Vision
The Milwaukee County Zoo will be a zoo of renown with a reputation
as a leader in animal management, conservation, research and education
within a wholesome recreational environment enjoying the admiration
of the citizens of Milwaukee County as well as all zoo guests and other
zoos of the world.
Mission Statement
The Milwaukee County Zoo will inspire public understanding,
support and participation in global conservation of animal species
and their environment by creating a unifying bond between our
visitors and the living earth and provide an environment for
personal renewal and enjoyment for our guests by:
• Contributing to world wide animal management, conservation
and research efforts;
Table of Contents
Address from the County Executive .........................1
• Fostering sound physical, psychological and social development
for the animal groups in our care
Letter from the Director .........................................2
Milwaukee County Zoo History................................3
• Sharing our knowledge with the intent to reinforce the
human-animal-earth bond;
• Improving the quality of our professional development,
administration and operating environment;
2012 Highlights ....................................................5
Animal Management and Health Division .................8
Administration and Finance .......... ........................30
Public Affairs and Services ........... ........................33
Operations .........................................................37
• Striving for the financial self-sufficiency of the organization;
• Continuing the public-private partnership with the Zoological
Society of Milwaukee County.
Operating Expenses ............................................40
The Milwaukee County Zoo
and the Zoological Society................................42
County Executive and Board of Supervisors............45
Dear Friends,
A newly renovated entryway to the Zoo’s Northwestern
Mutual Family Farm rounded out the exciting year. This
new interactive addition allows guests to learn firsthand
about the agricultural history of Wisconsin.
At the Milwaukee County Zoo, the year 2012 was
marked by a variety of noteworthy animal births, exhibit
renovations, facilitation of the Zoo’s next master plan
and the return of one of the Zoo’s most popular
summer exhibits, “Adventure Dinosaur!”.
In the years ahead, the Zoo is committed to reinventing
itself; a response to the changing zoological marketplace.
The future changes included in the master plan involve
redeveloping exhibits and improving the visitor experience.
In the summer, the Zoo displayed the special exhibit,
“Adventure Dinosaur!” sponsored by Sendik’s Food
Markets. Visitors were greeted by more than 25
prehistoric robotic dinosaurs, moving and rumbling
in a tropical outdoor habitat. The exhibit proved
popular to yet another generation of kids, intrigued
by these fascinating animals.
I thank the staff of the Milwaukee County Zoo for their
continued dedication and hard work. It is because of your
efforts that the Zoo is able to grow and thrive.
I would also like to acknowledge the relationship between the Zoo
and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. Each year, this public-private
partnership helps strengthen the Zoo’s projects and overall initiatives.
In the fall, the Zoo was proud to announce the birth of a jaguar litter;
the first at the Zoo since 1975. The two males were born to mother,
Stella, and father, Pat. Because Pat was a wild-born animal from Belize,
the genetic lines the cubs add to the captive population are significant.
A birth such as this demonstrates the Zoo’s continued commitment to
conservation efforts and raises awareness to the plight these animals
face in the wild.
Chris Abele
Milwaukee County Executive
1
1
Letter from the Director
The year 2012 was noted for significant animal additions, important conservation projects, special
exhibits and the continuation of our comprehensive master plan, the first for the Zoo since 1997.
During the summer, we displayed one of our most popular exhibits, robotic dinosaurs! Sponsored by
Sendik’s Food Markets, “Adventure Dinosaur!” featured more than 25 life-sized re-creations of these
prehistoric animals, moving and rumbling in their outdoor habitat.
Charles
Wikenhauser;
jaguars in
background
Fall was exciting as we welcomed two male jaguars, born to mother, Stella, and father, Pat. Because Pat is
a wild-born cat, the cubs bring new and valuable genes into the captive population. The birth also was significant
in that it marked the first jaguar cubs born at our Zoo since 1975.
Water conservation efforts continued with several repaving projects throughout the grounds. Many large asphalt walkways were
replaced with permeable pavers resembling brick roadways. The pavers act like sponges to absorb surface water from rainstorms,
filter it and release it back into the earth. The largest of these repaved areas was Zoo Terrace, used for a multitude of special
events and after-hours gatherings.
At the end of 2012, we suffered a great loss in our animal collection with the death of one of our most beloved animals, 5-year-old
Bornean orangutan, Mahal. His death was sudden, and came as a shock to staff and visitors alike. He will be sorely missed.
We once again extend a thank you to the County Executive, the County Board and the Zoological Society and their
partners for their continued support. A number of our initiatives, renovations and special exhibits are possible
because of their assistance.
Please read on as each Division shares highlights from the year.
Madagascar
giant day gecko
Charles Wikenhauser
Director
2
Our History
Home to more than 3,000 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and amphibians,
we’re proud our Milwaukee County Zoo continues to be recognized as one of the finest
in the country. The Zoo was founded 120 years ago, and our partnership with the
Zoological Society began 103 years ago, and continues today:
1892
2002
1892
1902
1910
1934
1958
The Milwaukee County Zoo
(MCZ) started as a miniature
mammal and bird display in
Milwaukee’s downtown
Washington Park
MCZ expanded to 23
acres; now home to
800 animals
The Zoological Society was
founded, lending financial
support to the Zoo
MCZ became an entity of
the Milwaukee County Park
Commission, which helped
provide resources to expand
the Zoo
MCZ moved to its present
location on 200 acres of
park land
1988
1980s
1978
1970s
Late 1960s
Hosted the Association
of Zoos and Aquariums
Annual Conference
• Initiated a $26 million
capital improvement plan,
representing a significant
partnership venture between
the Zoo, Milwaukee County
and the Zoological Society
• Completion of: Wolf Woods,
underwater viewing in the
Polar Bear and Sea Lion Exhibits,
Oceans of Fun, the Dairy
Complex, Humboldt Penguins
and the Peck Welcome Center
• The Milwaukee County
Zoo was one of only
22 institutions in North
America accredited by
the American Association
of Zoological Parks and
Aquariums, now named
the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums (AZA).
• MCZ added the Children’s
Zoo, Train Shed, Zoo Hospital,
Dall Sheep Exhibit and the
Gift Shop
• The Zoological Society’s
volunteer organization, Zoo Pride
was established
• The Zoological Society develops
education programs at the Zoo
Completion of: the Primate
Building, Monkey Island, Winter
Quarters, Polar and Brown
Bear Exhibits and the Feline,
Pachyderm, Giraffe, Aviary,
Small Mammal, Aquarium &
Reptile and Australian Buildings
Early 1990s
1995
1998
1999
2002
An extensive renovation
of the Aviary and Primates
of the World, and the
completion of a new
Apes of Africa
Renovation of the
Aquarium & Reptile
Center; renamed
the Aquatic &
Reptile Center
Completed
remodeling
of the Small
Mammals
Building
Initiated a $30 million capital
improvement plan, representing
a significant partnership venture
between the Zoo, Milwaukee
County and the Zoological Society
• Renovation and modernization of Lakeview Place restaurant
• Redesign of the Ice Cream Palace and Karibu Gift Shop
• Groundbreaking for the new Animal Health Center
• Major renovation (both indoor and outdoor quarters) to our
landmark exhibit, Monkey Island; renamed Macaque Island
3
Our History
2003
2004
2005
2006
• Completion of Animal
Health Center
• Initiated design phase of Feline
Building renovation; animals
relocated
• Began initial renovations to
the Stackner Heritage Farm
and construction of the Karen
Peck Katz Conservation
Education Center
• Completion of the Karen Peck
Katz Conservation Education
Center
• Began demolition and finalized
designs for Northwestern
Mutual Family Farm
• Continued construction of the
new $7.2 million Florence Mila
Borchert Big Cat Country
• Completion of the Florence
Mila Borchert Big Cat Country
• Completion of the Northwestern
Mutual Family Farm
• Completion of the redesign
and renovation of the Safari
Train Station
• Completion of the
MillerCoors Giraffe
Experience
• Began initial design
phase for the new U.S.
Bank Gathering Place
2010
2009
2008
2007
• Installed solar panels at
admission gates
• Installed permanent poetry
exhibition, “The Language of
Conservation,” located
throughout Zoo
• Completion of the
Dohmen Family Foundation
Hippo Home
• Completed renovation of
the Taylor Family Humboldt
Penguin Exhibit
• Began upgrades for storm
water management program
• Completion of the U.S. Bank
Gathering Place
• Completion of the Idabel Wilmot Borchert
Flamingo Exhibit and Overlook
• Received accreditation by the Association
of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)
• Hosted the Association of Zoos &
Aquariums Annual Conference
Began construction for the
new U.S. Bank Gathering
Place, and the new Idabel
Wilmot Flamingo Exhibit
and Overlook
2003
2012
2011
2012
• Completion of the new outdoor Bonobo
Exhibit, and new interpretive graphics
and interactive displays to the indoor
Bonobo Exhibit
• Opened new permanent visitor activities
with Sky Trail® Wisconsin Adventure Zone
• Added Kohl’s Wild Theater programming
to Zoo’s Northwestern Mutual Family Farm,
made possible by donation to the
Zoological Society
• Completion of the first planning phase
of a new 10-year Zoo Master Plan,
addressing improvements in animal
exhibits, visitor attractions and amenities,
service facilities and operations
• Completed the renovated entrance to
the Northwestern Mutual Family Farm
• Completion of the first phase of Black
Bear Exhibit improvements, made
possible by a donation from MillerCoors
4
2012 Highlights
The major highlights of 2012 included: the completion of major renovations made to the Northwestern
Mutual Family Farm entrance; initial exhibit renovations to our existing Black Bear Exhibit and the birth
of two male jaguar cubs, the first for the Zoo since 1975. In addition, our Zoo, along with Polar Bears
International, hosted the “Paw of Approval Award” presentation to one of our community partners.
Listed here are some of these highlights and accomplishments in greater detail:
Polar Bears International/Paw of Approval Award
In May, the Zoo hosted its second annual “Be Cool” event in cooperation
with Polar Bears International (PBI), a nonprofit organization dedicated
to polar bear conservation. As part of the celebration, PBI’s President,
Robert Buchanan, gave a conservation lecture and workshop to both Zoo
and Zoological Society staff which inspired participants to reduce their
carbon footprints. An evening workshop was repeated for Zoo Pride
volunteers and donors.
Also during his visit, Buchanan presented PBI’s signature “Paw of Approval
Polar bears and
Award” to The Green Initiative. This annual award honors a local business
enrichment items
Renovated farm entrance
for extraordinary accomplishments in carbon dioxide reductions. The Zoo
partners with The Green Initiative for its recycling operation on Zoo grounds. The Green Initiative strives to shift the business world closer to operating
sustainably, and promote the companies and organizations that take part. The Zoo currently displays 54 Green Initiative recycling bins on grounds.
For Robert Buchanan’s visit, the Zoo’s Public Relations Section pitched media outlets for interviews to raise awareness on behalf of polar bears’
plight in the wild. Media outreach included interviews with Milwaukee Public Radio and Wauwatosa NOW community newspaper.
Northwestern Mutual Family Farm Entrance Renovation
Thanks to a grant from the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, the entrance area to the Family Farm was renovated to include an outdoor museum of
early farm equipment and interpretive graphics. The project was unveiled in early October, and educates visitors on days-gone-by farming techniques
using horse-drawn farming equipment displays, most of which were generously donated by the Richfield Historical Society. Featured in the open-air
displays are a sickle mower, horse-drawn shovel, a cultivator, dump-rake, plow, grain wagon and water pump. Kids can operate the water pump and
climb on the 100-year-old wagon for photos. A new red-stone pathway, a cedar fence, a cornfield and added green space all serve to enhance
the entranceway. This serves as the first phase renovation, with additional improvements slated for 2013.
5
came to a close, the firm of Peckham
Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. (PGAV)
was contracted for the project. This
national company, which also handled
the initial phase, is considered a leader
in planning and design for a large
number of zoos and aquariums
across the country.
Amur tigers outdoors
Ropes course for kids
Pat the jaguar
Jaguar Cubs
This new master plan will serve as a guide for the park for the next
10 years and beyond, and address all aspects of the Zoo, including animal
exhibits, dining, merchandise sales and additional service and infrastructure improvements. The impact of the Zoo Interchange Project also will be
addressed. This substantial freeway project will impact the Zoo in a number
of ways, most significant of which is the loss of approximately 700 visitor
parking spaces. Zoo staff meet regularly with the Wisconsin Department
of Transportation on the project and its impact on the Zoo. The renovation
project will last through 2018.
It was a noteworthy year in our Animal Division with the birth of two
male jaguar cubs on November 13. Born to first-time mother, Stella,
and father, Pat, these cubs marked the first litter of jaguars born at the
Zoo since 1975. Because Pat is a rescued, wild-born animal from Belize,
Central America, he’s considered a founder to the population, and his
cubs bring valuable new genes into the North American zoo population.
Prior to their public unveiling, the cubs and Stella could be seen on the
Zoo’s website via a live webcam of their dens in the Florence Mila Borchert
Big Cat Country.
Lunchtime Lectures
The birth of the cubs demonstrates the Zoo’s commitment to conservation
efforts and the propagation of a species whose numbers are dwindling in
the wild. It also raises awareness of visitors to the plight of such an important
animal, and brings to light the need for conservation of the species.
As in years past, staff and outside guests presented a series of lectures
as part of continuing education. These free “Lunchtime Lectures” offered
varied topics of interest and served as professional enrichment for staff.
Most were hosted by the Milwaukee Chapter of the American Association of
Zookeepers (AAZK). Here are some of the topics presented during the year:
Zoo Master Planning
* 2011 AAZK National Conference
* 2011 AZA National Conference and Post-Baccalaureate Program
* 2011 Elephant Managers Association Conference
* Penguin Guano Harvest Monitoring
* The Tiger Species Survival Plan
* Cognitive Research in Chimpanzees
* Conservation Initiatives in Botswana
With the initial analysis and findings for the Zoo’s upcoming comprehensive
master plan complete, the next phase of the project began in 2012.
In August, a request for proposal was issued. Proposals were requested
to include a plan for eight new or redeveloped animal exhibits, three
non-animal attractions and five revenue-generating centers. As the year
6
Other Highlights
Throughout the year, the Zoo continued to host temporary exhibits
and special events. The year’s events included our summer exhibit,
“Adventure Dinosaur!”, sponsored by Sendik’s Food Markets, the
opening of a new entranceway for the Northwestern Mutual
Family Farm and renovations to our existing Black Bear Exhibit.
The attraction and special event lineup included: Oceans
of Fun Seal and Sea Lion Show sponsored by Supercuts,
Sky Trail® Wisconsin Adventure Zone, sponsored by Tri City
National Bank, Party for the Planet sponsored by American
Transmission Company and Father’s Day Sponsored by
Chinet® and Pick ’n Save.
2012 Special Exhibit
“Adventure Dinosaur!”
Sponsored by Sendik’s Food Markets
During the summer, visitors were invited to take a trip back to
a prehistoric time as “Adventure Dinosaur!” inhabited the Zoo
from May 26 through September 3.
The special outdoor exhibit was located behind the Small
Mammals Building and featured tropical plantings, sound
effects and most exciting of all – 25 life-size re-creations
of prehistoric dinosaurs!
New inhabitants for this year’s exhibit included: the Massopondylus
and its baby, the Edmontonia and the Acrocanthosaurus. Making
a return engagement was the popular Dilophosaurus, which was
presented complete with its water-spitting component. Visitors
were able to see the inner workings of these lifelike models through
a Deinonychus robot skeleton display. Patrons could work the joysticks
themselves to figure out just how these creatures were able to move
and rumble like their prehistoric counterparts.
2012 dinosaur
special exhibit
7
2012 Animal Management and Health Division
Animal Division Collections
The Animal Division Collections serve to enhance visitors’ knowledge and
appreciation of animals, and to contribute to animal species conservation.
Our front-line animal care staff devotes more than 100,000 hours each
year toward the care of our animals.
Our Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (AZA), the premiere association of zoological institutions in
North America with unequaled standards for animal care and management.
Many of the transfers and the breeding of animals described below are in
accordance with AZA programs including Species Survival Plans® (SSPs)
and Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs).
Out of the total number of species in our collection, 37 are listed as
endangered, including several that are critically endangered (on the
brink of extinction in the wild) such as Amur tiger, Sumatran orangutan,
southern black rhinoceros, cotton-top tamarin, western gorilla, and
red-ruffed lemur. Our collection also includes the Guam kingfisher,
which is extinct in the wild.
On December 31, 2012, the Milwaukee County Zoo
animal collection on Zoo grounds included 3,107 animals
representing 424 species as listed below:
On Zoo Grounds
Species
Specimens
Mammals
84
388
Birds
74
307
Reptiles
43
112
Amphibians
11
55
Fish
187
1,519
Invertebrates
25
726
424
3,107
TOTAL
With such a large and diverse animal collection, there are a significant
number of births, transfers and deaths every year. Due to the level of
husbandry and veterinary care, the life expectancy of animals at our Zoo
may greatly exceed the life expectancy of animals in the wild. These life
expectancies vary dramatically with the species – small rodents and the
giant Pacific octopus are old in two years, while swans can live for decades.
Female lions are ancient at 20 years of age, but our giant Amazon River
turtle may be 100 years old. Animals are subject to the same types of
health conditions as humans, which may result in earlier deaths.
The animal staff devotes much thought and time toward enriching the
lives of the Zoo animals. They provide mental and physical stimulation
to the animals by varying their social structure, mixing compatible species
together, varying their habitats, offering interesting scents, providing
manipulation devices, engaging them in positive reinforcement training,
offering food treats for foraging opportunities and supplying toys and
problem-solving reward devices.
The animal collection owned by our Zoo and out on
loan to other zoological institutions included 61 animals
representing 30 species, as listed below:
Out on Loan
Species
Specimens
Mammals
16
37
Birds
8
16
Reptiles
7
8
Amphibians, Fish and Invertebrates
0
0
30
61
TOTAL
8
Aquatic and Reptile Center
In 2012, the African Lakes Exhibit underwent a renovation spanning two
months, resulting in the display of more than 40 species, 23 of which had
never before been displayed at the Zoo.
This exhibit is divided into four sections. Three of the sections are devoted
to the fishes of the Great Lakes of Africa, Lake Nyasa (also known as Lake
Malawi), Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. These three lakes contain a
huge diversity of cichlid fish species, more than 1,500 species are known.
The fourth section is devoted to fishes from the island of Madagascar.
One theme of the African Lakes Exhibit is the unusual and easily observed
aspects of the fish biology, including reproductive behavior and color
varieties. Another is the impact of non-native fishes on the fishes of Lake
Victoria and Madagascar, where many native fishes are either extinct or
threatened with extinction by the introduction of Nile perch, tilapia and
largemouth bass.
Aviary
The Aviary collection continued to increase with the addition of two new species,
the black-naped fruit dove and the crested wood partridge. We also welcomed
mates for our black-necked stilt, blue-grey tanager, blue-bellied roller, as
well as new pairs of Humboldt penguins and red-billed hornbills, from
other institutions.
Red-billed hornbills hatched again this year, this time from
a new pair. Our Zoo has been one of the most successful in
the country to breed this species. We also hatched two
green-naped pheasant pigeon, one of which is already
calling Florida his new home.
The Aviary staff continued to support conservation
efforts in situ during the year. One of our zookeepers
traveled to Punta San Juan, Peru, to help monitor
the guano harvest. Another staff member continues to
band migratory passerines on Zoo grounds, a recognized
stopover point for birds migrating to the Neotropics.
We also continued our involvement with the Great Lakes
Piping Plover Recovery Program, of which we’ve been
involved since 1996. New for the year, a keeper travelled
to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland
to aid in the hand-rearing of whooping cranes that will
ultimately be released into the wild population.
9
Ringed teal
Large Mammals
North America/Australia
The Large Mammal Sections of the Zoo include:
Big Cat Country, North America/Australia,
Pachyderm/Giraffe, African and South American
Hoofstock and Bactrian Camel.
In Australia this year, we acquired a new male
red kangaroo from the Kansas City Zoo who we
hope will breed with all three of our current
females. Willaroo was introduced to the mob
in November and we may see kangaroo joeys
sometime in 2013. The Matchie’s tree kangaroo
born in late 2012 is out of the pouch and can
be seen on exhibit with her mother, Kiama.
In all of these areas, an extensive animal
collection with a progressive operant conditioning training program is managed by staff. Training
the animals to cooperate willingly for health
exams, sample collections and husbandry
procedures allow for an enriching and stressfree environment. Samples collected under
these conditions are used to determine normal
biological parameters in exotic species, and
also to monitor the overall animal health
and reproductive status.
The Zoo’s resident polar bears, Wilhelm (Willie)
and Snow Lilly, were introduced to each other in
the spring and were able to spend time together
on exhibit throughout the summer. Renovation
of Willie’s exhibit at the North Carolina Zoo is
progressing a little bit behind schedule and
he’ll be here until at least the fall of 2014.
Unfortunately, we did have animal losses as well.
Denali, our 10-year-old adult male Dall’s sheep,
died after a brief illness in September, and Annie
the red kangaroo died in January. The only other
dispositions in the area were the transfer of two
young male red kangaroos to a new exhibit at
the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Wolf Awareness Day in October provided fun
activities such as the annual howling contest,
and displays and presentations on the history and
recovery of Wisconsin timber wolf populations.
Big Cat Country
The big news in Big Cats this year was the
November birth of two male jaguar cubs. These
are the first cubs for mother, Stella, and father,
Pat. As a wild-born animal, Pat is now a founder
Snow leopards
Tree kangaroo
and joey
10
to the AZA jaguar program, bringing badly
needed genetic diversity to the zoo population.
The cubs weighed less than 1.5 kilograms at
birth and were visible to the public soon afterward
via web cameras placed above their holding
area. Stella has proven to be a great mother and
the cubs will be on exhibit with her early in 2013.
Big Cat Country also saw the acquisition of
two new animals this year. Nyota, a 3-year-old
spotted hyena, arrived in November from the
Buffalo Zoo. She was introduced on a breeding
recommendation to our male Scruffy and the
pair is getting along well. Genghis, a 13-year-old
snow leopard, also arrived in November, from
Como Park Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota. At the
end of the year, he was still in the process of
acclimating to the new area, and will be
Alpaca, Gustavo, born
August 2012
introduced to our female Tomiris when they both
appear comfortable with each other.
The lion cubs born in 2011 have all grown up,
and began their dispersal from the natal pride.
Hubert departed in November for the Oklahoma
City Zoo where he will be introduced to two
females. Kiume left in December for the John
Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and female
Njeri moved to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas
early in 2013. Parents Themba and Sanura are
still a recommended breeding pair and we hope
to see more lion cubs in the coming years.
to Understand Zoo Elephant Welfare. This is a
comprehensive, nationwide study to determine
the environmental and husbandry factors most
important to elephant welfare, and is sponsored
by a grant from the Institute of Museum and
Library Services. We also continue to perform
in-house endocrinology research on the
effectiveness of contraceptives in our two
female hippos.
The third annual Elephant Awareness Day was
a great success, providing visitors with activities
and information about elephants, and also
raising funds for wild elephant conservation.
Pachyderm/Giraffe
Two young female bongo antelope, acquired
near the end of 2011, were moved to the
Pachyderm Section in spring and introduced
to our resident female Meru. Meru is currently
one of the oldest living bongo in the world.
When it’s warm outside, the three of them
can be seen in the exhibit.
The only disposition this year was the humane
euthanasia of Malinde, our 28-year-old reticulated giraffe. Malinde had been at the Zoo since
1985 and had seven offspring during her lifetime. She currently has living descendants in
16 facilities in North America, Puerto Rico and
Japan. Malinde’s longevity is a testament to the
quality care animal and veterinary staff invest
in our animals.
Throughout the year, the Elephant staff collected
data for a research project titled Using Science
11
African & South American Hoofstock/
Bactrian Camel
Several changes were made to the South
American animal collection in 2012. In April, we
traded Sooner, our adult male breeding alpaca,
for a new unrelated male, Phoenix. Sooner’s final
offspring at the Zoo, a male named Gustavo, was
born to dam Eleanor in August. Shortly thereafter
we also sent out our other male alpaca, 7-yearold Antonio. Finally, we added a pair of female
greater rheas to the exhibit in spring. Rheas
had not been exhibited here since 2002.
In May, our Bactrian camel, Sanchi, gave birth
to a healthy female calf named Addi Jean, or
AJ for short. Camel demonstrations resumed
in the area behind the pony rides after a
two-year hiatus.
the lack of much social bonobo contact when he was growing up,
proved himself to be an asset to our troop. Fortunately both Lody and
Viaje left behind offspring to carry on many of their traits, both genetically
and behaviorally.
A trio of new greater kudu females was added to the African Waterhole
Exhibit, bringing our herd up to five animals. Rachel and Noeli from Binder
Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan, and Teshi from the Indianapolis Zoo,
will hopefully form the basis for a new breeding herd with our resident
male, Barudi. Three young impala, a male and two females born in 2010,
also were sent to Binder Park Zoo, as part of the transaction to bring the
kudu to Milwaukee.
Our Primates of the World building also had a significant addition with
the birth of a female Goeldi’s monkey. These small monkeys are listed as
vulnerable in the wild and there are only about 140 of the species in North
American zoos. We have two successful breeding groups, one in Primates
of the World and the other in the Small Mammals building.
Apes of Africa and Primates of the World
During 2012 we saw a significant addition to our Apes of Africa population
with the arrival of a 10-year-old female gorilla from the Toronto Zoo. Her
name is Shalia, and she is both an attractive and intelligent gorilla. Due
to the endangered status of this species and the international shipping
regulations, the process of receiving Shalia was considerably more drawn
out and complicated than
shipments
within the
United States.
Primates of the World also sustained several heavy losses in 2012.
Three elderly Japanese macaques died this year. This brought our troop
down to eight individuals. We are looking into acquiring an additional
smaller group, possibly from Japan, and attaining a larger group through
future breeding.
Probably the most devastating event for the Primate Section was the
death of Mahal, our 5-year old Bornean orangutan. His death in December
was sudden and came as a shock to us and to many of our visitors. Mahal
was a typical young orangutan, always playing, testing his keepers through
his antics, and seeking attention. He is sorely missed.
With gains
come losses,
and we were
saddened
to lose two
valuable male
bonobos in
Bornean orangutan Mahal
Apes of Africa
due to cardiac
issues. They were Lody, our dominant male, and Viaje, who came to us
in 2001 from Zoofari near Taxco, Mexico. Both were originally from Africa
and carried valuable genes for the captive population. Lody was a strong
leader, accepted other bonobos for who they were, and expressed deep
empathy for others. Viaje was a very good-natured individual who, despite
Our animal care staff members have spent years diligently working
with the primates using positive reinforcement training techniques. This is
especially true with the apes at our Zoo (orangutans, bonobos, and gorillas).
As a result, our Zoo is a premier facility for the study of the physiology
and behavior of these endangered animals. The apes willingly participate
in cognitive behavioral studies, ultrasound studies of the heart and fetal
development and medical care procedures. These procedures and studies
occur with a safety mesh barrier between the staff and the apes. The apes’
participation is completely voluntary and without restraint. They readily
participate, and they can end the training, behavioral study sessions or
examinations at any time.
12
The latter arrived in
October from the Virginia
Zoo in Norfolk as a companion
for our 21-year-old male. He seems
pleased with the company.
For our Zoo to have groups of animals
living to ripe old ages also means the loss of
some each year. This year we lost a number
of geriatric animals, including a Ruwenzori
mountain fruit bat, two straw-colored fruit
bats, a male dwarf mongoose and two
sugar gliders.
Birds of Prey Show
Small Mammals
Transferring to other institutions from the
Small Mammals building were: five pairs of
vampire bats to the Cincinnati Zoo; a male
Goeldi’s monkey to ZooWorld in Panama City
Beach; the two fennec fox kits mentioned
previously; and a male golden-headed lion
tamarin who had an extremely long, but
uneventful, trip to the Melbourne Zoo in
Australia. Zoos around the world are
cooperating to ensure the survival of
this endangered species.
It was an eventful year for our collection in the Small Mammals building
with births, deaths and transfers in and out. In February, our fennec fox
pair had a litter of kits. Two kits, a male and a female, survived but had to
be hand-raised. In October, another set of kits were born, with again only
two surviving and who needed to be hand-raised. The first set of kits was
transferred to two other institutions, serving as valuable education animals.
The second set of kits will remain here until they are a little older and
when the Fennec Fox SSP identifies new homes for placement.
Also in February, our cotton-top tamarin pair had a set of twins. This
small monkey is listed as critically endangered in the wild. They produced
a second set of twins in August. This provides us with a very active tamarin
exhibit, displaying a family of 11 members.
Northwestern Mutual Family Farm
Two bull calves were born in the Farm
this year: Timothy, a red and white
Holstein, to mother, Amy, in March,
and brown Swiss calf, Jared, to mother,
Molly, in April. We also received
another Superior Quality Award
from Foremost Farms, USA.
After more than a year without the species, we received a pair of galagos
that we hope will breed. Our male came to us from the Cleveland Zoo,
and the female from the Bronx Zoo. We have been quite successful with
breeding this species in the past.
Our last acquisitions for the Small Mammals building was the birth of
a vampire bat and the arrival of a female douroucouli, or owl monkey.
13
Mahal
Only four farms in the district received this
prestigious award, given for superior quality
milk for the entire year.
New additions to our “outreach” animal collection
included three new rats, two new American toads
and a barred tiger salamander. These animals
are used in our demonstration area throughout
the summer, as well as in educational programs
the remainder of the year.
Two longtime Zoo residents passed away in 2012:
Bandit, our pinto horse, and Cody, our miniature
horse. Both animals will be dearly missed as they
engaged and entertained literally tens of thousands of visitors over the 16 and 33 years they
lived here respectively.
The World Bird Sanctuary’s Bird of Prey Show,
as well as Kohl’s Wild Theater, continues to be
showcased in the outdoor theater. A new shade
structure was added to the center section of
bleachers for the summer performances.
The entryway to the Northwestern Mutual Family
Farm received a complete makeover, and now
features an antique hay wagon, a working water
pump, and an assortment of genuine antique
farm equipment graciously donated by the
Richfield Historical Society. Additional entrance
enhancements are scheduled for 2013.
Animal Health Center
The veterinary staff at the Animal Health Center
are responsible for the preventive animal health
and nutrition programs and the medical care of
the entire collection.
Some of the procedures performed
in 2012 included:
381 anesthetic procedures
540 blood samples collected for
a variety of analyses
1,328 parasite exams run on 642 samples
2,067 written prescriptions
259 radiographic procedures including 7 CT
scans on various animals
3,283 medical record entries for 552 individual
animals representing 203 species
Orangutan
14
On average, there were 10 animals in the
Animal Health Center each day of 2012. Many
of the animals who stayed at the Animal Health
Center were those kept in quarantine before
releasing them to the main zoological collection.
These included a new female hyena, a male
snow leopard, a young female gorilla, black-tree
monitors, black-naped fruit doves and crested
wood partridges. Both species of birds have not
been in the Zoo collection for many years.
The gorilla is of particular note because it
was imported from Canada. As an imported
non-human primate, quarantine had to meet
the Center for Disease Control (CDC) specifications. Specifications include rigorous protocols
and a CDC-approved quarantine area. The
Animal Health Center expressly included the
CDC specifications in its design to allow for
importation of non-human primates that are
part of Species Survival Plan breeding programs.
Other hospital residents were either being
treated for a variety of illnesses, or held for
shipment to other zoos.
Both the Zoo pathology fellow program and
the clinical medicine residency continued in
collaboration with the University of WisconsinMadison School of Veterinary Medicine. The
clinical residency program is a three-year
program that provides specialty training in
zoo and exotic animal medicine. The clinical
residents alternate their time at our Zoo, each
spending approximately four months per year
here. In 2012, we had two residents – one that
finished in July and the other in her second year.
The pathology program offers specialized
training to pathologists interested specifically
in zoo and exotic animal pathology, and provides
us with information crucial to managing our
collection. Our fifth pathology fellow (since the
program’s inception in 1997) began in August
2010 after having finished a two-year residency
in general pathology at the University of
Connecticut. The previous resident successfully
completed her residency and went on to
Washington State University as a Ph.D. candidate.
The veterinary staff also conduct a zoo-animal
medicine preceptor program for veterinary
students. Each preceptor is at the Zoo for
one to two months.
In 2012, the Zoo obtained an intern to update,
enhance and computerize our animal diet
management system. A digital version of the
Milwaukee County Zoo Diet Notebook is now
available for use by all Animal Division staff and
can be easily updated. The intern also helped
to review, update and create a digital version
of the Zoo’s Preventative Health Program. This
digital version can be easily updated over time
to maintain a current and effective preventive
animal health plan.
Animal Records
Since the Milwaukee County Zoo opened in
1892, records have been kept for the almost
20,000 individual animals that have been
managed in the Zoo’s collection. Today, AZAaccredited zoos keep very detailed up-to-date
records for each animal, telling its life story
from birth to death. In addition, our Zoo archives
contain ephemeral material including animal
inventories, old log books, Zoo annual reports,
published articles, prints, slides, 16mm films and
general correspondence. We also maintain unique
documents and artifacts from 19th and 20th century
zoological institutions from six continents.
15
We maintain up-to-date records on every animal
at the Zoo. All of the information that the animal
care staff observes is reported daily to the registrar, who records the information electronically
in a database called the Zoological Inventory
Management System (ZIMS).
The ZIMS information includes primary data
such as common and taxonomic name, parents
(whether at our Zoo or at another facility), date
and place of birth, gender and the circumstances
of acquisition such as birth, loan, purchase or
donation. Similar facts are recorded when the
animal leaves the Zoo, such as the name of the
recipient zoo, the date of transfer and terms of
the contract or the circumstances of death.
Identifiable characteristics or marks, all
background information, measurements,
behavior, breeding management, enclosure
information, behavioral enrichment, training,
diet/feeding, development and medical
notes and procedures all are data recorded
in the animal’s record.
Animal medical information also is vital to the
care of the animal collection. The Medical Animal
Records Keeping System, known as MedARKS, is
used to create a detailed medical record for each
animal containing clinical notes, prescriptions,
treatments, cryopreservation records and
necropsy details.
Regulatory Agencies
Fennec fox
Polar bears
Willie and Snow Lilly
The ZIMS database is a
real-time, internet-accessible
database produced by ISIS
(International Species Information System), which links
animals’ records as they
move between institutions
throughout the worldwide
zoological community. The
merging of these data from
each zoo enables ISIS members to share information
for management of genetic and demographic programs
(such as studbooks or cooperative Species Survival Plans)
and their own animal collections. The central database
contains information on 2.8 million animals – more than
10,000 species – held in more than 800 institutions in
80 countries, as well as some animals in the wild that are
participants in release and relocation projects. Currently
over 470 facilities are using ZIMS. On December 14, 2012,
the one millionth transaction was reported in ZIMS.
The Milwaukee County Zoo partners with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Milwaukee
Area Domestic Animal Control Center and other agencies.
We provide these agencies with expertise and assistance
toward the conservation and protection of animals in
the wild and in captivity.
The Zoo complies with regulations and permit requirements
of international treaties and national and state laws regarding
animal conservation, management, care, health and safety.
Examples of permits received by the Zoo in 2012 include:
International:
Convention on Trade in Endangered Species
import permit (CITES)
National:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Captive Bred Wildlife permit
Migratory Bird Special Purpose permit
Depredation permit
Native Endangered Species Recovery permit
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Exhibitor Permit
Plant Pests, Noxious Weed, Soil Movement permit
U.S. Department of Interior
Marine Mammal Protection Act permit
State of Wisconsin:
DNR Depredation permit (Canada goose and eggs)
DATCP Johne’s Disease-Free Herd classification
DATCP Chronic Wasting Disease-Free Herd classification
16
Library and Archive
Conservation and Research Programs
The Milwaukee County Zoo Library and Archive,
located in the Administration Annex in the
Northwestern Mutual Family Farm, is a research
library that provides information resources to
staff of the Milwaukee County Zoo, the Zoological
Society of Milwaukee, Zoo Pride volunteers,
and the public.
The Zoo Library also collects ephemeral
materials from U.S. and foreign zoos and
aquariums. This collection is the largest
collection of zoo ephemera in the country.
The Library also has a number of animalthemed art works, including prints,
sculptures and paintings.
The Milwaukee County Zoo Library collection
includes books and academic/science periodicals in the following subject areas: zoological
science; animal husbandry; management of
animals in captivity; animal behavior; animal
nutrition; veterinary medicine; wildlife conservation; birds; fishes; invertebrates; mammals; reptiles
and amphibians; aquarium management; aquatic
life; horticulture; zoological gardens; history of
zoological science; zoo administration; and zoo,
aquarium and museum exhibits.
The Archive preserves materials that are
crucial to the history of the Milwaukee County
Zoo and zoos in the United States. This collection
includes photos, slides, DVDs, VHS cassettes,
16mm films, historic postcards, personal papers,
veterinary records, and Milwaukee County
Zoo historical records on paper and microfiche.
These materials are preserved in a climatecontrolled environment.
In 2012, the Zoo managed an ambitious and
diverse conservation and research program at
local, regional, national and international levels.
The Senior Animal Staff, including specialty
Curators, staff Veterinarians and the Deputy Zoo
Director, develop, implement and manage these
programs. Front-line animal care personnel also
actively participate in many of these programs.
Collaborative efforts with other conservationoriented institutions and agencies are essential
to the effectiveness of these efforts.
In addition to the commitment of Zoo resources
and the resources of collaborating institutions,
significant funding came from Zoo trust funds
and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. Public
and private grants also contributed to the support.
Giant Pacific octopus
17
Conservation and Research Program Collaborative Support
The Zoo provides funding and/or staff support to selected conservation initiatives and research projects. Highlights for support in 2012 include:
UCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Group
Global
Piping Plover Recovery Project
Great Lakes
Turtle Survival Program
Global
Ornate Box Turtle Headstart Program
Wisconsin
Polar Bears International
Pan-Arctic
Butler’s Garter Snake Ecology
Wisconsin
International Elephant Foundation
Africa and Asia
Migratory and Resident Avifauna Study
Zoo
International Rhino Foundation
Africa and Asia
Grenada Frog Study
Grenada
Ape TAG Conservation Initiative
Africa and Asia
Grenada Bank Treeboa Study
Grenada
Great Ape Survival Partnership
Africa and Asia
Grenada Reef Monitoring
Grenada
Phoenix Fund Amur Tiger Project
Russia
Rock Iguana Conservation
Jamaica
International Snow Leopard Trust
Nepal
Rock Iguana Conservation
Grand Cayman
Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program
Papua New Guinea
Puerto Rico Crested Toad SSP
Puerto Rico
Orangutan Outreach
Borneo and Sumatra
Hippopotamus Reproductive Hormone Study
Zoo
Hornbill Nestbox Adoption
Thailand
Starhead Minnow Spawning Research
Zoo
Hornbill Feather Distribution
Indonesia
Mississippi Gopher Frog Conservation
Zoo
Elephants for Africa
Africa
Migratory and Resident Avifauna Study
Zoo
Fennec Fox Conservation Project
North Africa
Ape Cognition Study
Zoo
Bonobo and Congo Biodiversity Initiative
Democratic Republic of Congo
Great Ape Cardiovascular Health Study
Zoo
Lola Ya Bonobo - Bonobo sanctuary
Democratic Republic of Congo
Great Ape Ultrasound Studies
Zoo
International Bongo Foundation
Kenya
Bonobo Semen Freezing Project
Zoo
Tarangire Elephant Project
Tanzania
Bonobo Cardiac Database
Zoo
Kibale Fuel Wood Project
Uganda
Berggorilla and Regenwald Direkthilfe Gorilla Project
Rwanda
Adopt an Ostrich Program/Sahara Conservation Fund
Niger
Cheetah Conservation
Botswana
Avian Scientific Advisory Group
Madagascar Fauna Group
Madagascar
Penguin Taxon Advisory Group
Humboldt Penguin Artificial Burrow Project
Chile
Great Apes Taxon Advisory Group
Humboldt Penguin Education Program
Chile
Humboldt Penguin Guano Harvest Monitoring
Peru
Whooping Crane Recovery Project
National
Great Ape Cardiopathology Research
National
AZA Wildlife Contraception Center
AZA Elephant Welfare Project
National
Wisconsin Bureau of Endangered Species Herp Fund
The Zoo also provided funding for many collaborative
conservation and research initiatives including:
International Species Inventory System
Amphibian TAG Amphibian Ark
18
Staff Conservation and Research Projects
Humboldt Penguin
Zoo staff participate in wildlife conservation and
research projects at local, regional and international levels. Many of these projects were made
possible with funding from the Zoological
Society of Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee County Zoo has a long and
storied history with the conservation of Humboldt
penguins in their native range, which is restricted
to the coasts of Peru and Chile. In 1994, the Zoo
initiated a long-term research program to study
a breeding colony of Humboldt penguins in
Algarrobo, Chile.
Piping Plover
Each year, the Milwaukee County Zoo sends
Aviary staff members to assist United States
Fish and Wildlife Service biologists in Michigan
with the monitoring of active nests and the
rearing of abandoned piping plover eggs and
chicks. These eggs and chicks are brought to
the University of Michigan Biological Field
Station and are hatched for re-release into the
wild. Our staff members also have participated
in the development of captive husbandry protocols and designated research projects designed
to benefit wild populations of piping plovers.
Part of this study continues today with the
installation of artificial burrows to provide more
sturdy nests that can better resist flooding and
destruction than the natural dirt burrows. In 2009
and 2010, 35 artificial burrows were placed on
the island. The artificial burrows were placed
in areas where the natural burrows have
disappeared, and were monitored to see
if the penguins would use them.
The Great Lakes population of the
piping plover was listed as endangered in 1986 with only 17 nesting
pairs. In 2012, there were 64 nests
recorded with 58 breeding pairs
(4 more than 2011) which produced
193 chicks that hatched in the wild.
Of these, 103 had fledged as of the
last report with another 25 still
pending. In addition, six chicks
were captive-reared and released.
In 2011, the first successful hatching and
fledging of chicks were observed. In 2012, an
additional 20 artificial burrows were installed.
Also in 2012, a Zoo staff member participated
in the Guano Harvest Monitoring Project in Punta
San Juan (PSJ), Peru to aid in the initial startup of
the monitoring efforts. Volunteers from our Zoo
and the world went to PSJ to monitor and mitigate the amount of disturbance created by the
miners who harvest the seabird guano for use
as commercial fertilizer. Through the efforts of
the volunteers, the impact of harvesting is minimized. The program also includes an educational
program for the miners and local population
about sustainable practices regarding the use
and harvesting of the guano, helping to ensure
successfully nesting penguins in the future.
The Zoo also provided funds to purchase
equipment for the project.
Humboldt penguins
19
Another goal of our Humboldt Penguin
conservation efforts is to increase public awareness of the penguins in Chile and the threats
they face to enhance the conservation of Chilean
penguin species. Last year, the Zoo developed
a bilingual brochure in Spanish and English. The
brochure provides information about the penguin
species found in Chile. It was developed primarily
for use by Chilean fishermen who act as guides
for eco-tourists. It also has been distributed to
various tourist and rehabilitation centers along
the Chilean coast. As a pilot project, a limited
number of brochures also were given to elementary schools in Southern Chile to introduce the
children to the penguins that live in their own
backyard, and also as a bilingual language
resource. In 2012, additional brochures
were sent to Chile for distribution.
The Zoo also provided staff and funds to support
the Penguin Taxon Advisory Group (TAG). This
group furthers research efforts that support
both captive and in situ conservation, promotes
conservation concern and conservation action
through educational programming and internet
resources, and engenders appreciation for these
charismatic species that serve as indicators of
the health of marine and coastal environments.
Migratory and Resident Avifauna
Study/Collision Abatement
Zoo staff and volunteers are mist-netting
and banding wild birds on Zoo grounds to
determine the numbers and species that use
our grounds as a stopover site during migration.
Since its inception in 2001, this project has
identified 176 species of native migratory birds.
Of these identified species, 42 are listed as rare,
threatened, or of special concern in Wisconsin,
and 45 have been identified as nesting on Zoo
grounds. Because of these remarkable findings,
the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
has designated the Milwaukee County Zoo as
a recognized migratory bird stopover habitat.
In addition, bird-banding demonstrations are
conducted each year during the Zoo’s special
Earth Day event, Party for the Planet. Visitors
have the opportunity to observe the banding
process and release birds.
Zoo and Society staff and volunteers also are
involved with reducing bird injuries and mortalities associated with window collisions by
modifying existing structures to mitigate
strikes. By applying stencils, striping,
silhouettes and decals as well
as using netting and better
planting practices, we are
reducing the collisions.
Whooping Crane
The Whooping Crane Recovery Program,
conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and the International Crane Foundation (ICF),
is responsible for bringing the number of wild
cranes back from a low of 16 individuals in the
1940s, to a total of more than 500 individuals
collectively in captivity and in the wild. Donated
funds from the ICF aid in the captive-rearing,
release and management of wild cranes, as
well as develop new release techniques to
bolster the existing population. The ICF also
does outreach programs to educate the public
about the plight of the cranes, and conducts
studies on environmentally-friendly and
non-toxic alternatives to controlling sandhill
crane depredation on crops.
The Milwaukee County Zoo assists
the International Crane Foundation
and the USFWS with whooping crane
recovery by acting as a medical
care location for injured whooping
cranes that were part of the
release program. We currently
have one female and one male
non-releasable cranes that have
been successfully introduced
to each other.
Several types of feeders
were installed throughout
the Zoo, and native species
of plants were installed that
provide cover and food for
Fairy bluebird
migratory birds. In addition,
In 2012, a Zoo staff member participated
nest boxes were placed around
in
crane
care at the Patuxent Wildlife Research
Lake Evinrude for bluebird, chickadee,
Center
in
Maryland
to learn more about the
house wren and tree swallow nesting. These all
handling,
restraint,
hand-rearing
and general
serve as examples of what people can do to help
husbandry
practices.
This
facility
is the largest
migratory birds in their own backyards.
breeder of whooping cranes.
20
Ornate Box Turtle
This year, the Zoo raised 24 endangered ornate
box turtles to be released into a wild prairie
remnant in south central Wisconsin. In 1996
and 1997, the Zoo developed raise-and-release
procedures for this highly successful DNR program.
During a single winter at the Zoo, these turtles
may grow from a one-third ounce hatchling to as
much as five ounces. In the wild, it may take as
long as seven years to reach this size, at which
time they are practically predator-proof.
The Racine Zoo also participates in this program,
and the Nature Conservancy has adopted its
protocols to help increase ornate box turtle
populations in its Wisconsin reserves. By the
summer of 2012, this program had resulted
in the successful headstarting and release of
1,120 turtles. Of these, our Zoo raised 336 turtles.
frogs were sampled to determine if they were
carrying the deadly frog-killing fungus called
chytrid. Unfortunately, the fungus was found at
all of the sampling sites. Chytrid could lead to
the extinction of the Grenada frog. Data from
2011 and 2012 indicate the frog populations in
Grenada have stabilized. Continued monitoring
will be necessary to determine if this observation
is real or merely a random event.
Because the people of Grenada are unaware
the Grenada frog is found nowhere else in
the world, and at the request of the Grenadian
Department of Forestry and National
Parks, our Zoo provided staff and
funds to develop film clips of
Grenadian wildlife to be
Grenada Frog
The Grenada frog was once widespread on the
island nation of Grenada. During the late 1880s,
a related frog species, Johnstone’s frog, was
introduced. Since that time, Johnstone’s frog has
spread throughout the island and the Grenada
frog has retreated to small isolated pockets
(seven square miles) in the mountain rainforests.
In 2004, our Zoo, the Milwaukee Public Museum,
and the Grenada Forestry and National Parks
Department initiated a field-study to determine
if these two species can successfully coexist. In
2009, the Racine Zoo joined our efforts. In 2009,
we noted the numbers of frogs observed had
dropped for a third consecutive year. As a result,
21
shown on the Grenada Information Service
(GIS) television station. The GIS is the Grenadian
equivalent of the U.S. National Broadcast System.
These films have the potential to be shown
several times per day around the clock, thus
reaching a wide audience, providing them with
information about the value of their wildlife
heritage. The first set of films, expected to air
in 2013, will focus on Grenada’s frogs, snakes
and lizards.
Grenada frog
Grenada Bank Treeboa
The Grenada Bank treeboa is only found on
the islands in the Grenada Bank. Although widespread, populations seem to be decreasing on
the island of Grenada. Our Zoo and the Racine
Zoo have been cooperating with the Milwaukee
Public Museum to conduct research on this tree
boa. The Zoo is collaborating with Dr. Marie Rush
of St. George’s University (Grenada) in a study to
determine this snake’s normal blood parameters
and identify the blood parasites of this species.
Coral Reef Monitoring - Grenada
In 2009, our research efforts in the Caribbean
expanded to the surrounding ocean. Our Zoo
joined the Wisconsin Lutheran College’s reef
monitoring program in Grenada. The purpose
of this project is to compare the long-term
health of the coral reefs found in Grenada’s
marine protected areas with other areas that
receive no protection. We hope to demonstrate
the economic benefits of protected areas to
the tourist industry and fishing communities
of Grenada. In July of 2012, data from the first
four years of this project were presented at the
International Coral Reef Symposium, in Cairns,
Australia. The response from the audience
was enthusiastic, as there are very few, dataintensive, long-term studies of Caribbean reefs.
Rock Iguana Conservation
Our Zoo has been a longtime supporter of
rock iguana conservation in the genus Cyclura.
Since 2003, this support has increased with the
addition of fieldwork studies of the Grand
Cayman blue iguana and Jamaican iguana.
Blue iguanas are one of the most endangered
lizard species in the world.
A 2003 census indicated there might have
been as few as 12 Grand Cayman blue iguanas in
the wild. Because of the efforts of several zoos,
including ours, the population is now estimated
to number more than 200. The Jamaican iguana
was once thought to be extinct in the wild, and
is still very much in peril.
Our Zoo has participated in the fieldwork
for these collaborative efforts, resulting in
successful releases of captive-hatched,
raised-and-released iguanas back into the
wilds of Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Also,
through observations and radio tracking, data
has been collected for the first time on the
habits of these rare species from both raisedand-released iguanas and free-ranging wild
individuals. Additionally, a veterinary technician
was sent to assist in the health screening of
the iguanas intended for the release. More fieldwork is scheduled, and our Zoo will be sending
additional staff to assist fieldworkers with
protection of nest sites, nest monitoring,
health screenings, and radio tracking. They
also assist with the maintenance of iguana
raise-and-release facilities.
In January 2012, a zookeeper was sent to
Cayman Brac to assist in a study on the Sister
Isles Rock Iguana (Cyclura nubila caymanensis).
22
This subspecies of the Cuban rock iguana is
endemic to the small islands of Cayman Brac
and Little Cayman. While there have been
studies conducted on Little Cayman, no such
population surveys exist for Cayman Brac. The
goal of the project was to find and process as
many iguanas as possible to get an estimated
population count. During the month-long project, 97 iguanas were found, a number greater
than the original estimate. Unfortunately, these
animals face grave threats due to increasing
development, cars and feral cats and dogs.
During 2012, cars killed five breeding-age adults,
including one pregnant female. Zoo staff also
taught local volunteers how to find, catch and
process iguanas in hopes of rallying community
interest to help the species to survive.
Butler’s Garter Snake
The Butler’s garter snake is an endangered
species restricted to southeastern Wisconsin.
In 2007, the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources brought together developers, land
owners, our Zoo and other conservation organizations to develop a management plan for this
species. This plan identified numerous gaps in
our knowledge that were crucial to the development of a successful plan. As a result, the Zoo
joined with the Urban Ecology Center at
Riverside Park to seek answers to several
questions. What is the dispersal distance of
the snakes? What is the population density of
the snakes in Riverside Park? How fast do they
grow? These studies involve radio tracking,
finding and capturing snakes and marking
them for individual identification. Hundreds of hours were spent on this
research during the year, and several additional seasons of work are
needed to adequately address these issues.
Great Ape Ultrasound Studies
For the past 20 years, Zoo staff and
volunteer medical professionals have performed ultrasound studies on our great apes.
As a result of extensive positive reinforcement
training by our staff, the great apes voluntarily
participate in these painless studies – without
restraints, sedation or anesthesia. The animals look
forward to these procedures and willingly cooperate.
The ultrasound studies include heart studies of bonobos,
gorillas and orangutans and fetal development studies
of bonobos. Our Zoo has been the first in the world to
do these types of studies with the great apes.
Mississippi Gopher Frog
The Mississippi gopher frog is the most endangered frog species in the
country. The species is only found in one pond, and population estimates
range from 100 to 200 individuals. The Mississippi Gopher Frog Species
Survival Plan (SSP) group sent out a plea for zoos to take and hold frogs
to make space for additional founders by SSP participants who breed
the frogs. Our Zoo now houses and cares for 25 of these frogs.
Starhead Topminnows
Starhead topminnows are an endangered fish species in Wisconsin.
Although there have been a few cases of successful captive reproduction
in the private sector, there are no reports of breeding in zoos or aquariums.
Several pairs were collected in July 2007 with the intent of developing
spawning techniques that could be used by the Wisconsin DNR should a
captive breeding program become a necessity. One or two pairs have been
collected each year since, in order to maintain the genetic diversity of the
captive population held here. Fishes from this program have been sent to
the Urban Ecology Centers in Milwaukee and other aquariums or nature
centers for display.
Great Ape Heart Studies
The most common cause of mortality in captive great
apes is enlargement of the left ventricle of the heart
due to replacement of the normal heart muscle with
fibrotic scar tissue. In humans, this change is most
often related to hypertension, or high blood pressure.
Great Ape In-house Cognitive Research
The purpose of this project is to gain insight into the cognitive abilities
of our three great ape species: bonobos, gorillas and orangutans. Dr. Sarah
Boysen, a great ape behavior researcher, conducted tests with the apes.
Tests included: counting; the “shell game;” the “more or less” paradigm;
and the use of tools to retrieve rewards. The bonobos were the most
interested and cooperative of the apes, although the gorillas and orangutans participated as well. The results from past testing, including the first
of the two in 2012, have been presented in a number of poster sessions
in Prague, the Czech Republic; Birmingham, England; and Kyoto, Japan.
Western lowland gorilla
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For a number of years the Zoo has been working at training bonobos for voluntary
participation in allowing indirect blood pressure measurements to be collected
from animals that are awake. Currently, several bonobos are allowing blood
pressure measurements to be collected using finger cuffs. We are the first Zoo
to document hypertension in this manner, and to prove that treatment with
oral blood pressure medications actually results in lowering blood pressure.
Bonobo Heart Pathology Studies
In an effort to delve more closely into the similarities and differences between
heart disease in apes and humans, preserved hearts from the pathology collection
at our Zoo were analyzed by specialists in human cardiopathology. These in-depth
reports have assisted in identifying differences in terminology used by veterinary
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Elephant Awareness Day
• Cognition in bonobos as it relates to human cognition;
• In-house measurements of hormone levels for reproductive
management of hippos
and medical pathologists. They also have identified several classical
pathologic changes associated with hypertension in the apes, and have
identified one case of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
(ARVC). This work has spurred additional research into methods for
measuring indirect blood pressure in apes that are awake. This most
likely will result in a publication on hypertensive tissue changes in
bonobos with left ventricular hypertrophy, and has stimulated
research into the possible genetic basis for ARVC in bonobos.
The Zoo also maintains a library of frozen or preserved blood and biopsy
and necropsy tissue samples available for approved research projects
upon request.
Presentations/Publications
Animal Awareness Days
Two zookeeper-driven events were held at the Zoo this year to showcase
species and educate the public on captive care as well as conservation needs
in the wild. Elephant Awareness Day was held September 15, and Wolf
Awareness Day was held October 13. Both events included activities and
opportunities for behind-the-scene tours of the facilities, zookeeper talks
and the distribution of materials on related conservation organizations.
Visitors were encouraged to conserve these species, and to learn about
the other species and the ecosystems that are important to sustain wild
populations. Funds raised at Elephant Awareness Day were donated to
the International Elephant Foundation and Elephants for Africa.
The Animal Division staff deliver more than 1,000 formal presentations
and innumerable informal presentations to the visiting public every year.
In addition, Zoo staff develop programs, publish articles and research
papers and deliver presentations locally, regionally and internationally
to contribute to conservation efforts.
Bonobo
Other Research and Studies
The Zoo assists in many scientific studies and collaborative research
projects by providing facilities, staff expertise and an environment
conducive to animal studies. The Zoo Research Committee reviews
all research proposals to ensure the protection of animal welfare.
A few studies from 2012 include:
• Infra-red imaging of North American mammal species for identification
during field surveys;
• Differentiating notch marks made on bones by hyenas from those
made by humans for paleontology studies;
• Developing a non-invasive technique for measuring cortisol levels
in wolves for field hormone level determinations;
• Determination of factors that will enhance the welfare of elephants;
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Species Survival Plans®
Our Zoo cooperates with all major zoos and aquariums in North America to enhance
the survival of endangered species in our collections and in the wild. This is done
through Species Survival Plans® of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Groups
of zoo scientists and collaborating experts develop breeding plans to help protect
the genetic variations of each of these species. Collaborative programs also are
developed with range countries to assist in conservation of these animals and
their habitats in the wild.
Alligator Chinese SSP
Argens (LV Cichlid) SSP
Degeni (LV Cichlid) SSP
Esculentus (LV Cichlid) SSP
Iguana Rock SSP
Ishmaeli (LV Cichlid) SSP
Lip Two Stripe White
(LV Cichlid) SSP
Melanopterus (LV Cichlid) SSP
Perrieri (LV Cichlid) SSP
Piceata (LV Cichlid) SSP
Rattlesnake Aruba Island SSP
Toad Puerto Rican
Crested SSP
Rattlesnake Eastern
Massasauga SSP
Penguin Humboldt SSP
Bonobo SSP
Callimico SSP
Cat Black-Footed SSP
Colobus Angolan SSP
Fox Fennec SSP
Gorilla Western SSP
Lemur Black &
White Ruffed SSP
Lemur Mongoose SSP
Lemur Red Ruffed SSP
Lemur Ring-Tailed SSP
Macaque Japanese SSP
Mandrill SSP
Monkey DeBrazza’s SSP
Orangutan Bornean SSP
Orangutan Sumatran SSP
Siamang SSP
Spider Monkey Central
American SSP
Tamarin Cotton-Top SSP
Tamarin Golden Lion SSP
Tamarin Golden-Headed
Lion SSP
Frogmouth Tawny SSP
Hornbill Rhinoceros SSP
Jay Plush Crested SSP
Kingfisher Micronesian SSP
Motmot Blue Crowned SSP
Mynah Bali SSP
Rail Guam SSP
Spoonbill African SSP
Sunbittern SSP
Vulture King SSP
Bear Polar SSP
Bongo Eastern SSP
Cheetah SSP
Eland Common SSP
Elephant SSP
Giraffe Reticulated SSP
Hippopotamus SSP
Hyena Spotted SSP
Jaguar SSP
Kangaroo Red SSP
Kudu Greater SSP
Leopard Snow SSP
Lion SSP
Moose SSP
Panda Red SSP
Rhinoceros Eastern Black SSP
Sea Lion California SSP
Seal Harbor SSP
Tiger Amur SSP
Tree Kangaroo Matschie’s SSP
Warthog SSP
Zebra Plains SSP
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The Zoo’s scientific staff also are members of specialist groups
devoted to the conservation and management of groups of
species. These are called Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs).
The Milwaukee County Zoo participates in Species Survival
Plans (SSP) and Taxon Advisory Groups (TAG) that exist for the
species in our collection and closely related species, including:
Amphibian TAG
Aquatic Invertebrate TAG
Chelonian TAG
Crocodilian TAG
Freshwater Fishes TAG
Lizard TAG
Marine Fishes TAG
Snake TAG
Terrestrial Invertebrate TAG
Ape TAG
Bat TAG
New World Primate TAG
Old World Monkey TAG
Pangolin Aardvark Xenarthra TAG
Prosimian TAG
Rodent Insectivore
Lagomorph TAG
Small Carnivore TAG
Charadriiformes TAG
Ciconiiformes and
Phoenicopteriformes TAG
Columbiformes TAG
Coraciiformes TAG
Galliformes TAG
PACCT TAG (Passerines)
Parrot TAG
Piciformes TAG
Raptor TAG
Ratite and Tinamiformes TAG
Turaco and Cuckoo TAG
Antelope and Giraffe TAG
Bear TAG
Bison Buffalo Cattle TAG
Canid and Hyaenid TAG
Caprinae TAG
Deer (Cervid/Tragulid) TAG
Elephant TAG
Equid TAG
Felid TAG
Marine Mammal TAG
Marsupial and Monotreme TAG
Rhinoceros TAG
Tapir TAG
Wild Pig Peccary and Hippo TAG
Lion cubs tackle Wisconsin snow,
an enrichment item.
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Professional Program Management
Zoo staff members hold management positions in national and international programs through the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums and other conservation entities. These management positions include:
• President - Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians
• Director - Milwaukee Ape Heart Project
• Manager - Bonobo Cardiovascular Database
• Chairperson - Humboldt SSP, Veterinary Advisor: Bonobo SSP, Ape TAG, Ring-tailed lemur SSP, Humboldt
penguin SSP, Penguin TAG, Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians Examination Committee
• Co-chair - Humboldt Penguin SSP
• Vice-chair - AZA Annual Conference Program Committee
• Management Group - Bonobo SSP
• Steering Committee - Institution Data Management Advisor Group,
Freshwater Fish TAG, Lake Victoria Cichlid SSP, Great Ape Heart Project, Ape TAG
• SSP Coordinator/Studbook Keeper/Point Person - Red Kangaroo, Yellow-backed Duiker,
Short-crested Rockhopper, Long-crested Rockhopper, Tayra, Striped Skunk, Canada Lynx
• Zookeeper Advisor - Bonobo SSP
• Scientific Advisory Board - Urban Ecology Center
• Animal Care Manual Team - Penguin TAG, Ring-tailed Lemur
• Accreditation Inspectors - Association of Zoos and Aquariums
• Program Manager - American College of Zoological Medicine Residency Program
• Co-editor - National American Association of Zookeepers Animal Keeper Forum
• Reviewer - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
• Treasurer - American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
• Executive Committee - Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians
• Research Advisory Committee - Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
• Information Resources Committee - American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
• Education Committee - Elephant Managers Association
• Enrichment Committee - Elephant Managers Association
• Ethics Committee - Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians
• Grants Committee - Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians, National American
Association of Zookeepers
• Conservation Committee - National American Association of Zookeepers
Hippo
• Animal Welfare Committee - Liaison between National AAZK and AZA
In addition, many members of the Zoo staff are officers of the Milwaukee Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK).
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Exhibit Renovations
The Northwestern Mutual Foundation provided funds
for a complete renovation of the Northwest Mutual
Family Farm entrance. The entrance features an outdoor museum display of antique, horse-drawn farm
equipment, a 100-year-old grain wagon that visitors
can climb on, a working hand-operated water pump
and signage of how these items were used by our
farming ancestors. Additional improvements will
be made in 2013.
• MillerCoors has pledged a 4-year grant for the
renovation of our Black Bear Exhibit, with emphasis
on the importance of clean water, water conservation
and the natural habitats which depend on water. The
2012 funds were principally devoted to the installation of a state-of-the-art filter system that cleans
and circulates the bears’ pool water, enhances the
exhibit waterfall, and saves the Zoo hundreds of
thousands of gallons of water each year.
• The City of Wauwatosa, with the aid of project
contractors, donated several large ash trees that
needed to be removed for an infrastructure project.
These trees were installed as props for animal
enrichment at Brown Bear, Grizzly Bear, American
Black Bear, Polar Bear and Macaque Island Exhibits.
Facilities Improvements
A considerable number of animal area infrastructure
projects were completed in 2012. Most of these are
not noticed by the public, but are critical for the
continued operation of the Zoo and the well-being
of the animal collection. The projects included: animal
life support systems, heating, ventilating, electrical
and plumbing upgrades, roof replacements and
other behind-the-scenes renovations.
American black bear
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Administration and Finance
Background and 2012 Review
This Division oversees the following: Cash
Management, Financial and Capital Project
Planning, Accounts Payable and Receivable,
Personnel and Payroll, General Office Services
(including coordination of security, emergency
medical support, reception and switchboard,
radio dispatch and clerical support), Information
Technology, Employee Safety and Training and
oversight of the Zoo’s Green Committee. The
Section also completed the 2012 year-end
financials review and submitted the year-end
financial report. The Zoo ended the year with
a tax levy deficit of $549,004 and had an
increase of $40,877 in the Zoo trust funds.
Cash Management
This Section’s responsibilities include
reconciliation of cash receipts to our point-ofsale system, preparation of the bank deposits,
preparation of cash register starting banks and
daily support of the cashiers for change and
deposits of funds, processing of contract ride
revenues and improved monitoring of cashier
discrepancies. In 2012, a new cashier cash
counting room was set-up to assist with tightening internal controls. The new procedure has
each area count its starting funds within the
camera-controlled areas outside the Cash Room.
Financial and Capital Project
Planning and Control
This Section involves coordination of the budget
process. Balancing the budget is challenging
when support is reduced, while service, as well
as entertainment values are expected to be
maintained, and new revenue sources are
explored and priorities re-evaluated. The 2013
Special Exhibit contract was negotiated during
the year. Financial reporting and analysis continued to be performed on a daily, monthly and
annual basis, with comparisons to the budget
as well as to the previous year. Revenue sharing
contracts were improved to enhance vendor
accountability. The review of the Zoo’s revenue
contracts started in 2012 to improve language
consistency and accountability.
Accounting
(Accounts Payable and Receivable)
During 2012, Accounts Payable and Receivable
processed contracts, purchasing requisitions
and receipts, monitored the credit card system,
reviewed sales documentation, prepared
invoices, tracked accounts receivable and
entered financial transactions into the general
ledger. During the year, significant effort was
put toward improving utilization of the automated purchasing function in the point-of-sale
system. The item master was streamlined,
and vendor contract information has been
used to facilitate ordering of the necessary
concessions and catering items. Accounting
staff have been instrumental in identifying
discrepancies and assisting with problem
resolution. Effective coordination of travel
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requests and expenditures continue to help
the Zoo control these costs. The Zoo filled its
Accountant II position in 2012 by promoting
one of the Concession area’s most effective
seasonal supervisors. The Accountant II has
been especially helpful assisting areas impacted
by job transfers and medical leaves.
Information Technology (IT)
Information Technology functions were provided
by Zoo staff, Milwaukee County’s Department
of Administration – Information Management
Services (IMSD) and outside consultants. The
year 2012 marked the first full year for the Zoo’s
new IT position. It was filled through IMSD to
directly support the Zoo. The Zoo has continued
to partner with a variety of IMSD technical staff
resources to assist primarily with the point-ofsale, inventory and event management systems.
The IMSD staff helped control the Zoo’s expenses
by troubleshooting most register issues for the
system on site, rather than contacting an outside
vendor for support.
The Zoo IT position has allowed for continued
improvement in set-up, usage and monitoring
of financial information through point-of-sale
and Milwaukee County financial systems. Usage
of the Internet Supply Store was enhanced for
the Commissary, and inventory modifications
continue for the Stockroom and resale items.
Staff attended the point-of-sale conference
during the summer, allowing for both networking
opportunities as well as a greater understanding
of the system.
Green Committee
The Milwaukee County Zoo has implemented
recycling programs and conservation-minded
projects for many years. Recycling efforts include
cell phones, printer cartridges, aluminum cans,
light bulbs, food and motor oils, scrap metals,
restaurant cups, plastic bottles and paper and
coffee grinds. The Zoo’s energy savings program
of upgraded electrical, natural gas, water and
sewer infrastructure continues to produce savings
in utilities. The Zoo also has used green-friendly
practices in building construction and
other projects.
Polar bear recycling
bins made from
recycled plastic.
Human Resources
The Human Resources Section consists of the
Human Resources Coordinator, Administrative
Specialist and a seasonal Payroll Assistant.
Responsibilities include coordinating and
performing a variety of technical and professional
personnel-related tasks. General duties performed
entail managing the payroll and human resources
function to include grievance handling, recruitment,
promotion, training, disciplinary actions,
transfers, employee benefits and departmental
diversity issues.
Also, the Human Resources Coordinator
represents the Zoo as part of committees,
appeal boards and meetings and hearings
related to various personnel issues.
Highlights from 2012 include:
• Took part in job fairs in Milwaukee
County to ensure a diverse work force
• Worked together with the Milwaukee
County Department of Human
Resources to process applications
and hire Zooworkers and Family
Farm Attendants
• Worked together with the Milwaukee
County Department of Human
Resources to enable the Zoo to
advertise current “hot jobs” on
the County website
• Received the 2012 D.R.E.A.M Award
(Diversity Rewards Employees and
Milwaukee County)
• Assisted in the hiring of 12 individuals
for full-time employment with the Zoo
• Worked in cooperation with the Milwaukee
County Department of Human Resources
to inform, train and provide guidance to Zoo
employees regarding Milwaukee County’s
time and attendance, payroll, benefits and
recruitment system
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Diversity Committee
The Diversity Committee is a group formed
within the parameters of the Human Resources
Section with a primary function of providing
opportunities for better understanding of
civil rights by Zoo personnel.
The Diversity Committee consists of seven
representatives from various Divisions who
annually make recommendations concerning
equal opportunities for all employees regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation,
religion, national origin, age, handicap and
other non-merit factors.
The committee acts as a resource for all Zoo
staff by providing information and addressing
particular concerns or complaints. Members
attend quarterly training sessions that emphasize diversity-related issues in the workplace.
Committee members also provide outreach
through activities that promote diversity
in the workplace.
Employee Safety and Health Fair
Safety and Training
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) management, pesticide usage
reports and annual Tier II reports are processed and completed by this
Section. The Safety and Training Specialist and the assistant are responsible for accident investigation and on-site security system maintenance,
along with Zoo Access Control and surveillance programming.
The Safety and Training Section is comprised of the Safety and Training
Specialist and a seasonal Training Assistant. This Section is responsible
for instructing Zoo employees in regulatory compliance, customer
service, security and emergency response programming and training.
The Section also is responsible for maintaining first aid kits, fire
extinguishers and emergency chemical exposure stations. In addition,
assessing workplace hazards, developing safe work practices and
assigning proper personal protective equipment are tasks
assigned to this Section.
State and federal compliance regulations mandate the annual safety
training programming conducted by this Section. In addition to required
programming, the Safety Section continues to promote the annual
Employee Safety and Health Fair. The following topics were presented
at the 2012 Fair: Emergency Response and Drills, Confined Space
Awareness, Cutting Safety, Tool/Equipment Safety, Zoonosis, Electrical
Safety, Accident Statistics, Golf Cart Training, Thinking Well, Self
Defense, Active Shooter, Risk Management, Blood Borne
Pathogens, and Fire Extinguisher Training.
This Section also coordinates and provides identification badges
and distributes employee uniforms, and conducts annual seasonal
orientations, informing Zoo seasonal staff of workplace policies and
procedures. The Section performs routine hazardous waste removal
and storage and identification audits to ensure compliance with
state and federal regulations.
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Public Affairs and Services
Special Events
2012 Highlights
Each year, the Public Affairs and Services Division coordinates more
than 16 special events held on Zoo grounds, drawing more than 167,000
visitors. Here are a few highlights from the year:
The Public Affairs and Services Division consists of four Sections: Group
Sales, Public Relations, Special Events and Special Programs. In addition
to these areas, the Division is responsible for the overall marketing,
promotion and advertising of the Zoo. The staff includes: a Division
Director, four Coordinators, four full-time staff and approximately
50 seasonal Zooworkers.
Behind the Scenes Weekend – March 10 & 11
This unique annual event gives visitors
the opportunity to see areas of the
Zoo which are not normally open to the
public. In 2012, several new areas were
added to the Zoo tours, which included
giraffe treatment areas and the indoor
hippo stalls. New demonstrations
rounded out the event, and included:
Behind the scenes at hippos
scuba diving in the Aquatic and Reptile
Center and iPad interaction with zookeepers and orangutans in
Primates of the World.
Attendance: 14,280
Group Sales
The Zoo’s Group Sales Section manages
more than 600 events annually. These
events are a mix of corporate, non-profit
and private events held throughout
Zoo grounds.
Private event setting
Events can be held during any month of the year, and may include a
building rental such as the Peck Welcome Center or Zoofari Conference
Center, which are ideal for the corporate daytime meeting or after-hours
party or wedding reception. A picnic site can host groups of 50 to 5,000,
or an entire Zoo grounds rental also is available, in which an organization
has exclusive rights to the park.
Party for the Planet – May 19 & 20
Sponsored by American Transmission Company
This event, held in recognition of Earth Day, highlights all things
“green!” The weekend’s activities included: a migration game,
woodcarving demonstrations, scrap metal and cell phone recycling
and bird banding, to mention a few. New this year, many of the activities
focused on polar bears, and the increasingly urgent need to save their
habitats due to a changing climate. A special polar bear exhibit with
artifacts and literature was offered and the annual migration game
focused on the journeys of Arctic polar bears.
Attendance: 18,242
The Zoo’s Group Sales Section also is responsible for Children’s Birthday
Parties, Group Tours and Advanced Consignment Ticket Sales that are
sold and distributed throughout Wisconsin.
In 2012, the Zoo added the Jungle Party Room, located in the Otto
Borchert Family Special Exhibits Building. This unique space is specially
designed and dedicated to children’s birthday parties.
These events and ticket sales continue to have a positive financial
impact on the Zoo’s fiscal revenue and attendance budget.
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The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel a la Carte – August 16-19
Breakfast and Lunch with Santa – December 1-2, 8-9, 15-16
Sponsored by Racine Danish Kringles
Our annual “Feast with the Beasts” once again proved to be the largest
attraction on the Zoo’s special event lineup. With more than 25 restaurants
offering tasty menu items and a variety of local and national entertainment,
our visitors were treated to one of the best summer happenings in the city.
National headliners included: Los Lonely Boys and the BoDeans, and new
restaurants Hue Vietnamese and Jake’s Deli, were welcomed into the
a la Carte “family.”
Attendance: 74,507
A huge number of kids and their families joined us for the holiday
meals with Santa. Offered over three weekends, breakfasts were
served on Saturdays only, and Sundays featured both breakfast and
lunch with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children enjoyed entertainment by
Fred Turk while dining in our festively decorated Peck Welcome Center.
Attendance: 2,300 (Sold-out)
“Feast with the Beasts”
Los Lonely Boys (Left)
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• Also during the summer, the Zoo hosted the exhibit, “Adventure Dinosaur!”
sponsored by Sendik’s Food Markets. The hugely popular exhibit was
displayed outdoors from May 26 through September 3, and featured
a variety of dinosaur species built to their real-life specifications. More
than 194,000 visitors encountered these prehistoric creatures during
the summer. The Special Programs Section coordinated and supervised
exhibit staff.
Public Affairs and Services
Special Programs
The Special Programs Section of the Milwaukee County Zoo is responsible
for overseeing these areas: Supercuts Oceans of Fun Seal and Sea Lion
Show, our temporary summer special exhibits and audiovisual services.
In addition, this Section works directly with the Zoological Society, serving
as the liaison for all Zoological Society events taking place at the Zoo.
• The Special Programs Section continued its partnership with the
Zoological Society, serving as a liaison to facilitate all of the Society’s
events that took place on Zoo grounds. This partnership serves to
strengthen the overall relationship between the Zoo and the
Zoological Society.
Following are the 2012 highlights:
• The Supercuts Oceans of Fun Seal and Sea Lion Show is a 20-minute
presentation sponsored by Supercuts, which entertains and educates
visitors about seals and sea lions through a live animal show. The shows
generated more than $195,000 in revenue for the year, and welcomed
53,099 visitors.
• Finally, Zoo operations were enhanced by the efforts of the Audiovisual
Section. Areas served included: the Animal Division, Public Relations,
Group Sales and Special Events. Photos, videos and visual presentations
were used for newspaper and magazine articles, animal identification,
Zoo website, marketing and promotional campaigns, collateral pieces
and the audiovisual needs for Group Sales clients.
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Public Affairs and Services
Media Relations
In 2012, the Zoo received positive media coverage from broadcast, print and
electronic media outlets.
Following are a few media highlights from the year:
Each month of the year, the Zoo was featured on FOX-6 Wake-up News as a regular
segment, spotlighting a particular animal and zookeeper. Some of the animals who
made appearances included: a potto, Flemish giant rabbit, sea stars, straw-colored
fruit bat, barn owl and a purple sea urchin. These regular features proved to be very
popular with Wake-up News viewers.
• The Zoo was regularly featured on many of the morning news programs, including
“Real Milwaukee” on FOX-6 and Channel 12 News This Morning. Topics included
the new sea lion pup, Colby, at the Supercuts Oceans of Fun Seal and Sea Lion
Show, our new jaguar cubs and new female hyena at the Florence Mila Borchert
Big Cat Country, and a behind the scenes look at our grizzly bears preparing for
winter hibernation.
• The Zoo’s Master plan project was featured on a continuing basis in several
publications including: The Business Journal, The Biz Times and the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel.
• Throughout 2012, new animal additions, including the critically endangered
Matschie’s tree kangaroo, were featured in the AZA magazine, Connect.
This monthly member publication serves the national zoo and aquarium
professional community.
• The monthly magazine, Wisconsin Woman, profiled three of our female
employees, and highlighted the important work they do here at the Zoo.
Featured in the June issue were: Area Supervisor of North America/Australia,
Dawn Fleuchaus; Veterinarian Technician, Margaret Michaels; Deputy Zoo Director/
Administration and Finance, Vera Westphal; and Vehicle Machine Operator,
Bo Kueny.
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Operations
2012 Highlights
The Milwaukee County Zoo’s Operations
Department consists of the following Divisions:
Visitor Services, Concessions and Catering,
Grounds and Horticulture, Maintenance and
Trades, Custodial, Merchandising and Warehouse
and Time and Material/Major Maintenance/
Capital Project Construction Management.
Visitor Services:
This Section meets and greets guests upon
entering the Zoo, providing them with information essential to their visit. In 2012, the Visitor
Services staff admitted more than 1.3 million
visitors to the Zoo. This Section’s responsibilities
include: collecting fees for admission and
parking, operating the miniature train, carousel,
zoomobile, stroller rentals, sky safari and the
mold-a-rama machines. This Section also
oversees dog kennels and the camel and pony
rides. The Visitor Services Division is comprised
of two full-time Managers, two full- time Train
Engineers, one seasonal Engineer/Welder
and more than 60 seasonal employees.
In our annual visitor survey, conducted by
the Public Affairs and Services Division, many
guests commented our Zoo was very clean and
organized with regard to overall appearance.
Further, nearly 82% of the total sample surveyed
said they were “very satisfied” with their current
experience at the Zoo.
2012 Highlights:
• Rebuilt train crossing
• Worked with the Grand Avenue Club, which
is designed to assist individuals with special
needs to enter the workplace and increase
their level of self-esteem as well as
their independence
• Provided staff support for all events that
occurred during regular Zoo hours or
after-hours events in conjunction with
Group Sales, Public Affairs, Education
and Zoological Society Divisions
The staff consists of one Operations Division
Manager, one full-time Manager and approximately 50 seasonal employees. The revenue
from the shops is generated by two year-round
shops and 10 seasonal kiosks throughout
the Zoo. The revenue generated from vending
comes from photo, medallion, claw machine,
foot massage and penny press machines.
Revenue shared contracts consist of face
painting, temporary tattoos, caricatures,
ropes course, climbing wall, zip line and
entryway photos.
In 2012, we expanded our program for individuals
with special needs, as six seasonal positions
were filled by students with special needs from
area high schools, and three adults from the
Grand Avenue Club. These individuals were hired
through a work-study program in which schools
were on site weekly for two hours with their
class to work and study job skills. This program
has been a huge success to help prepare
students for future employment, and learn
to be self sufficient.
Merchandising
The Merchandising Section is responsible for
generating revenue through shop sales, vending
machines and shared contracts. The Section
monitors inventory levels, purchasing, displaying,
pricing and stocking of all merchandise. The staff
is pivotal in supporting the switchboard operation
(all communications) for the Zoo on weekends,
night events and special events.
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The year’s success was accomplished by the
help of our seasonal supervisors and front-line
staff. We had great success with the temporary
gift shop located at Adventure Dinosaur! which
included a fossil dig and a 50-foot merchandise
tent. A new garden store, added in 2012, surpassed revenue projections. We also benefitted
from above budget revenue for sidewalk carts,
special exhibits, bear carts, photo booths and
group sales.
Grounds and Horticulture
Maintenance
In 2012, the Horticulture Section planted about 40,000 annuals, perennials,
woody shrubs and trees. In addition, we coped with one of the driest and
warmest summer seasons on record. Despite this challenge, we were able
to maintain our public green space by adding and repairing turf in worn
areas, and creating areas for future naturalization with removal of invasive
plant species.
A considerable amount of infrastructure work is completed each year by
the Maintenance Division. While most projects are not noticeable to the
public, they are critical to daily Zoo operations. Maintaining the buildings,
grounds, exhibits and public areas are vital to overall operations.
Behind-the-scenes electrical, plumbing, welding, HVAC and general
maintenance include operation of HVAC and Metasys interface computer
boards, repairing animal exhibits, animal life support systems, maintaining
lighting, including green initiative lamps to help reduce the impact on the
environment and reduce utility costs. This Division handles emergency
calls on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week schedule and works with outside
vendors to maintain all of the buildings and grounds making it safe
and comfortable for our visitors.
We also welcomed a new full-time forestry employee to take on the
responsibility of tree care. We created prehistoric-looking planting areas
to display at the summer “Adventure Dinosaur!”, and helped to re-theme the
entrance to the Family Farm with the landscaping focused on a traditional
Wisconsin farmstead. To add to the year’s activity, we created new decorative Easter scenes for Egg Day, were involved in Halloween preparations
and festively decorated the Zoo for the Christmas season.
2012 Construction Project Highlights:
Our main efforts regarding the Animal Division included sourcing and
distributing browse, providing plants for enrichment and caring for
indoor tropical plantings.
-Replacement of train garage roof
-Stormwater and manhole restoration project
-Construction of Peck Welcome Center glass vestibule
and installation of new rooftop HVAC units
-Exit drive asphalt replacement
-Sea lion filter room upgrade
-Deep well pump replacement project
-Replacement compressors for air conditioning
units at Flamingo Café and Zoofari Conference Center
-Rain garden installations
-Concrete permeable paver installations
-Sea Lion Concessions roof replacement
-Family Farm entrance upgrade
2012 dinosaur
special exhibit
38
Stockroom Operations
Custodial
The Stockroom’s major responsibility is to support all of our
revenue-generating operations. The operation consists of one
full-time Supervisor and eight seasonal associates. Main functions
of the Stockroom include: ordering, shipping, receiving, delivering
and monitoring of inventory controls.
The Custodial Section is responsible for keeping buildings clean
for both our visitors and staff. Custodians also work with vendors
and event managers from small companies to large corporations
as well as the Group Sales Division. The Section works to ensure
that the event plans and preparation requests are met for each
client’s function.
The employees of the Stockroom work closely with all Zoo
departments in support of their daily needs. The Stockroom works
directly with Concessions, Catering, Group Sales, Special Events,
Merchandising and the Zoological Society on a daily basis. The
Stockroom stores food, beverage, merchandise and administrative
products. The Division works to ensure all health and sanitation
standards are achieved, and maintains a clean and safe
working environment.
Concessions and Catering
The Concessions and Catering operation provides our guests with
food, beverages, snacks and personable service. The diverse staff
consists of up to 180 seasonal associates and two full-time Food
Service Managers. The operation has nine permanent concession
facilities, four popcorn wagons, 45 vending machines and seven
beverage and snack carts located throughout the grounds.
Woodland concessions
Sea lion concessions
39
Operating Expenses (Financials)
Zoological Department (Unaudited)
2012
Adjusted Budget
2012
Actual Year-to-Date
Variance ( ) = Deficit
Revenues
Total Admissions
Less Group Sales
Net Operational Admissions
Concessions
Catering
Novelties
Parking
Special Exhibit Admissions
Sea Lion Show
Vending Machine Commissions
Strollers
Animal Rides
Total Group Sales
Carousel
SkyRide
Society Memberships
Donations
Other Private Funding
Sponsorships
Miscellaneous Revenue
Performance Contract Escrow
Sales Tax
TOTAL REVENUES
$6,227,714
$1,580,207
$4,647,507
$4,256,353
$151,848
$1,903,675
$3,061,447
$389,293
$195,819
$313,400
$130,000
$60,000
$2,492,343
$221,252
$251,722
$238,771
$196,000
$832,440
$275,500
$602,686
$0
($525,000)
$19,695,056
$4,758,569
$1,098,937
$3,659,632
$3,983,291
$157,744
$1,837,718
$2,960,197
$406,351
$137,015
$226,820
$105,751
$51,578
$1,904,958
$184,226
$140,214
$376,532
$196,618
$782,440
$239,983
$454,338
$0
($441,490)
$17,363,914
$(1,469,145)
$(481,270)
$(987,875)
($273,062)
$5,896
($65,957)
($101,250)
$17,058
($58,804)
($86,580)
($24,249)
($8,423)
($587,385)
($37,026)
($111,508)
$137,761
$618
($50,000)
($35,517)
($148,348)
$0
$83,510
($2,331,142)
Personnel Services
Fringe Benefits
Contractural Services
Internal Service Charges
Commodities
Depreciation
Capital Outlay
Other Expenditures
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$8,153,097
$4,833,319
$5,920,126
$1,741,332
$3,560,118
$0
$575,152
$0
$24,783,144
$7,781,188
$4,801,354
$5,248,307
$1,651,088
$3,123,231
$0
$395,838
$0
$23,001,006
$371,909
$31,965
$671,819
$90,244
$436,887
$0
$179,314
$0
$1,782,138
TAX LEVY
ATTENDANCE
$5,088,088
1,350,000
$5,637,092
1,332,395
($549,004)
(17,605)
Expenditures
40
Operating Expenses
Zoo Trust Funds (Unaudited)
Railroad Trust
2012
Adjusted Budget
2012
Actual Year-to-Date
Variance
( ) = Deficit
Revenues
Specimen Trust
2012
Adjusted
Budget
2012
Actual Yearto-Date
Variance
( ) = Deficit
Revenues
Zoomobile Revenue
$102,185
$61,478
($40,708)
Earnings on Investments
$4,109
$186
($3,923)
Miniature Train Revenue
$660,000
$646,759
($13,241)
Animal Sales/Milk Sales
$16,200
$14,788
($1,412)
Earnings on Investments
$1,700
$438
($1,262)
Giraffe Experience
$26,376
$18,365
($8,012)
Donations and Reserve Contribution
$95,987
$7,388
($88,600)
Gifts & Donations
$1,500
$1,467
($33)
Other Revenue
$79,367
$55,589
($23,778)
Other Miscellaneous Revenue
$0
$0
$0
Sales Tax
($35,000)
($30,661)
$4,339
Reserve Contribution
$0
$0
$0
TOTAL REVENUES
$904,239
$740,991
($163,248)
TOTAL REVENUE
$48,185
$34,806
($13,379)
Expenditures
Expenditures
Personnel Services
$361,358
$290,688
$70,670
Contractual Services
$38,446
$26,747
$11,699
Fringe Benefits
$82,240
$82,240
$0
Commodities
$12,095
$1,334
$10,761
Contractual Services
$262,217
$182,994
$79,223
Internal Service Charges
$0
$0
$0
Internal Service Charges
$1,676
$0
$1,676
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$50,541
$28,081
$22,460
Commodities
$36,590
$44,076
($7,486)
NET INCOME (LOSS)
($2,356)
$6,724
$9,080
Conservation Projects
$15,000
$0
$15,000
Fund Balance January 1, 2012
$202,705
Capital Outlay
$149,157
$106,840
$42,317
Net Income
$6,724
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$908,238
$706,838
$201,400
Fund Balance December 31, 2012
$209,429
NET INCOME (LOSS)
($3,999)
$34,153
$38,152
ZOO TRUST FUNDS
Fund Balance January 1, 2012
$670,394
Total Trust Revenue 2012
$775,797
Net Income
$34,153
Less Total Trust Expenditures 2012
($734,919)
Fund Balance December 31, 2012
$704,547
2012 NET INCOME (LOSS)
$40,877
41
Financial Summary
Zoological Society of Milwaukee County (ZSM) – Year ending September 30, 2012
SUPPORT & REVENUE
COST OF SUPPORT AND REVENUE
MEMBERSHIP DUES
MEMBERSHIP DUES
from all Zoo Pass and Platypus Circle members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,948,973
Expense of providing benefits to all
Zoo Pass and Platypus Circle members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,574,563
(Support Services)
CONTRIBUTIONS
toward capital projects, specific programs and support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $613,220
SPECIAL EVENTS/PROGRAMS
SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAMS/SPONSORSHIPS
Expense of providing and promoting
ZSM special events/programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $456,639
including animal sponsorship, Zoo Ball, education,
ZSM and Zoo special events, and sponsorships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,403,062
TOTAL COST OF SUPPORT & REVENUE
(Support Services) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,031,202
INTEREST INCOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45,807
EXPENSES
GRANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $694,746
DIRECT PROJECT COSTS
Expenses relative to capital projects
and specific programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $210,943
TOTAL SUPPORT & REVENUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,705,808
ZOO SUPPORT
Receipts
SPECIAL EVENTS/PROGRAMS: 25%
Direct cash and in-kind support to the Milwaukee
County Zoo, expense of providing, promoting and
supporting education, graphics, special-exhibit
projects, and Zoo special events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,370,031
61%
MEMBERSHIP DUES: 61%
25%
CONTRIBUTIONS: 7%
7%
GRANTS: 7%
7%
RESEARCH/CONSERVATION
Expenses relating to state, national and international
programs supporting species preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $585,930
Expenses
ZOO SUPPORT, CAPITAL &
DIRECT PROJECT COSTS: 69%
SUPPORT SERVICES: 21%
RESEARCH/CONSERVATION: 6%
GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE: 4%
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
69%
Expenses relating to daily ZSM operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $397,737
21%
TOTAL EXPENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,564,641
6%
TOTAL COST OF SUPPORT AND EXPENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,595,843
4%
42
The Milwaukee County Zoo and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee
A Public-Private Partnership
Zoological Society Support of
the Milwaukee County Zoo
The Zoological Society of Milwaukee
(ZSM) provided total Zoo support in
2011-2012 of $6,580,974 (including
direct project costs). Telling the stories
of the Zoo’s animals as we raise funds
to help support them is just part of
what we do.
For example, January 2012 marked the
30th anniversary of the Zoo’s Samson
Stomp and Romp, a winter run-walk
in memory of Samson, the Zoo’s most
famous gorilla (who died in 1981). The
Zoological Society got involved by
recruiting sponsors for this and other
Zoo events, providing volunteer help
and by telling the stories of Samson
and other animals in ZSM publications.
Zoo Pride, the ZSM’s volunteer auxiliary,
added to the story when Zoo Prider
Darlene Winter helped celebrate 61
years of affection for Samson by writing
the 2012 book “I Remember Samson.”
She dedicated book profits to the Great
Ape Heart Project, an ape-health study
that the ZSM helps support. The April
2012 Alive, the ZSM’s member magazine,
featured a story on that project. Stories
on the Samson book and Samson Stomp
appeared in Wild Things, the ZSM member
newsletter. And Wild Things marked
its 100th issue in June 2012.
Particularly good at telling the story of
conservation is the ZSM’s conservation
coordinator, Dr. Gay Reinartz. She directs
the Bonobo and Congo Biodiversity
Initiative (BCBI), the ZSM’s long-term
project to help the endangered bonobo,
a great ape found in the wild only in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Dr. Reinartz has promoted bonobo
conservation for more than 25 years,
spending at least six months a year in
DRC’s Salonga National Park conducting
field research, training guards and helping protect wildlife. BCBI strives to be a
model of how to conserve endangered
animals while providing assistance to
improve the lives of people who live
nearby. In 2012, Dr. Reinartz received
the Excellence in Journalism Award
from the American Association of Zoo
Keepers for an article titled Perspectives
in Poaching: A Park Guard’s Story. Her
article detailed the daily reality of park
guards who put their lives at risk.
The Zoological Society helps animals
and the Zoo in a variety of ways, of
course. The ZSM’s total Zoo support in
2011-2012 was $6,580,974, and the
majority of the ZSM’s income came from
$5,328,243 in Zoo Pass memberships.
For a financial summary, see page 42.
Here are summaries of various ways
the ZSM supported the Zoo.
• Annual Appeal: The ZSM’s annual
43
appeal raised $176,585 to install Web
cams in several indoor animal exhibits
and to provide cash support to the Zoo.
• Conservation and research: The ZSM
spent $535,494, including support of
the ZSM’s bonobo-conservation project
in Africa, which helps the Zoo to meet
its commitment to conservation. As
part of the Zoo’s mission and also for
accreditation with the Association of
Zoos and Aquariums, the Zoo supports
conservation efforts in the field to help
endangered species. The ZSM provides
financial support to several of those
projects, many involving Zoo staff. And
the ZSM supports the Bonobo Species
Survival Plan, headed by Dr. Reinartz,
to help manage bonobos’ health and
breeding in zoos.
• Exhibits and buildings: The ZSM
gave $260,710 in direct cash support
to Zoo exhibits, including $50,000
for the 2012 special summer exhibit:
Adventure Dinosaur, sponsored by
Sendik’s Food Markets. The ZSM helped
upgrade the Bonobo Exhibit ($20,619)
and the Black Bear Exhibit ($44,063,
thanks to a grant from MillerCoors).
Also, the ZSM donated payments for
maintenance contracts on various
Zoo buildings ($144,028).
• Fundraisers run by the ZSM
Associate Board: The 29th annual
Zoo Ball, sponsored by American
Airlines, raised more than $476,000.
Photo by Richard Brodzeller
The mission of the Zoological Society of Milwaukee is to participate in conserving endangered species,
to educate people about the importance of wildlife and the environment, and to support the Milwaukee County Zoo.
The 23rd Annual MillerCoors Birdies
and Eagles Golf Tournament raised
$115,216. All other fundraisers by
the Associate Board raised $192,590.
• Platypus Circle: Members of the
ZSM’s annual-giving group donated
more than $620,730 in cash or in-kind
services to help the Zoo.
• Publications, websites and social
media: The ZSM produced publications
and other materials that promoted
Zoo events, exhibits and conservation
programs. The ZSM’s website, which
averaged 23,873 visits per month in
2011-2012, provided Zoo and animal
information – as did the ZSM’s Facebook
page, Twitter and YouTube channel.
The ZSM also helped maintain the
Zoo’s website.
• Signs, videos, interactive displays,
Zoo printed materials, special
projects: The ZSM’s Creative
Department provides graphics and
design support to the Zoo and ZSM.
• Sponsors, grantors & supporters:
The ZSM acquires sponsors for most
of the Zoo’s major events and attractions, and ZSM 2011-’12 direct cash
sponsorship support to the Zoo was
$311,767. Grants supporting education and conservation programs, and
other projects brought in $694,746
last year. Additional support of
$396,669 funded the ZSM’s live
theater program (see Education
section). In December 2011, the
ZSM was awarded $32,841 by the
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Miracle on
Canal Street program; the funds went
to support ZSM education programs
serving children from economically
disadvantaged areas of Milwaukee.
• The ZSM’s Sponsor an Animal
program raised $160,599 in the last
fiscal year to support the Zoo’s animals.
• Veterinary help: The ZSM provided
$112,629 in funds to the Zoo’s veterinary staff by paying for veterinary
residents ($52,457), a pathology
resident ($54,172), and an animalnutrition intern ($6,000).
• Volunteer help: Zoo Pride volunteers
helped with events, education programs, Zoo tours, etc. Between 1993
and early 2012, Zoo Pride’s conservation committee raised nearly $55,000
through the sale of S.O.S. – Save Our
Species – buttons to support conservation projects. Of 597 Zoo Pride
volunteers, 433 active members
donated 46,973.5 hours in 2011-’12.
In addition, high school student volunteers contributed 2,943 volunteer
hours to help adults with 2012
summer camps.
• Additional cash support: The ZSM
provided $337,575 to the Zoo in a
Zoo Pass price increase and $424,365
additional cash support to the Zoo.
8,570 children (ages 2-14) and 2,661
parents in 529 camp sessions. Summer
college-student internships provided
20 students (including three collegestudent teaching interns) hands-on job
training, thanks, in part, to support from
the Antonia Foundation, the Jerome and
Dorothy Holz Family Foundation, the
Alice Kadish Foundation and the
Brady Corporation.
The Zoological Society’s
Education Programs at the Zoo
By offering extensive education programs
nearly year-round, the ZSM helps the
Zoo maintain national accreditation by
the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
In total, ZSM conservation-education
programs served 302,021 people in
fiscal year 2011-’12. A summary:
September-May Programs
From September through May, the ZSM
offers classes for individuals ages 2-14
as well as programs for school groups
that help students with science requirements set by the Wisconsin Department
of Public Instruction. We also offer
curricula and self-guided tours for all
school classes visiting the Zoo. In fiscal
year 2011-2012, the ZSM served nearly
12,000 people in individual child or
parent-child classes, 23,190 schoolchildren* through ZSM-run programs at
the Zoo or presented at schools, and an
additional 85,494 schoolchildren who
used the Zoo as a science laboratory on
field trips and had ZSM curriculum available during self-directed tours. Programs
for schoolchildren were funded in part
by gifts from the Ladish Company
Foundation; U.S. Bancorp Foundation;
A.O. Smith Foundation, Inc.; Wells Fargo;
the Posner Foundation; and ADM Cares.
Kohl’s Wild Theater
On the heels of an excellent inaugural
summer season, Kohl’s Wild Theater
(KWT) continued its success by launching outreach programming. From
October 2011 through September 2012,
teams of actors delivered 637 shows
featuring a wildlife conservation message at schools and community events.
Over 83,000 audience members were
served in this period, making KWT one
of the most expansive educational
theater programs in the United States.
In May 2012, KWT began its second
season of live plays at the Milwaukee
County Zoo, featuring new shows and
past favorites. In summer, also, three
new outreach shows were developed to
debut in October 2012. For information
on KWT, go to wildtheater.org.
*(In addition to students reached by
Kohl’s Wild Theater outreach shows).
Summer Camps
The Zoological Society’s summer camps,
one of the largest zoo- or aquariumbased camp programs in the U.S., in
2012 drew 11,231 participants:
Scouting: The ZSM again expanded its
programs to help children earn badges
or patches and served 487 Girl Scouts
and Boy Scouts in 2011-’12.
44
Programming for Disadvantaged
Youth: 1) The Animal Ambassador
program teaches schoolchildren about
wildlife conservation during a semester,
and then they graduate to become
ambassadors for animals. Thanks to
corporate, foundation or civic-group
sponsors for each school, ZSM Animal
Ambassador and Continuum programs,
which serve schools in economically
disadvantaged neighborhoods, reached
618 second-grade students and 723
third-grade students at 12 schools,
and 1,188 fourth-grade students at 21
schools. An additional 623 students in
five schools with smaller classes experienced a modified program. 2) Summer
Camps special programs allowed
447 children from nine Milwaukee-area
neighborhood and community centers
to attend ZSM 2012 camps, thanks to
renewed support from U.S. Cellular®,
the Evinrude Foundation, the Peters
Foundation and the Milwaukee Urban
League’s Safe Alternatives for Youth
fund. 3) A partnership with Big
Brothers & Big Sisters of Greater
Milwaukee and funding from U.S. Bank
allowed the ZSM to arrange a day for
the 218 people (paired adults and
children) to search the Zoo in a scavenger
hunt, enjoy the attractions, and see Kohl’s
Wild Theater performances. The children
also received school supplies.
10001 W. Bluemound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
414.771.3040
www.milwaukeezoo.org
Milwaukee County Executive
Chris Abele
Milwaukee County Board Chairman
Marina Dimitrijevic ...........................4th District
Vice Chair
Peggy Romo West .........................12th District
Board of Supervisors
Deanna Alexander.........................18th District
Mark A. Borkowski .........................11th District
David Bowen....................................10th District
Gerry Broderick .................................3rd District
David Cullen.....................................15th District
John Haas..........................................14th District
Willie Johnson, Jr. ..........................13th District
Patricia Jursik.....................................8th District
Theo Lipscomb ...................................1st District
Khalif Rainey ......................................2nd District
Jim Schmitt..........................................6th District
Anthony Staskunas ...................... 17th District
Steve Taylor.........................................9th District
John F. Weishan, Jr.........................16th District
The Milwaukee County Zoo offers equal
opportunities for employees and visitors alike.
45
Editor: Jennifer Diliberti-Shea
Designer: Roberta Weldon
Photographer: Michael Nepper