEO
Contact the Zoo
www.MarylandZoo.org for information and reservations
General Information
(410) 396-7102
Human Resources
(443) 552-5310
Events
(443) 552-5276
Volunteers
(443) 552-5266
Membership
(443) 552-5281
Group Sales
(443) 552-5277
Adopt an Animal
(443) 552-5280
Visitor Services
(443) 552-5256
Development
(443) 552-5290
Gift Shop
(443) 552-5315
Education
(443) 552-5300
Rentals
(443) 552-5277
Administrative offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. daily during the months of March through December and Friday-Monday during the months of January
and February. The Zoo is closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Photo this page: Nicholas Griner – Baltimore Business Journal
Maryland Zoological
Society, Inc.
fall/winter
Science of
Matchmaking
contents
Page 8
4 News from the Zoo
See the zebra foals and other
new arrivals at the Zoo.
5 Buggy Makeover The Zoo’s Tundra Buggy gets a
facelift inside and out.
6 Plan Your Next Visit
Zoom or boo, there’s
something for you at the Zoo
this fall.
8 Science of Matchmaking
Setting the mood for
successful breeding is part
science, part art.
10 Kids Pages
A world of interesting insects
in your own backyard!
12 Make Way for Penguins
The Zoo breaks ground on an
historic new penguin exhibit!
14 Development
Eco-friendly lights and an
Ambassador-friendly van!
Front and back covers: Jeffrey F. Bill
On the Cover
infant Colobus monkey
3
4
fall/winter
from the Zoo
news
In late March, the Zoo welcomed
four new hoglets to the wallow!
Kumari, the adult female warthog,
There’s a new kid in the Farmyard!
gave birth to her second litter,
Born on Sunday, June 10 to the
which includes three females and
Zoo’s African pygmy goat pair, Lex
one male. The babies are healthy,
and Lois, Lana is the first kid to
playful, and – if ever you could say
be born at the Zoo in many years.
this about warthogs – adorable.
She is a diminutive and adorable
See for yourself next time you visit
version of her mother. She began to
the Zoo! You’ll find the warthogs in
walk approximately one hour after
African Journey.
birth and has been increasingly
playful and active ever since. Stop
by the Farmyard to see her!
Make room, Hassan and Cuma, because a new lioness
is joining the Zoo pride. Her name is Badu, and she is
now getting to know Cuma, her elder by several years,
and Hassan, a young and still frisky male. In time, after
careful and patient introductions, she may find Hassan
a worthy playmate (and future mate). If so, Cuma will
breathe a sigh of relief and get back to resting, not
wrestling, as she prefers!
Next time you are traveling the
Safari Boardwalk, take a look at
our new zebras, Stella and Phoenix.
They are now romping around the
African Watering Hole as only two
spry young zebra foals can. Over
the past several months, they have
been accepted into their all-female
herd, learned what to make of a
rhinoceros (upon first sighting, they
froze in their tracks!), and gotten
used to the ostriches rushing at
them with wings outstretched. They
still gallop away, but it seems to be
a game for both species!
5
Buffalo Yards Road is one of the
most beautiful, shady pathways
at the Zoo and, starting this fall,
visitors will enjoy its splendor
zebras, lions, bears: Jeffrey F. Bill
coming and going. During
construction of the new penguin
exhibit, the Zoo’s trams will be
rerouted down this pathway. Walk
or ride, and look up to appreciate
the trees! To learn about the new
penguin exhibit, please see
pp. 12-13.
In June, the Zoo celebrated the
birth of a third calf to Pearl and
Makuru, a pair of Addra gazelle
recommended to breed by the
AZA’s Species Survival Plan for this
endangered species. With this third
calf, Pearl has come into her own
Buggy Makeover
Imagine a giant white boxcar moving slowly across the vast, frozen landscape
of Canada’s Far North on enormous, all-terrain tires. Inside are scientists,
photographers, and travelers from all over the world who have come to see
polar bears in their element. This vehicle is their safe haven. Called a Tundra
Buggy, it brings its riders within feet of the world’s largest land carnivore.
as a mother. Her first two calves
Despite its imposing size (13 feet tall by 16 feet wide by 50 feet long), a
were hand-reared by keepers but
Tundra Buggy is surprisingly unobtrusive on the actual tundra. The bears seem
Pearl has been an excellent mother
to regard one as “a big chunk of ice or a big rock that moves around every
to Sparrow, her youngest, and has
once in a while,” according to wildlife photographer and frequent passenger
needed no help or intervention
Dan Cox. Take a Tundra Buggy off the tundra and put it in the middle of the
from keepers. Be sure to see mother
Zoo’s Polar Bear Watch exhibit, though, and it’s going to get noticed.
and daughter together in the
Antelope Yard!
The Zoo owns the only Tundra Buggy outside of Canada. It is a centerpiece
of the Polar Bear Watch exhibit, straddling both polar bear yards. Visitors can
step inside, sit for a few minutes, and watch the bears on either side of them.
There is opportunity to learn more about polar bears and their Arctic habitat
inside the buggy, and it is also a great venue for education programs.
The Tundra Buggy was brought to the Zoo in 2002 through the generosity
of The Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation, Inc. After a decade
on exhibit, it is looking better than ever. Thanks to generous support from
Constellation Energy, it was recently renovated inside and out! Its exterior
is in pristine condition, with a new paint job and rust removal treatment.
Inside, visitors will appreciate newly upholstered seats, new signage featuring
stunning wildlife photography by Dan Cox, new flooring, and a new
audiovisual system showcasing video footage of wild polar bears. There is also
more space at the front of the buggy for kids to sit and enjoy story times and
other on-grounds education programs.
We hope you’ll enjoy the newly renovated Tundra Buggy next
time you visit Polar Bear Watch!
your next visit
plan
6
fall/winter
With crisp fall days on the way and winter soon to follow, enjoy the changing
of the seasons at the Zoo. See how your favorite animals respond to cooler
temperatures, brightly colored falling leaves, or even a dusting of snow! The Zoo
will keep regular visiting hours through the end of December and will be open to
visitors Friday through Monday during the months of January and February.
Before your next visit, please be sure to visit www.MarylandZoo.org for updates
on programs and exhibits and other timely announcements.
daily activities
Please check your Zoo map, given upon entry, for daily
schedule and times.
Animal Greeters: Animal Ambassadors in Schaefer Plaza
welcome you to the Zoo.
Kid Zone: Brush, pet, or just visit the goats.
Creature Encounters: Experience wildlife up close with
live animals and hands-on activities at the Zoo’s learning
center.
Education Stations: More hands-on discovery of animal
artifacts at special learning posts throughout the Zoo.
Penguin Feeding: Learn more about African Penguins
during the daily penguin feeding.
Keeper Chats: Talk with keepers about the animals in
their care. Feel free to ask questions!
Jones Falls Zephyr: Enjoy a relaxing ride on the Zoo’s
train. Open daily, weather permitting. $
Carousel: Your chance to ride a cheetah, zebra, giraffe, or
other favorite animal! $
Giraffe Feeding Station: Meet a giraffe face to face. $
$: fee to participate
special events
Animal Enrichment Day
Enrichment is a crucial part of animal care at the Zoo.
Keepers spend time developing and delivering it, and the
animals thrive on it. Learn about enrichment from keepers
and Zoo educators, and watch different animals exploring
different types!
Date: October 6
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Animal Awareness Days
This fall, we focus special attention on big cats and African
penguins. On a day devoted to each, discover how these
animals live in the wild and at the Zoo. Participate in keeper
fall/winter
7
ZooBOOO!
A spooktacular festival your little ghosts and
goblins won’t want to miss! Come to Waterfowl
Lake Pavilion dressed to impress, and enjoy free
trick-or-treating, costume contests, carnival
games, crafts, live entertainment, delicious food
and more! Special thanks to our event sponsor,
CFG Community Bank.
Free with general Zoo admission. Additional fee
applies for some games and activities.
Dates: October 26-28
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
chats, watch animal enrichment demonstrations, and join
in activities at the Creature Encounters learning center.
Dates, Hours, and Locations:
African Penguin (Creature Encounters/Rock Island):
October 14, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Big Cats (Safari Boardwalk): October 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Zoo Zoom 8k Race/Family Fun Run ($)
Wild about running? Then get moving for this annual
8K race that winds through Druid Hill Park and the Zoo.
Support the Zoo with your entry fee. One-mile family fun
run also open to all ages.
Registration required. Sign up early as this race will sell out!
Date: November 18
Hours: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Breakfast With The Polar Bears
Have breakfast on the Mansion House porch, mingle with
Animal Ambassadors, visit education stations devoted to
the world’s largest land carnivore, and then board the tram
for Polar Bear Watch, where you can talk with keepers
while watching the bears receive enrichment.
Date: November 10
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Prices: $55 members, $65 non-members, FREE for children
under 2
Breakfast With Santa And Friends
Join us for holiday cheer and celebration on the Mansion
House Porch with Santa and feathered friends. Enjoy a
all photos: Jeffrey F. Bill
hearty breakfast, visit with a penguin, do a seasonal craft,
and listen for those jingle bells!
Dates: December 16 & 22
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Prices: $25 members, $35 non-members, $15 children aged
2-12, FREE for children under 2
on-grounds programs
Enjoy autumn at the Zoo even more by participating in
one of our short, fun, and free on-grounds education
programs. Look for the green Maryland Zoo canopies.
There is always something interesting going on
underneath! Join in a game, activity, or conversation,
and learn something new about nature. Check the Zoo’s
website or the message board at Creature Encounters
to find out what’s offered on the day you visit. We look
forward to seeing you!
8
fall/winter
the science of
matchmaking
The chemistry seems to be right between Anastasia and Gratian, two
adult Coquerel’s sifaka living at the Zoo. Together, they have produced
two healthy sons in less than two years and have created a tight-knit,
closely bonded family in Chimpanzee Forest. Despite a natural attraction
that seems to be working, though, Anastasia and Gratian did not choose
each other. Their pairing was recommended by the Coquerel’s Sifaka
Species Survival Plan (SSP) coordinated by the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (AZA).
By Sarah Evans, Zoogram Editor
A
The Maryland Zoo participates in several AZA animal programs and receives breeding
recommendations on an ongoing basis. This penguin should pair with that penguin, this sitatunga
should move to another zoo to mate, that chimpanzee should take a break from breeding, and
by the way how much barn space do you have for lesser kudu? It is up to the Zoo’s collection
managers to decide how to turn recommendations into reality. They set their plans and bring area
managers up to date. Keeper teams working directly with the animals then put the plans in motion.
all photos: Jeffrey F. Bill
mong AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, it is no longer common practice to maintain
and grow collections by importing animals from the wild or trading privately with other
zoos. Instead, member institutions collectively manage the species in their care and rely
upon careful captive breeding to insure strong, healthy populations for generations to come.
Committees of scientists and zoo professionals decide how many animals of each species member
institutions can adequately house and care for and recommend who should breed with whom in
order to maximize genetic diversity. With few if any animals coming from the wild to contribute
new genes, managing the matchmaking within each closed population is essential. For Anastasia
and Gratian, this means that the prosimian equivalent of casual dating is off limits. Their matchups
will always be more akin to arranged marriage.
fall/winter
Ultimately it is up to the animals, but animal caregivers can
do a great deal to facilitate pairings and “set the mood”
for breeding. As anyone who has ever tried to monitor the
progesterone levels of an 8,000 pound African elephant or
determine the nesting needs of a slender-snouted crocodile
will tell you, breeding management is part science, part
art, and part intuition. On the one hand, it takes years of
professional experience; on the other, it demands a fresh and
unbiased approach each time.
Mike McClure, the Zoo’s General Curator and Elephant
Program Manager, has decades of his own experience to draw
upon, including overseeing the first-ever birth of an African
elephant at the Zoo in 2008. He agrees wholeheartedly with
Murphy. “I’m not a huge fan of putting everything on paper
because then people treat it like a manual and feel lost when
they can’t find the answer they’re looking for,” he says. “It’s
more important to look, to observe, and to respond to what’s
going on directly in front of you in the environment.”
To make the challenge that much more daunting, there is
no book on the shelf, no fool-proof breeding protocol to
follow. “We actually are those people – the ones we wish
we could call, the ones figuring it out each time,” says Kevin
Murphy, the Zoo’s Assistant Curator and Collection Manager
of Amphibians and Reptiles. “Successful breeding is not about
replicating what someone else did at another facility because
each facility and each animal is unique,” he says. “It’s really
about paying attention and constantly tweaking what you’ve
got.” He would know. From the Zoo’s Panamanian Golden
Frog Conservation Center, Murphy and his team run the
most successful breeding program in the world for this highly
endangered amphibian.
McClure also notes that it’s not just about orchestrating a
successful pairing and pregnancy but making sure that all
goes well once a baby is born. From pairing to birth and
beyond, animal caregivers must be vigilant and responsive.
The fact that the Zoo has had such remarkable success
breeding and rearing so many different species in recent
years, including Coquerel’s sifaka, Kirk’s dik-dik, Addra
gazelle, colobus monkey, sitatunga, African penguin, African
spoonbill, hamerkop, warthog, and pygmy goat, shows just
how committed and skilled its keeper teams are. “The reason
you’re seeing babies at the Zoo is because of the investment in
staff,” says McClure, “and that is no exaggeration.”
Babies at the Zoo
9
Visitors are likely to see
even more babies at the
Zoo in the months and
years to come.
McClure, Murphy, and Karl Kranz, Executive Vice-President of Animal
Programs, endorse a philosophy of sustainability at the Zoo. They
want to encourage breeding for the sake of sustaining the collection
from within, doing what is best for the animals, and developing staff
expertise. “Breeding is a natural part of life for all animals, and multigeneration populations are more reflective of what exists in nature,”
explains McClure. “And staff who develop breeding expertise become
better animal caregivers all around.”
So don’t worry. If you missed seeing the newborn African pygmy goat
when she was still small enough to nap in her water bowl, you may
get another chance. She was the first of her kind to be born at the
Zoo in many years but she may not be the last!
10
incredible
insects
Insects are amazing animals! They
outnumber every other group of animals on earth
by far and are the most diverse group of animals in
the world. Scientists have identified over one million
species of insect, and there may be as many as 30
million species in all. Some scientists estimate that
for every individual person, there are 200 million
individual insects.
You can find insects living just about everywhere. Fall
is a great time to search for them as they cling to tall
Know Your Parts
The Insect Song
grass, buzz around flowers, and crawl through leaf
litter. Of the insects featured on these pages, see how
many you can find in your own backyard or at the Zoo
the next time you visit!
Head and thorax, abdomen, abdomen.
Head and thorax, ab-do-men, ab-do-me-e-e-en.
Eyes, antennae, and an exoskeleton!
Head and thorax, abdomen, abdomen!
Sing this song to the tune of “Head and
Shoulders, Knees and Toes” to get yourself
in the mood to identify insect parts!
Now match the words below to the proper body
part on this green grasshopper.
Head
Thorax
Abdomen
Mouth Parts
Legs (there should be six!)
Antennae
Fore Wing
Hind Wing
Artwork: Eleonore Evans, age 14, McDonogh School
Backyard Insect Hunt
fall/winter
11
Locust Borer: This beetle is named for its larva,
which bore through the wood and inner bark
of black locust trees. Adults have the same
coloration as yellow jackets, which scares off
predators.
Praying Mantis: Females are bigger and greener
than males. Both sexes are well camouflaged and
can hide in plain sight. They catch unsuspecting
pollinators like bees and butterflies with their
“praying” front legs.
Field Cricket: These familiar “chirp-chirp” crickets
make sounds by rubbing their wings together.
Females have long egg-layers (ovipositors) that
look like stingers.
Katydid: This grasshopper-like cricket sings a
song at night that sounds like “Katie did, Katie
didn’t.” Females have sword-like egg layers. They
slice open tree branches and lay their eggs in the
wound.
Monarch Butterfly: This familiar and beautiful
butterfly feeds on milkweed and ingests its toxic
sap. Predators that try to eat Monarchs are in
for a distasteful surprise, as those bright orange
wings warn!
Green darner dragonfly: Young green darners,
known as water nymphs, live underwater and
breathe with gills. Eventually they crawl out, shed
their skin, and emerge as dragonflies. They snag
and eat insects in mid air!
Wheel bug: Related to stink bugs, wheel bugs
have a strange extension to their thorax that
looks like half of a gear wheel, cogs and all! Like
spiders, they suck body fluids from their insect
prey.
Skipper: These small relatives of moths and
butterflies skip through the air on rapidly
fluttering wings and feed voraciously on the
nectar of common fall flowers.
Argiope spider: This black-and-yellow spider
grows throughout the summer, reaching a
maximum body length of 1.5 inches by fall. It
builds a large web and hangs in the middle,
waiting to pounce on unsuspecting insects.
kids
Get a magnifying glass,
use these photos as your
field guide, and see
how many cool insects
you can find in your
own backyard! Don’t
wait! Go outside right
now and start hunting!
12
fall/winter
penguins
make way for
By Sarah Evans
The Skeleton Coast of Namibia is a remote and unforgiving land of wind-scoured
beauty and astonishing wildlife. It borders the Atlantic Ocean just north of South
Africa. Skeletal shipwrecks and bleached whale bones fleck its shore, but the land
is anything but dead. African penguins colonizing rocky offshore islands share the
coastline with innumerable species, ranging from ghost crabs to lions.
I
deally, the penguins would nest in shelters made of
their own built-up guano deposits, but harvesters
have long since scraped the islands clean of the birds’
nitrogen-rich waste (which makes excellent fertilizer).
center of animal operations for the new exhibit. Keepers
will access it from a bridge leading off a main wharf.
In lieu of natural shelters, some penguins escape the
As a visitor, you will be able to walk around the island,
searing sun and wind inside the ramshackle remains of
stopping along the way to watch the penguins, observe
abandoned fishing huts.
a feeding, participate in a Keeper Chat, or enjoy special
This remarkable image – of wild penguins repurposing
man-made structures – serves as partial inspiration for
the Zoo’s new penguin exhibit, which breaks ground this
fall. Situated at the heart of the Zoo on 1.5 acres of what
is now known as Central Plaza, the $7.5 million exhibit
will showcase the largest colony of African penguins in
North America. “Penguins are extraordinarily popular
with visitors and one of our most important species in
terms of the conservation and breeding work we do,”
says Karl Kranz, Executive Vice President of Animal
water features such as The Blowhole, which occasionally
will shoot water into the air to cool off those who don’t
mind getting wet. Enter the exhibit’s Interpretive Center,
and you can view penguins from above or descend a
set of stairs to see them swimming underwater. At the
Tidal Pool viewing window, you will witness a periodic
waterfall creating waves for the penguins to bob in.
Inside the comfortable new center, you also will find
restrooms, a multi-purpose education room for programs
and animal demonstrations, and space for special events.
Programs at the Zoo. “This new exhibit will put them
Make your way back outside, and you can visit the Zoo’s
front and center in an extraordinary way.”
Animal Ambassador penguins at the Penguin Embassy
State-of-the-art facility disguised as fishing camp
Imagine a makeshift fishing camp erected on a small
building. Spend a moment talking with Zoo educators or
participating in an animal presentation.
island surrounded by water. Penguins can wander under
Planning for 100
and around the camp, swim beneath its pier, or sit on
During the months-long exhibit planning and design
rocky outcroppings nearby. The island and its building
process Zoo staff worked closely with architects and
– not a fishing camp at all, but a state-of-the-art facility
engineers to consider every aspect of animal care as well
for penguin housing, breeding, and care – will serve as
as visitor experience. The new exhibit will accommodate
Existing Rhino &
Hoofstock Building
Embassy Penguin
Encounter
Penguin Island &
Support Facility
Existing Savanna Wall
Interpretive Center
Demo Wharf
South Entry Gate
Tidal Pool
New Service
Drive
Penguin
Habitat
African
Gateway
Polar Bear
Watch Gateway
Wharf Edge
Viewing
Penguin
Panorama
Blowhole
Main Visitor
Path
Snack Bar
up to 100 penguins – about twice as many as on Rock
leadership role among North American zoos and
Island, the Zoo’s current penguin exhibit – as well as the
aquariums in the management and breeding of this
Zoo’s cormorants. The extra room increases the penguin
endangered species.
program’s holding and breeding capacity considerably.
“Rock Island, despite its age-related limitations, has
The creation of the new penguin exhibit is an exciting and
been incredibly successful in terms of breeding African
important milestone in the Zoo’s history. A multi-million
penguins,” notes Kranz. “We have given a great deal of
dollar exhibit of this scope is a large undertaking for the
thought to identifying the factors that make Rock Island
Zoo and would not be possible without the generous,
successful so that we can carry them forward into the new
visionary support of the State of Maryland. Funds provided
exhibit.” The birds’ ability to swim in a continuous loop
by the State for the exhibit are in addition to money
is thought to be one of those factors. The new exhibit
allocated for the Zoo’s annual operations budget.
provides for this, and also gives the birds variety within
the pool in terms of changing water depths, wave motion,
and places to perch.
During construction, which will last into late 2013 or early
2014, visitors can watch the exhibit rise from the ground
up. There will always be something to marvel at, but if
The new facility on the island gives keepers greater
construction is not your thing then you are welcome to
control over temperature, humidity, lighting, and other
bypass it and head directly into other exhibit areas. All
environmental factors that affect penguin care and
exhibits will remain open throughout construction.
breeding. Keepers also can rejoice in more office space,
an updated kitchen to prepare food for the birds, and
housing and nursery areas that are well equipped for
cleaning and ease of access, or privacy as needed.
penguin: Jeffrey F. Bill
From the ground up
We thank you in advance for your patience and sense of
adventure when visiting the Zoo in the months to come.
We will do our very best to alert you to construction
progress and detours and to give you a great day on
The Zoo has a long, proud history with African penguins
campus. We hope that you will visit often and share with
that includes behind-the-scenes scientific research work
us the thrill and excitement of this next chapter in the
and in situ conservation work. With the creation of
Zoo’s history!
this new exhibit, the Zoo will assume an even greater
14
thank
fall/winter
New Hankin ZOOmobile hits the road in style!
Transporting the Zoo’s traveling Animal Ambassadors
generosity on behalf of the Zoo’s education outreach
isn’t as easy as you might think. It takes a special
program is deeply appreciated, particularly by those
vehicle, fitted to exact specifications, to get them to and
educators and animals logging miles in the new van!
from the Zoo’s popular education outreach programs
presented throughout the state.
A cargo van, which is larger than a minivan, is necessary
to transport larger Animal Ambassadors. The cargo
Outreach staff has Mike and Ann Hankin and their
area must have a separate heating and air conditioning
family to thank for a beautiful new cargo van that
system for the animals being transported. A third bucket
meets all of their unique needs. Mike has twice been
seat is required to accommodate all staff needed to
Chair of the Maryland Zoological Society and has
present live animal programs. On one side of the van,
remained interested and involved with the Zoo. His
there are special windows that increase driver visibility
and make it easier to monitor surrounding traffic.
Outreach staff eagerly began driving the new van as
soon as it debuted in May. If you see a large ZOOmobile
on the road, you’ll know it’s the Hankin van by the blue
and yellow racing silks on the fender.
Thank you, Mike and Ann!
Rise & Conquer become social animals
Caw caw, Ravens nation! There’s a new place to connect
with our most famous, football-loving fowl. Maybe
you’ve heard of it. It’s a little website called Facebook.
That’s right, the world’s most popular social media
mecca is home to a new page devoted to everything
Rise and Conquer. Now you can post pictures, get
updates, and share colorful caw-ments of your own
with these popular Maryland Zoo residents and official
Baltimore Raven team mascots.
If you’re a social animal that loves the Zoo, and football,
it’s the perfect place to get the latest information
about the birds and the team. Visit www.facebook.com/
riseconquer and click ‘like’ to get front-row access to
all the colorful purple and black content. See exclusive
behind-the-scenes photos, learn more about the birds,
connect with other Ravens fans, and be the first to know
when Rise and Conquer make appearances on and off
the field.
Show your Ravens pride, and join the growing
group of super social Rise and Conquer fans. Share
their new Facebook page with your own social
network, and let’s see how quickly we can grow
their flock of followers. And be sure to visit with
Rise and Conquer this season on Ravenswalk and
look for them on the field at every home game.
Let’s go, Ravens!
The Annual Fund has a new name – The Maryland Zoo Fund!
you
fall/winter
A big thank you to the
Zoo’s newest sponsors and
corporate partners!
Giraffe House lighting goes green!
ABC Party & Tent Rental
green. All of the building’s 30-year old light fixtures have been replaced
Baltimore Orioles
with energy-efficient LED lighting. Every year, the new LED lighting will save
Baltimore Ravens
There is no green glow inside the Giraffe House, but still its lighting has gone
thousands of kilowatts of energy, thousands of dollars in energy costs, and
BB&T
thousands of pounds of CO2 emissions.
CBS EcoMedia
This major improvement to our facility was funded in large party by CBS
The Classic Catering People
EcoMedia Inc. and their advertising partner, Elephant Insurance. CBS
Constellation Energy
EcoMedia Inc. has a vision: to harness the power of advertising and channel
Ellin & Tucker, Chartered
it into tangible social change by collaborating with their wide network of
Entertainment Consultants
non-profit partners, such as the Zoo, to provide financial support for critical,
General Growth Properties
yet underfunded, environmental, health, and education projects in the
Loyola Blakefield
communities they serve.
M&T Bank
Miles & Stockbridge
Parkway Capital Investors, LLC
PNC
15
An LED lamp is a solid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the
source of light. White LED lamps are used where high efficiency is important
at low power levels, and the lamps should not need replacing for 20 years.
Saul Ewing LLP
On July 25, 2012, at a ceremony held at the Giraffe House, the Zoo publicly
Slate Capital Group
thanked CBS EcoMedia Inc. and Elephant Insurance for their innovative vision
Veolia Transportation
and generous support. Kevin Chidwick, CEO of Elephant Insurance Services,
and Paul Polizzotto, president and founder of CBS EcoMedia Inc., presented
the Zoo with a check. Together with Don Hutchinson, president and CEO of
the Zoo, and Jay Newman, president and general manager of WJZ-TV, they
then cut the green ribbon on the building to celebrate completion of the new
giraffe: Jeffrey F. Bill; group photo courtesy of WJZ
lighting system project.
L. to r. Board Chair Rob Zinkham, President Don Hutchinson, Kevin Chidwick of Elephant
Insurance, Baltimore City Councilwoman Helen Holt, Jay Newman of WJZ-TV,
Paul Polizzotto of CBS EcoMedia, Inc.
Thank you for your generous gifts throughout the year!
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Baltimore, MD
Permit No. 8779
1876 Mansion House Drive
Druid Hill Park
Baltimore, MD 21217-4474
410-396-7102
member
notes
We’d like to invite you – our Zoo members – to enter the Zoo early
once a month. Take advantage of Member Mornings, enter at 9:30
a.m., and experience the Zoo when it’s just you and the animals!
Enjoy a quiet stroll and participate in a special Member Morning
animal presentation. Past ones have included a Leopard Training
Session, a Sitatunga Keeper Chat, and a Meet-and-Greet with Rise
and Conquer, official mascots of the Baltimore Ravens!
Please go to www.MarylandZoo.org/events for a complete list of
dates and activities.
Upcoming Member Mornings:
Saturday, September 22
Saturday, October 6
Sunday, November 18
Saturday, December 8
The Maryland Zoo thanks Café Hon and Hon Bar in Hampden for
hosting the first-ever Flamingo Fundraiser this past summer. A good
time was had by all, with a karaoke contest, raffles, and a surprise
visit from one of the Zoo’s Ambassador Penguins, Winnie. The event
was a huge success and raised money for the Zoo’s Adopt an Animal
program. We’ll let you know when our next fundraiser is and hope
that you can join us!