Otters at the Zoo
Eye On Conservation:
Copperhead Snakes
January /
February 2009
Creature Feature: Timber Wolves
PUBLISHED FOR FRIENDS OF THE MEMPHIS ZOO
EXZOOBERANCE!
4
In this is sue:
Exzooberance™ is a bimonthly Memphis
Zoological Society publication providing
information for friends of the Memphis Zoo.
Send comments to MZS, 2000 Prentiss Place,
Memphis, TN 38112, call (901) 276-WILD
or log onto www.memphiszoo.org.
Vol. XVIII, No. 1
4 Serpent in the Forest
The Zoo’s Conservation Department is
researching the urbanization of a sometimes
unpopular resident of the forest, the
copperhead snake.
Memphis Zoological Society
Board of Directors
as of December 2008
Officers:
Carol W. Prentiss, Chair
Kelly Truitt, Vice Chair
Gene Holcomb, Treasurer
Joseph C. DeWane, M.D., Secretary
Directors:
PHOTO JON DAVIS
5 Creature Feature:
MidSouth Chevy
Timber Wolves
full page ad
This fall, Teton Trek will become the new home
for timber wolves. Read about these canines’
past and their future at the Memphis Zoo.
11 Zoo News
5
F. Norfleet Abston
Robert A. Cox
Thomas C.
Farnsworth, III
Diana Hull
Henry A. Hutton
Dorothy Kirsch
Robert C. Lanier
Joyce A. Mollerup
Jason Rothschild
Karl A. Schledwitz
Lucy Shaw
Richard C. Shaw
Diane Smith
Brooke Sparks
John W. Stokes, Jr.
Steven Underwood
Joe Warren
Robin P. Watson
Russell T. Wigginton, Jr.
Honorary Lifetime Directors:
Elephants, otters and giraffes, oh my! The Zoo
has some big arrivals this year! Read about the
new faces you can’t miss at the Zoo in 2009.
Donna K. Fisher
Roger T. Knox, President Emeritus
Scott P. Ledbetter
Frank M. Norfleet
Senator James R. Sasser
Rebecca Webb Wilson
Ex Officio:
Depar tmen t s:
3
6
Annual Report/Letter from Zoo president
Chuck Brady
6
Spot You at the Zoo
7
Education Programs
8
2009 Calendar of Events
Dr. Chuck Brady, Zoo President & CEO
Pete Aviotti, Jr., Special Assistant to Mayor
Jim Strickland, City Council Representative
Nora Fernandez, Docent/Volunteer Representative
Credits:
Abbey Dane, Editor / Writer
Brian Carter, Managing Editor
Geri Meltzer, Art Director
Jennifer Coleman, Copy Editor
Toof Printing, Printer
Exzooberance paper generously donated by
International Paper employees
Zoo Admission Hours:
March - October 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
November - February 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
s'ROUNDSCLOSEONEHOURAFTERLASTADMISSION
s:OO#LOSED4HANKSGIVING$AY
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
12 Kids’ Activity Page
Our Mission:
PHOTO DREW SMITH
The Memphis Zoo is accredited
by the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums and a member of the
World Association of Zoos and
Aquariums. ©2009 Memphis Zoo
Our friendly staff and volunteers are
dedicated to providing a naturalistic and
enriching sanctuary for our animals and a
clean, friendly, entertaining and educational
experience for our guests.
Memphis Zoo, Ya Ya and Le Le
are trademarks of the Memphis Zoo.
1
Annual Report 2008
FINANCIALS
F^fiablShheh`b\ZeLh\b^mrLmZm^f^gmh_:\mbobmb^l
For the Year Ending June 29, 2008 (With Summarized Financial Information for the Year Ending June 24, 2007)
Unrestricted
K>O>GN>%@:BGLHMA>KLNIIHKM
Hi^kZmbg`K^o^gn^
City management fee
Concessions income
Donations and bequests
Education income
Gate admissions
Grant income
Investment income
Membership income
Other income
Parking income
Private events
Public relations & advertising
Retail income
Rides income
Special events
Total operating revenue
$1,200,000
403,528
120,688
279,361
3,736,155
157,063
189,830
1,879,199
46,448
368,447
1,340,366
56,782
1,967,765
372,755
1,042,605
13,160,992
<hgl^koZmbhgK^o^gn^
Donations & bequests
Grant revenue
Investment income
Total conservation revenue
-
Temporarily
Restricted
-
$
2008
Total
2007 Total
(Memorandum
Only)
-
$1,200,000
403,528
120,688
279,361
3,736,155
157,063
189,830
1,879,199
46,448
368,447
1,340,366
56,782
1,967,765
372,755
1,042,605
13,160,992
$1,200,000
449,592
109,207
375,660
4,055,934
311,785
173,413
1,908,700
34,646
382,471
1,006,145
36,373
2,072,845
375,042
913,383
13,405,196
58,803
7,132
65,935
-
58,803
7,132
65,935
58,568
4,800
7,657
71,025
34,593
73,371
107,964
2,854,349
220,243
3,074,592
10,798
(544,361)
(533,563)
34,593
2,865,147
(324,118)
73,371
2,648,993
13,435
3,581,861
818,857
107,871
4,522,024
G^mZll^mlk^e^Zl^]_khfk^lmkb\mbhgl
Satisfaction of program restrictions
2,695,078
Total revenue, gains & other support 15,964,034
(2,695,078)
445,449
(533,563)
15,875,920
17,998,245
Hi^kZmbg`>qi^gl^l
Educational activities
454,841
Fundraising activities
243,858
Grant activities
246,200
Legal & professional fees
17,495
Membership activities
242,897
Private events
603,958
Public relations & advertising activities
646,379
Retail activities
1,309,011
Rides operations
252,406
Special events
569,962
Visitor services
245,436
Zoo and animal operations
8,571,826
Total operating expenses
13,404,269
-
-
454,841
243,858
246,200
17,495
242,897
603,958
646,379
1,309,011
252,406
569,962
245,436
8,571,826
13,404,269
400,736
240,501
288,071
33,100
217,374
374,962
580,982
1,313,756
217,201
562,472
233,255
8,104,197
12,566,607
<hgl^koZmbhg>qi^gl^l
Grant activities
Research and conservation
Total conservation expenses
26,774
16,220
42,994
-
-
26,774
16,220
42,994
30,765
15,935
46,700
<ZibmZe>qi^gl^l
Capital improvements
Provision for doubtful pledges
Other
Total capital expenses
Total expenses
Change in net assets
Net assets at beginning of year
Net assets at end of year
2,675,017
2,675,017
16,122,280
(158,246)
2,731,529
2,573,283
445,449
14,357,111
14,802,560
(533,563)
5,610,465
5,076,902
2,675,017
2,675,017
16,122,280
(246,360)
22,699,105
22,452,745
1,718,631
100,000
1,818,631
14,431,938
3,566,307
19,132,798
22,699,105
<ZibmZeK^o^gn^
Butterfly exhibit
Donations & bequests
Investment income
License fee income
Total capital revenue
$
Permanently
Restricted
>QI>GL>L
Dear Zoo Friends,
This year, the Memphis Zoo
celebrated several firsts. We
learned in July 2008 that one of
our elephants was pregnant, a
first in our 102-year history. We
also became the first institution
to use in-vitro fertilization to
breed amphibians. This was an
important recovery and conservation milestone — especially for the
critically endangered Mississippi
gopher frog. That said, it was
fitting that this accomplishment
came as the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums celebrated the
Year of the Frog. Frogs shared the
international spotlight of conservation with the polar bear this
year. To mark this occasion the
Zoo sent its first Arctic Ambassador, White Station High School
student Elizabeth Bailey, to
Winnipeg for a week long study.
To top it off, our Zoo was ranked
the number one zoo in America
by TripAdvisor.com, the first time
the Memphis Zoo has received
such a distinction.
As we begin 2009, our Zoo
is poised to have an exceptional
year. In the spring, we will open
a special, seasonal exhibit for
honeybees that will interpret the
challenges their species face and
an interactive exhibit for bird
feeding. Our grandest offering this
year will be the opening of the
Teton Trek exhibit. This exhibit
will welcome the return of grizzly
bears to our zoo and showcase
the animals and landscape from
the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem.
I cannot express how grateful I am for the support given by
our staff, members and friends.
You play an integral role in making us America’s number one zoo.
Thank you,
Dr. Chuck Brady
President and CEO, Memphis Zoo
3
EYE
HG<HGL>KO:MBHG
Serpents in the City
by Dr. Jon Davis, Post-doctoral fellow, Memphis Zoo Conservation
and Research and Rhodes College Department of Biology
PHOTO BY JON DAVIS
“Preliminary reptile and amphibian surveys of the Zoo’s
portion of the Overton Park forest (the future home to
Chickasaw Bluffs Trail) have revealed that copperheads have
been quite successful urban inhabitants.”
This venomous snake is a master of
camouflage, going undetected by other
animals and easily blending in with the
leaf litter as it glides across the surface
or sits coiled.
4
In the heart of Memphis, the trees
and trails of Overton Park have provided
a refuge for locals seeking a momentary
escape from city life for over a century.
As urbanization enveloped Overton
Park, squirrels, rodents, and robins
remained conspicuous residents. Today,
a leisurely stroll through the park
reveals that these inhabitants clearly
enjoy urban living.
However, a closer look reveals
another highly cryptic and formidable
predator — the copperhead snake
(Agkistrodon contortrix). This venomous
snake is a master of camouflage, easily
blending in with the leaves as it glides
across the surface or sits coiled,
patiently waiting for prey to come
within striking distance; thus providing
an excellent form of natural pest control.
Preliminary reptile and amphibian
surveys of the Zoo’s portion of the
Overton Park forest (the future home to
Chickasaw Bluffs Trail) have revealed to
the surprise, and perhaps displeasure, of
many that copperheads have been quite
successful urban inhabitants. Recently,
the Conservation and Research Department, with the help of the herpetology
staff and students from Rhodes College,
has initiated a multi-year field study of
these snakes to understand how copperheads have become so successful in the
city.
To identify specific benefits, we will
compare urban snakes on Zoo grounds
to rural snakes at Ames Plantation, a
rural forest about 50 miles east of the
Zoo. We surgically implant a radio
transmitter in several copperheads at
each location so that we can relocate
them weekly to compare habitat use,
movement patterns, and behaviors.
Moreover, we capture each snake once
a month to determine whether urban
snakes experience benefits like faster
growth, better body condition, and
ultimately increased reproductive success
compared to their rural counterparts.
We can use this information to
understand the lifestyle of copperheads
in Overton Park so that negative humansnake encounters may be reduced.
Most notably, we hope to improve
understanding of animal responses to
urbanization, which is increasing worldwide and exerting greater pressure on
species around the globe. Your support
of the Memphis Zoo is crucial to the
expansion and success of our research.
Creature Feature
Timber Wolves
by Houston Winbigler, Assistant Curator of Mammals
In 1890, Tennessee’s last timber wolf
was killed near the site of Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. For the next
10 to 15 years, there were occasional,
unsubstantiated reports that someone
had seen footprints or someone heard the
sound of mournful howling. Nevertheless,
hunters, loggers, naturalists and others
who made a living in the wilds never
saw another timber wolf in the Volunteer
State.
About 90 years later, the Memphis
Zoo coaxed its last wolf into a crate and
sent it to a zoo in the Midwest. The area,
once inhabited by timber wolves, was
changing into a home for spotted hyenas,
aardwolves and a trio of endangered
African wild dogs.
Although there have been occasional
sightings of urban coyotes in Overton
Park, the timber wolf, largest of all wild
canines, has remained only a fond
memory. However, wolves return to stake
out their territory next fall when the Zoo
opens its newest exhibit, Teton Trek.
In addition to being the largest wild
canine, weighing up to 150 pounds, the
timber wolf is distributed over a large
part of the northern hemisphere. It
ranges from Norway to Israel to Siberia
in Eurasia and from Alaska to Mexico in
North America.
The wolf is what is referred to as an
apex predator, an animal at the top of
the food chain. Living in packs of four
to 40, wolves prefer to hunt large
mammals — deer, moose and caribou.
They regularly eat birds, rodents and
rabbits as well. Their top speed is near
40 miles per hour, and they have been
(Canis lupus)
These timber wolves made their home at the
Memphis Zoo before leaving in 1981.
reported to execute a running broad
jump of well over 20 feet.
Standards for exhibiting animals have
greatly improved since the last wolves left
Memphis. Instead of a concrete grotto, our
new timber wolves will live in a grassy
enclosure located next to the grizzly bears
and across from the exhibit’s Great Lodge.
Their neighbors to the south, a herd of
elk, will remain secure, safe from these
broad-jumping wolves.
Facts About Timber Wolves
UÊÊTimber wolves typically live in groups called “packs.”ÊÊUÊÊThese canines communicate by howling to each other. ÊUÊÊTheir top speed is
nearly 40 miles per hour. UÊÊThese large hunters are usually at the top of their food chain, prefering to eat deer, moose and caribou.
5
LIHMRHN:MMA>SHH
PHOTOS BY DREW SMITH
Colin King — Butterflies: In Living Color
Tracy Carkeet, Wendy Ward, Kristen Jones, Katie Leslie
— Zoo Rendezvous
Braxton and Kriste
n Hawkins
— Le Bonheur Zoo
Boo
ck Cat Bash
Kim Speros — Bla
Pbe]
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<Zee!2)*",,,&/0/.mhk^`blm^k'
Procreation is essential for all species to
survive. Through this program, you’ll
learn about the odd, strange, beautiful
and sometimes awkward ways animals
court and mate! Join us for this
one-of-a-kind event.
6
Edzoocation
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IKH@K:FL
%JTDPWFSNPSFQSPHSBNT
BOEHFUNPSFJOGPSNBUJPOBU
NFNQIJT[PPPSHFEVDBUJPO
Ik^D(Dbg]^k`Zkm^g
(must be 4 years old by 12/1/08)
Sense-able Animals
Zoo Academy 2009
JANUARY 12-16 AND JANUARY 19-23;
MONDAY-FRIDAY; 10 AM-3 PM
COST PREK-8TH GRADE:
$100 PER MEMBER CHILD /
$110 PER NONMEMBER CHILD
COST 9TH-12TH GRADE:
$115 PER MEMBER CHILD /
$125 PER NONMEMBER CHILD
DISCOUNTS: RECEIVE $20 OFF WEEK’S
TUITION FOR ONE CHILD IF YOU SERVE AS
ZOO ACADEMY AIDE FOR THE WEEK
(MUST BE 18 OR OLDER).
(901) 333-6765 TO REGISTER.
A
This week long educational
program will provide exciting and
interactive ways for students to learn
about science. Each class includes
animal visits, tours of exhibits,
chats with keepers, special projects,
(grades 9-12 only will perform
dissections) and much more!
Students bring a non-refrigerated, non-microwavable lunch.
An afternoon snack is provided.
Ik^D&1ma@kZ]^<eZll^l
(must be 4 years old by 12/1/08)
January 12-16; January 19-23
2ma&*+ma@kZ]^<eZll
January 12-16
Ever wonder how animals see
after dark, hear under the water,
and feel without fingers? In this class
we will see how animals make “sense”
of things as they explore their homes.
@kZ]^l*+
Web of Life
Predators or prey, food webs,
food chains, and energy pyramids
— learn about these topics and more
as we explore how all things are
connected in the great web of life.
@kZ]^l,&.
Fabulous Fish & their
Watery World
Dive into aquatic environments,
the water cycle, ocean conservation
and the wonderful animals that call it
home in this fun and exciting class.
@kZ]^l/&1
Feathers, Beaks and Talons
Learn about bird designs, the physics behind flying, the adaptations that
help them forage for food, and how
they live in some of the most barren
and lush environments on our planet.
@kZ]^l2&*+
Marine Biology
Discover the properties that make
salt water different from fresh, how
temperature and weather influence
habitats, and how ocean zones and
current support a variety of aquatic
animals in this intense study of marine
life.
Horticulture Tour
JANUARY 31
9:30 TO 11 A.M.
$5 FOR MEMBERS AND $8 FOR NON-MEMBERS.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR VERY
LIMITED SPACE.
Come take a tour of the plants of
Northwest Passage! Find out which
evergreen and deciduous shrubs and
trees give this beautiful exhibit the
look of the Pacific Northwest. Then
warm up with a walk through the
Zoo’s greenhouses, and see where
our bananas, palms, and other tropical
plants are spending the winter. Our
walking tours take place outside, rain
or shine. Please dress appropriately!
Spring Break Camp
Badge-In-A-Day
FEBRUARY 7, 21, OR 28
10 AM-1 PM
$25 PER MEMBER CHILD (INCLUDES ONE
ADULT); $35 PER NONMEMBER CHILD
(INCLUDES ONE ADULT)
NONMEMBERS MUST PAY GATE ADMISSION
IN ADDITION TO PROGRAM PRICE
MUST MEET MINIMUM 15 PARTICIPANT
REQUIREMENT FOR PROGRAM TO TAKE PLACE
MUST RESERVE TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE
NUMBER OF SPACES: 30 GIRL OR CUB SCOUTS
(DOES NOT INCLUDE PARENTS)
An exciting program geared toward
Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, the Badgein-a-Day program will give your scout
the opportunity to earn a badge while
participating in fun, educational, and
interactive activities including crafts,
live animal visits, experiments, and
tours of the Zoo! Please visit the Zoo’s
Web site for available badges. Limited
space and dates available.
All participants are responsible for
acquiring the earned badge through
their local council.
MARCH 16 - 20
9 AM - 3 PM; AFTERCARE 3 -5:30 PM
$35/MEMBERS PER DAY & $45/NONMEMBERS
PER DAY; AFTERCARE $10/MEMBERS PER DAY,
$15/NONMEMBERS PER DAY
AGES: PREK-K,
1ST-2ND, 3RD-6TH
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS
REQUIRED.
WANT TO BE A DOCE NT?
LOOKING AHEAD
Watch for more information on
these programs returning this
spring:
Homeschool
Workshops
March 9 (PreK-K, 1st-2nd) and
March 11 (3rd-4th, 5th-7th)
Stroller Cubs
A docent is a specially trained Zoo volunteer who interacts with the public
at animal exhibits, gives guided tours and assists with special events, as well
as a variety of other activities around the Zoo.
Sound like fun? Come be a part of the 2009 docent training class that
begins with an orientation on January 10. Classes begin in late January and
run through late March. For information, check out the Zoo’s Web site at
memphiszoo.org/education, call us at (901) 333-6600 or e-mail us at
[email protected] and let us know how we may contact
you (name, phone number and e-mail address). We look forward to you
becoming part of our docent program.
Now on Mondays
March 23
Junior Zoo Crew
March 7
Zoo Trekkers
March 7
2EGISTRATIONLINEsWWWMEMPHISZOOORGEDUCATION
0REREGISTRATIONISREQUIRED0RICESARESUBJECTTOCHANGE4HE%DUCATION$EPARTMENTRESERVESTHERIGHTTOCANCELAPROGRAMDUETOINSUFlCIENTREGISTRATION
7
+))2SHH>O> GML
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS ANYTHING THAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU THIS YEAR AT THE MEMPHIS ZOO!
Horticulture Tour
JAN.
31
9:30 -11 a.m. $5 for members,
$8 for nonmembers. Pre-registration
required for very limited space.
February
Feb 7 — Wild Lovin’
Feb 12 — Valentine’s Dinner in
Northwest Passage
Feb 28 — International Polar Bear Day-
March
Mar 7 — Horticulture Tour
Mar 16-20 — Spring Break Camp
Mar 28 — Discovery Day
April
Apr 3 — Wild World of Wines and Beers
Apr 18 — Earth Day Celebration
April 30 — Safari Soiree
Apr 24-26 — Plant Sale
May
May 8 — Mother’s Day Zoo Snooze
May 11-15 — Bear Awareness Week
May 16 — International Migratory Bird
Day and World Turtle Day Celebrations
Memorial Day Weekend:
May 21 — Zoom through the Zoo
May 23 — Zoo Grass
May 24 — Members Night
May 25 — Memorial Day
May 30 — Horticulture Tour
June
June 1 — Summer Zoo Camps begin
June 19 — Father’s Day Zoo Snooze
July
July — Summer Zoo Camps (all month)
July 11 — Members Night
August
Aug 7 — Summer Zoo Camps end
Sept 6 — Members Night
Sept 7 — Labor Day
Sept 12 — Zoo Rendezvous
Sept 26 — Harvest Fest
October
Oct 2 — Murder Mystery Mayhem
Oct 7 — Senior Day
Oct 9 — Fantastic Family Campout
Oct 16/17, 23/24, 30/31 — Zoo Boo
Oct 31 — Kids Spooktacular Snooze
November
Nov 13 — Haunted Zoo Tour
Nov 14 — Winter Wildlife Snooze
Nov 27 — Zoo Lights begin
December
Zoo Lights continue (select dates)
Dec 31 — New Year’s Eve Snooze
September
Labor Day Weekend:
Sept 4 — Zoo Brew
Special thanks to our Le Bonheur Zoo Boo ‘08 event partners
Title Sponsor: Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center
Presenting Partner: Mid-South Chevy Dealers
Event Sponsors: Fred’s, Inc., Joseph C. DeWane, M.D.,
Dorothy Orgill Kirsch, McVean Trading & Investments, LLC,
Woodland Presbyterian School, Brooke and Brian Sparks Family,
Corky’s BBQ
Media Sponsors: FM100, Memphis Parent,
Midsouthmoms.com
Madisyn
Maley
Special thanks to our SunTrust Zoo Lights ‘08 event partners
SunTrust Zoo Lights
8
Title Sponsor: SunTrust
Activity Sponsors: Chef’s Choice
Catering by Kroger, Fred’s, Inc.
Light Sponsors: Anonymous,
FedEx, The “B-K’s” Bors-Koefoed
Family, Brad & Dina Martin Family,
The Prentiss Family, Pinnacle Airlines
Corp., Joseph C. DeWane, M.D.,
CB Richard Ellis, Dick & JoAnne Leike,
Armstrong Relocation, Dorothy
Orgill Kirsch, Riverfront Development
Corporation, WMC-TV 5
Tree Lighting:
WMC-TV 5 and Ron Childers
Media Sponsors:
Malco Theatres, WRVR 104.5 The
River, Midsouthmoms.com
Avenue of Animals:
Edward DeWane, Erich DeWane,
Mary Katherine DeWane, Glassman,
Edwards, Wade, Wyatt PC, Gene &
Nancy Holcomb, Horne CPAs &
Business Advisors, Henry T. Knox,
Lipscomb and Pitts Insurance,
Moonshine Lighting, Brooke & Brian
Sparks Family, Valenti Management
PHOTOS BY DREW SMITH
Le Bonheur Zoo Boo
C:GN:KRÍ)2
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
New Year’s
Day
Zoo open
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Zoo
Academy
18
Zoo
Academy
19
20
21
22
23
Zoo
Academy
Zoo
Academy
Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Feb.1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Wild Lovin’
Groundhog
Day
?>;KN:KR
24
8
9
BadgeIn-A-Day
10
11
12
13
Valentine’s
Day
Valentine’s
Dinner
15
16
17
18
19
20
23
21
BadgeIn-A-Day
President’s Day
22
14
24
25
26
27
28
BadgeIn-A-Day
9
10
Zoo News
Elephant Arrival
PHOTO DREW SMITH
This winter when you visit the Zoo, you won’t have
any trouble spotting one of the Zoo’s newest residents.
“Gina,” an African elephant, just joined “Ty” and “Asali”
in the African Veldt. Gina is 25 years old and came to the
Zoo from a private owner. Growing this herd at the Zoo
will be good for each of the elephants as these are very
social animals.
Asali is currently pregnant Watch new
with her first baby! Stay tuned elephant videos at
as we prepare to welcome the memphiszoo.org.
first ever elephant to be born
at the Memphis Zoo!
The Zoo’s new elephant, Gina, arrived in November.
In Otter News
The Zoo is very excited to announce
the arrival of nine new otters to the
CHINA exhibit. These Asian small-clawed
otters came to the Zoo from the Newport
Aquarium in Kentucky.
This new family of otters is a lively
bunch. The father “Koto,” is 11 years old,
and his mate, “Chiko,” is 11 1/2 years
old. Among their offspring there are
four females, “Xia,” “Ndari,” “Leela”
and “Jaina,” and three males, “Tanaka,”
“Amiri” and “Onkar.” These otters are
used to large families. They typically live
in extended family groups of up to 12
otters in each group.
The Zoo’s previous otter resident,
“Lucy,” has made the move to the
Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.
Giraffe Named
The votes are in! The Zoo’s baby
giraffe born in October was recently
named after a poll taken on the Zoo’s
Web site gave readers a chance to vote on
their favorite name. After 19,816 votes in
the contest, “Sesi” was the name chosen
for the new calf, receiving 9,330 votes.
She is doing very well and is getting along
with the other giraffes.
Say What??
Not sure how to
pronounce the names
of our new friends?
Check out the back
cover for a complete
pronunciation guide
for each one.
Chickasaw Bluffs Trail
What’s New Online
The Zoo is continuing to work on
research for the Chickasaw Bluffs trail.
Since August 2008, Zoo staff members
have been working with botanists
and scientists from the University of
Memphis and Rhodes College to
catalogue and plot the location of all
plant life within the Zoo’s forested
land. When the survey is completed in
early 2009, the Zoo will combine this
research with its fauna-related data to
develop the direction of the trail
through the forest. Stay tuned to
memphiszoo.org for more updates.
If you haven’t visited our Web
site recently, you’re missing out!
Memphiszoo.org now features an allnew look and major updates in Zoo
videos, keeper logs and event information. You’ll see similar changes for the
e-newsletter which is sent FREE to
subscribers each month. As the Zoo
works toward more efficient ways to
keep you informed, you can stay updated
through our fan page on Facebook, our
YouTube videos and our Twitter feed.
Check out our new look by visiting
memphiszoo.org.
11
Kids’ Activity Page
WHAT
YOU
NEED
U
Tube sock — gray, white, tan,
black, or light brown
U
U
U
U
U
Assorted color felt scraps
Craft glue
Scissors (you may need Mom
Permanent or fabric markers
or Dad to help you with the
Small yellow buttons
cutting)
WHAT
YOU
DO
Cold and antsy? Some animals, like
the timber wolf, keep warm in the
winter with thick coats and lots of
activity. Create your very own timber
wolf sock puppet to keep the fun
1. Put your hand inside the sock (all the
way to the end!) to decide where your
wolf’s face will be. Use a marker to
make small dots for the eyes.
2. Take your hand out and lay the sock
flat, with the eyes on top.
3. Glue the buttons over the eye dots
that you just made so that your wolf
can see.
4. Use a marker to draw a triangle nose
on a felt scrap, make two nostrils on
the nose, and then glue it on the end of
your wolf’s face.
5. Cut two more triangles out of the felt
scraps to give your wolf ears and glue
these on your sock behind the eyes.
6. Make a pink or red felt tongue for
your wolf and glue it on the inside of
the mouth. (Be sure to leave the mouth
open for the glue to dry.)
7. Make teeth for your wolf by cutting
several small triangles out of the white
felt scraps and glue them around the
edges of the open mouth. Now turn
your sock back over so the eyes are on
top.
8. Cut out a furry, felt tail and glue it at
the end of the sock.
9. Put your hand in the sock and your
wolf is ready to roam!
action-packed and your hands toastyWolves are social animals, so repeat these steps to make a wolf pack
for you and your friends. When the weather warms up,
bring your friend pack to the Memphis Zoo for our
warm!
Spring Break Camp, March 16 - 20.
ellie bennett
$IIÕOLDWH%URNHU
12
names! Use this pronunciation guide to learn the
names of our new CHINA
residents.
PAID
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
Memphis, TN
Permit No. 1124
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ÊG]ZkbËÈGZ&=:K&^^
ÊE^^eZËÈE>>&eZ
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ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
to know how to say their
Requested in-home dates January 2-5
2000 Prentiss Place
Memphis, TN 38112
(901) 276-WILD
new otters. Now you need
Exzooberance is mailed with a bulk permit and cannot be forwarded.
© Copyright Memphis Zoo 2009
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