Amphibian Crisis Wet, weird, wonderful...and disappearing

For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo • A Magazine of Conservation and Education • Spring 2008

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Amphibian CrisisHighly visible with their smooth skins and cool col-ors, amphibians are in decline worldwide. Find outhow Lincoln Park Zoo is helping to conserve thesespecies as part of the Year of the Frog.

Stepping Into Scientists’ ShoesThe Exploring Ape Behavior program lets visitors atRegenstein Center for African Apes get a firsthandview of our closest cousins. Step into a scientist’sshoes to observe the zoo’s chimpanzees and gorillas.

Zoo ArrivalsDetermining which animals receive breeding recom-mendations is a meticulous process. Learn whyGuam rails received the green light while chim-panzees won’t be expecting any new arrivals.

Simian ScienceResearchers at the Helen Brach PrimateHouse are exploring behaviors as diverse asthe building’s residents.

Census in the CaribbeanThe Puerto Rican parrot is one of the world’smost endangered birds. As reintroductionefforts take root, Lincoln Park Zoo scientiststravel to the island to help the process.

A Second LookEndocrinology studies provide new windows intoanimal well-being. From timing pygmy hippo breed-ing cycles to analyzing comfort levels in sableantelopes, hormonal surveys have a big impact on zoomanagement.

140 Years of Family FunAn institution with a rich tradition, Lincoln ParkZoo was established 140 years ago with a gift of twoswans from New York City’s Central Park. Take a tripthrough zoo history with this series of classic photos.

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3 PerspectivePresident and CEO Kevin J. Bell explores how zooresearch is transforming animal management.

9 Amazing AdaptationsPoisonous spines, permeable skin and “antifreeze”in the veins are among the adaptations enablingamphibians to live in their watery homes.

10 News of the ZooThe Nutrition Center surveys what’s on the

zoo menu, scientists scan the skies for avian influenza and Zoocology brings blue-tongued skinks and three-bandedarmadillos into Chicago classrooms.

16 The Back StoryBy developing a tool to project animal

longevity, researcher Lisa Faust is giving zoos atool to cope with loss.

18 The Wild FileA Bali mynah breeding update, news from thetakin herd, early mornings for eager beavers andgorilla grooming.

Cover: Dyeing poison arrow frog. Above: Spring flowers bloom by theHope B. McCormick Swan Pond. Right: A gray tree frog clings to its perch.

Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, 312-742-2000, www.lpzoo.org. Lincoln Park Zoo is supported through apublic/private partnership between the Chicago Park District and TheLincoln Park Zoological Society. The only privately managed free zoo in the country, Lincoln Park Zoo relies on membership, individual, foun-dation and corporate support as well as earned revenue.

departments( )

features( )Volume 5 Number 4 • For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo

IN THIS ISSUE

QUESTIONS?

Contact the MembershipDepartment. Staff are on hand

during normal business hours—phone 312-742-2322 or visit us

online at www.lpzoo.org.

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President and CEOKevin J. Bell

Art DirectorPeggy Martin

EditorJames Seidler

PhotographerGreg Neise

Staff WriterChris McNamara

LINCOLN PARK ZOO MAGAZINE

Cert no. SW-COC-1613

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precis( )It sounds unbelievable—over the top—but the state-

ment on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)web site is alarmingly simple: “Frogs are going extinct. Soare toads, salamanders, newts and the intriguingly unusualcaecilians.”

That blunt warning lies at the heart of the AZA’s 2008Year of the Frog campaign, a conservation effort aimed atraising awareness of the plight faced by frogs and otheramphibians worldwide. Throughout the planet, these pop-ulations are reeling, impacted by habitat loss, pollution andthe spread of the deadly batrachochytridium dendrobatidisfungus. As amphibians lose ground in the wild, zoo-basedconservation programs will play an increasing role in pre-serving these unique animals.

As the Year of the Frog kicked off with a Leap Day cele-bration on February 29, Lincoln Park Zoo joined withinstitutions across the country to introduce visitors to thewonders of amphibians. Fire-bellied toads, emperor newtsand axolotls are among the vibrant additions on display atRegenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House; behind thescenes, curators are deliberating how the zoo can best con-tribute to captive-breeding efforts.

Amphibians are not high-profile species. Few peoplemake the trip to Lincoln Park Zoo solely to see a gray treefrog. But these essential, easily overlooked animals high-light the reason why zoos exist: to provide a refuge forspecies big and small and work together to develop a planfor their recovery. 2008 may be the Year of the Frog, butzoos are working hard to ensure that there are many moreyears of the frog to come.

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Spectacled CaimanCaiman crocodilus

To preempt your wisenheimer grandpa, let’s start outby saying that, no, the spectacled caiman doesn’t wearglasses. This crocodilian species, which can be foundwidely throughout Central and South America, gets itsname from a bony ridge that runs above its eyes, a struc-ture that, to some, resembles a pair of frames. In any case,the resident caiman at Regenstein Small Mammal-ReptileHouse doesn’t act like a stereotypical specs-wearer. “He’sa bit on the aggressive side,” says Keeper Luke Stevens. “Ifyou need to enter the exhibit, he’ll make sure you knowhe’s there.” A wide-open mouth is the caiman’s typicaldefensive gesture—an effective one, given his powerfuljaws and long, sharp teeth.

In the wild, these impressive incisors are used to snareprey including fish, water birds, amphibians and even theoccasional wild pig that ventures too close to the water.The most common crocodilian species, the spectacledcaiman makes its home in the region’s abundant streamsand waterways. If conditions become too dry, it can bur-row into the mud to wait things out, lowering its metab-olism into a hibernation-like state called aestivation.

No aestivation is necessary at the zoo, where thecaiman’s pond is full and the temperature is kept at asteady 80–90 degrees. Still, the resident reptile spendsmost of his time resting by the water. It’s a low-key exis-tence…as long as you don’t get too close.

field note( )

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As an institution, Lincoln Park Zoo is proudly focused on thefuture. Cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art facilities and up-to-date knowledge leave us poised to be at the forefront of the next gen-eration of zoo science. Even as the animals in our care benefit fromour commitment to improvement, the visitors who come to observe

wildlife firsthand will receive a moreimmersive experience, one enablingthem to better appreciate the majesty ofthese animals as well as the importanceof preserving them in the wild.

Lincoln Park Zoo is helping to bringthis future to the present with wide-ranging conservation and science pro-grams. Endocrinology studies at theDavee Center for Epidemiology andEndocrinology are increasing our under-standing of species—La Plata three-

banded armadillos, Sichuan takin—whose biology is largelyunknown in the wild. As seen in this issue, these wide-ranging surveyschronicle innate indicators of reproduction and stress, providingkeepers and veterinarians with more precise opportunities for care.

Every element of the animal life cycle presents an opportunityfor research, from individuals to ecosystems, the wild to captivityand even birth to death. Researchers in the Alexander Center forApplied Population Biology are helping us better understand thelatter by developing a special software program to map animalmortality. By providing clear statistics for life expectancies ofspecies ranging from chimpanzees to island foxes, this tool canprovide a sense of perspective to accompany each inevitable loss.

At the other end of the life cycle, careful population planningaccompanies every new arrival to the zoo. As this issue highlights,breeding decisions are complex, involving genetic analyses, space-usesurveys and demographic evaluations of every captive population.Scientists at the zoo’s Population Management Center play an integralrole in evaluating captive populations throughout North America todetermine the best animals for breeding. Their peers in the Collectionsdepartment often serve on Species Survival Plans and PopulationManagement Plans aimed at putting scientific recommendations intoplace. Their work helps threatened species rebound and ensures thatall captive populations retain the diversity of the wild.

Examples of the research being done on zoo grounds can beseen throughout the Helen Brach Primate House. The studies con-ducted there are as varied as the building’s inhabitants, enlistingkeepers, curators and scientists in efforts from determining breed-ing cycles for pied tamarins to observing the principles behindsound maternal care in white-cheeked gibbons.

Next door, at Regenstein Center for African Apes, visitors nowhave the chance to experience zoo research firsthand through theExploring Ape Behavior program. This educational effortimmerses guests in zoo research by placing them in a scientist’sshoes for a day, where they conduct behavioral observations of thebuilding’s gorillas and chimpanzees. This unique experience helpsthem appreciate the rigors of research. It should also impart anincreased appreciation for the complexity of some of our closestliving relatives.

Of course, conservation research isn’t limited to zoo grounds.As you will see, several scientists from the zoo’s Conservation &Science Department are collaborating with researchers in PuertoRico to conserve the Puerto Rican parrot, one of the 10 mostendangered birds in the world. Fortunately, the zoo’s involvementin the project is a consequence of success. The captive populationon the island had grown to the point where the record-keeping sys-tem in place was inadequate. The zoo’s expertise in cataloguingsmall populations was enlisted to produce a centralized populationdatabase for the species, one that will aid future efforts in researchand recovery.

While the Puerto Rican parrot population has received a boostin the wild, another crucial group is facing a crisis. Amphibians arein decline worldwide, falling victim to habitat loss, pollution andthe deadly BD fungus. To highlight their plight, the Association ofZoos and Aquariums has declared 2008 to be the Year of the Frog.Zoos throughout the country are preserving amphibians by pro-viding a refuge for these threatened species. At Regenstein SmallMammal-Reptile House, emperor newts, axolotls, fire-belliedtoads and Solomon Island leaf frogs are newly on display to edu-cate visitors about zoo efforts to preserve these special species.

These efforts are all taking place in 2008, the year that marks the140th anniversary of Lincoln Park Zoo’s founding. The zoo hasgrown and changed throughout its history, adopting modernizedveterinary care, increasingly sophisticated exhibits and a scientificapproach to understanding animal needs. As we look to thefuture—140 years down the road—we can be sure of furtherimprovements: enhanced conservation programs and a betterunderstanding of the animals in our care. We’ll also be able tocount on the dedicated support of our members and donors, onething that doesn’t change over time.

perspective( )Conserving the Future

A Letter From President and CEO Kevin J. Bell

SPRING 2008 3

Kevin J. Bell President and CEO

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The Amphibian

4 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

The wet, weird and wonderful creaturesof the world are disappearing. The solutions to the crisis are slippery.

CrisisAmphibians around the world are disappearing from

their wild habitats. Frogs, salamanders, toads andnewts are dwindling at rates that dwarf other vanishingspecies. For every bird or mammal species in dangerof extinction, there are as many as three amphibianspecies facing that same fate.

After thriving for millions of years, half of the world’smore than 4,000 amphibian species could disappear inour lifetime. We are facing the largest mass extinctionsince the dinosaurs.

Amphibians are ancient—they first appeared in the fossilrecord around 368 million years ago. As cold-bloodedspecies, they are unable to regulate their body heat, leaving

them dependent on the surrounding temperature. When it’swarm out, they’re more active; when it’s cold, they tend tohunker down. In regions with really harsh weather, someamphibian species will enter a hibernation-like periodto survive. These “newt naps” can be seasonal or evenlast for several years.

As a group, amphibians are generally hit with the“slimy” stereotype, but these animals have a reasonfor their slick skin. Most amphibians need tobreathe through their skin to supplement primitivelungs. Some salamanders have no lungs at all andbreathe only through their skins’ bodily coating. Tofacilitate respiration, these skins are usually soft andmoist, enabling easy absorption of water and a quickexchange of gasses—oxygen and carbon dioxide—neces-sary for life.

Year of the Frog…Year of Crisis

In this Year of the Frog, as designated bythe Association of Zoos and Aquariums(AZA), we celebrate the fragile beauty of

these weird and wondrous creatures.Lincoln Park Zoo is hosting educational

events throughout the year andexhibiting a variety of amphibian

species to educate andinspire visitors.

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Those clammy coveringsaren’t just limited to helping

frogs and newts breathe. Forsome brightly colored species,

skin also serves as a warning.The outer skin of some highly

toxic species is brightly colored,the result of glandular secretions that

can also add distinct odors—the Orientalfire-bellied toad, for example, smells like garlic.

Other amphibians have the ability to change color,camouflaging themselves when predators

approach. Certain cells under the skin are able toalter their color, allowing amphibians to blend into

their surroundings. As anyone who ever had a tadpole in their childhood class-

room knows, though, the whole thing starts in the water.Amphibian itself means “double life,” reflecting the aquatic and ter-restrial stages of most species. Breeding occurs in ponds, pools andstreams, where females lay eggs and males shed sperm over them.These eggs typically hatch into legless, aquatic tadpoles that breaththrough gills on the sides of their heads. These tadpoles mature inthe water, moving about by wriggling their tails and nourishingthemselves on plant materials.

Eventually, tadpoles make the big transition: they lose theirgills and develop legs, switching from an herbivorous diet in thewater to an insect-eating life on water and land. Some salaman-ders, such as the mudpuppy and axolotl, develop legs but keeptheir gills, staying in the water throughout their lifetimes.

Why are they vulnerable? Much of what makes amphibians unique also makes them vul-

nerable. Their watery habitats are increasingly polluted andshrinking due to human encroachment. On top of that, aquaticpollution is especially harmful to amphibians because of the veryskin that enables them to breathe. Their easy absorption of oxy-gen and water also extends to man-made toxins, pollutants, bacte-ria, viruses, fungi and other environmental factors.

The batrachochytridium dendrobatidis fungus (BD) may be themost serious threat, but even UV radiation could be contributing toamphibians’ demise—greater exposure to UV rays, the result of adwindling ozone layer, could be altering amphibian DNA.

Why do amphibians matter? Beyond their inherent beauty and worth, frogs, salamanders and

toads are both predator and prey, maintaining the delicate balanceof the food chain. They eat pests, benefiting agriculture around theworld and minimizing the spread of diseases like malaria.

Ultimately, because they are so sensitive, they act as a sort of “canaryin the coal mine”—they are among the first species to be affected byenvironmental stressors. When amphibiansshow declines in the wild, it serves as awarning to other species, includ-ing humans.

Regrettably, scientistsdon’t understand amphib-ians the way they do, say,pumas or penguins. Fewspecies of frogs andalmost no species of sala-manders or newts havebeen bred in captivity.Their habitats are tricky tomaintain and their breedingcycles are difficult to understand.

This lack of ready knowledge hasled Lincoln Park Zoo scientists to be espe-cially careful in planning the next step in conservation. “We couldtry to bring in as many amphibians as possible from the wild. Butthen what?” asks Senior Vice President of Conservation ProgramsSteve Thompson, Ph.D. “We need to have the knowledge and thecapability to house and breed these species before we simply bringthem into captive environments.”

First, says Thompson, it’s necessary to determine which speciesare worst off—the ones that most desperately need help. “AtLincoln Park Zoo, for example, we can only house a few. Should wesave domestic species? African species? South American species?We’re working to develop criteria before we act.”

How can Lincoln Park Zoo help? Quite simply, the first step is informing people that there’s a

problem. Beyond that, the zoo is leading an education campaignto focus visitors’ attention on local issues that impact amphib-ians—pollution, habitat loss and more. As you’ll see in the follow-ing pages, Lincoln Park Zoo is also adding more amphibians to itscollection, offering guests a better understanding of the beautyand frailty of these creatures.

“We need to bring species into zoo settings for research,enabling us to learn more about amphibian husbandry,” saysThompson. “In doing so we can create models of common speciesthat we hope will show us the way to breed and care for highlyendangered species. It is a slow process, but careful planning willbe necessary to fight the amphibian crisis.”

It didn’t start overnight and unfortunately, it’s not going toend that way. By learning more, though, zoos can begin to learnwhere they can help best.

SPRING 2008 5

<<

Be part of the solution!

•Reduce water consumption, energy waste and chemical fertilizer

use • Provide backyard habitats in which amphibians can thrive • Make daily

decisions to protect the environment. • Learn more about the zoo’s green

efforts at www.lpzoo.org/green. • Learn more about the crisis

at amphibianark.org.

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6 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Oriental Fire-bellied ToadBombina orientalis

On first glance at these little amphibians atRegenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, youmight wonder where they get their moniker. Theundersides of these toads are green and speckledblack, resembling fire no more than their wateryexhibits.

But wild fire-bellied toads (like the one picturedhere) that splash through the swamps of southeast-ern China, do possess vibrant orange and red tum-mies, which they use to dissuade potential preda-tors. (Bright colors often indicate toxicity inamphibian species.) They’ll arch their backs to dis-play a fire-hued advertisement of their noxiousnature, and hungry hunters will flee in search ofmore palatable fare.

In captivity, where no predators lurk, the toadsno longer have this adaptation—their bellies arebland. “One factor for the loss of color may be diet,”speculates Keeper Michal Kisielinski. “Wild fire-bellied toads might eat different insects than they dohere, where they eat mostly crickets. This contributesto chemical changes that alter physiology.”

Unlike most toads, which snatch prey with atongue affixed to the front of the mouth, fire-bellied toads have lost the ability to unfold theirtongues, which are round rather than elongated.Instead, they wait for prey to move and thenpounce, gobbling the unfortunate creature in oneswift motion. It happens so fast, the poor cricketscan’t even get a look at that eponymous belly.

field note( ) BY MEG RITTER

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Solomon Island leaf frogUnusual among amphibians,

these frogs skip the tadpole stage,emerging from eggs as fully formed

(if tiny) frogs. Seven offspringhatched at the zoo in February,though you needed sharp eyes to spot the froglets, which were

no larger than a letter onthis page.

At Lincoln Park ZooWhile charismatic megavertabrates like Amur tigers and

polar bears are impressive creatures, the little wet amphibiansare awesome in their own right. A quick introduction toLincoln Park Zoo’s amphibians:

Dyeing poison arrow frog Lincoln Park Zoo’s pairs have produced hundreds of off-

spring over the past years, which have been sent to zoosaround the nation.

Oriental fire-bellied toadBold green-and-black coloration distinguishes these

striking amphibians (left).

Emperor newtSpines along emperor newts’ backs contain

poison, which dissuades potential predators fromtaking a bite. (See page 9.)

AxolotlEndangered in the wild, these odd-looking

creatures are thriving at the zoo. A recent clutchwas kept in a brooder within the exhibit, lestmom and dad (voracious carnivores) confusethem for prey.

Gray tree frogAs their name implies, these frogs blend into the muted

color of trees in their North American habitats, but stripes ofgold under their legs add a colorful flair.

American toad Hardy, robust creatures

often found in urban areas,these toads secrete a mildly

poisonous bufotoxin that helps thwart

predators.

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8 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Welcome Back Like their human neighbors,

amphibians in northern climates findways to withstand harsh winters.

Most hibernate in underground burrows. Some, like the gray tree frog, employ

physiological adaptations to keep their blood from freezing. They begin

to re-emerge in early spring, dependingon the weather and the species of amphibian. So…now is the time to start looking for our

wet neighbors.

Land of Lincoln—Land of Amphibians

Given their exotic physiologies and need for wet habitats, it’s easy to assume that amphibians live only in exotic rain forests or jungle swamps. But the Land of

Lincoln is also the land of frogs, toads and salamanders.“When people think amphibians, they think of the rain forests;

they don’t think of North America,” says Barbiers. “But it’s amazing how many amphibians are in our backyard…literally.”

Bullfrogs, American toads, spotted salamanders (pictured) and marbled salamanders, mud puppies and sirens (eel-like creatures) swim and splash through local rivers, ponds and

lakes. Regrettably, these species face the same crisis as their cousins around the world. “Tropical amphibians are

cool, and there are lots of people studying them, but there are lots of frogs and salamanders in the

United States,” explains Steve Thompson, Ph.D.“Salamanders here in Illinois are rapidly

disappearing, for example.”

Left: The spotted salamander is oneof many Illinois amphibians facingdecline in the wild. Right: While thecamouflaging colors of the SolomonIsland leaf frog (top) and vibrantmarkings of the Oriental fire-belliedtoad (bottom) help them avoid pre-dation, these species face moreserious threats in the form of habitatloss and disease. Lincoln Park Zoois partnering with zoos across thecountry to raise awareness of thesethreats and collaborate on conser-vation efforts.

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Slippery Sublimity

Amphibians delight us with their slippery sublimity,their bold and bizarre bodies splashing between twoworlds—one slimy foot on land, another in water. But thequirks of frog, toad, salamander and newt bodies are utili-tarian rather than cosmetic; they are adaptations enablingthem to survive in their drenched and dangerous habitats.Take the dyeing poison arrow frog, whose brightly coloredskin is beautiful but also an advertisement of toxicity towould-be predators.

“Amphibians are a widely varied class, which live inwidely varied environments and hunt (and are hunted by)widely varied predators,” explains Curator Diane Mulkerin.“So it makes sense that they’ve developed all these unusualadaptations to survive.”

Amphibians share a number of adaptations. Their skinis permeable, enabling gaseous exchange and water trans-ference (critical for living in their watery homes). Webbedtoes bolster swimming. Eyes positioned atop the head offera wide visual field, letting the animals see above the waterwhile their bodies remain submerged. Eggs are laid in largeclutches, playing the numbers game against hungry preda-tors. Tongues are attached at the front of the mouth, pro-viding a few extra centimeters of reach.

Individual species exhibited at Lincoln Park Zoo havetheir own unique tricks. The emperor newts at RegensteinSmall Mammal-Reptile House (below) have orange lumpsalong their backs, which cover bony, poison-filled spines thatpierce the mouths of creatures unwise enough to take a bite.

Nearby, the red bellies of the Oriental fire-bellied toadswould broadcast the same toxic message to would-be pred-ators in the wild. Just in case a snake doesn’t immediatelyget the hint, they can perform a maneuver known as theunkenreflex, where they prop up on their back legs or flopto their backs to display their bright undersides. A lessflashy adaptation is the black footpads male fire-belliedtoads develop during breeding season, enabling them togrip slippery females.

At the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo, the gray tree frogshave a physiological quirk that any auto mechanic wouldadmire. A high level of glycerol in their blood serves asantifreeze, enabling them to withstand sub-zero tempera-tures as they hibernate in winter burrows.

Talk about a cool adaptation.

amazing adaptations( )

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10 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

What’s on the Menu?Are Oriental fire-bellied toads at Regenstein Small Mammal-

Reptile House getting enough calcium in their crickets? Should tworats be the daily recommended allowance for dwarf crocodiles atRegenstein African Journey, or is one more than enough? These arethe questions on the mind of Nutrition Manager Shana Lavin, Ph.D.,as she embarks on her review of every diet at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Lavin is going house-to-house, animal-to-animal in a bid toscrutinize each meal eaten (or overeaten, in some cases). The goalis to ensure that every animal’s nutritional needs are being fulfilled.

Some species’ diets are more difficult to design than others,however. Insect-eaters, such as the fire-bellied toad mentionedabove, might lack sufficient calcium in their diets, so Lavin haskeepers feed crickets that will end up on the menu a special insectchow that boosts their calcium levels. The bugs are even dustedwith calcium powder before being placed in the dinner dish.

Similarly, snowy egrets, Inca terns and other fish-eating birds atthe McCormick Bird House require supplemental vitamin E andthiamine, which keepers deliver in a special paste. “For a while, wewere trying to smear the paste over the fish, but the birds weren’teating it,” says Lavin. “Now we inject it directly into the fish’s stom-ach to make sure the birds eat it all.”

The zoo’s big carnivores generally require less jumping throughhoops. Their beef-based diet is a hit, and vitamin supplements inthe meat ensure they get “a complete meal in every bite,” as Lavinputs it. Herbivores—animals whose diets consist primarily ofplants—generally thrive on the multicolored meals concocted forthem, although some can require a little coaxing to expand theirpalate. When the red panda first arrived at the Kovler Lion House,he turned his nose up at any fruits other than red grapes; now heenthusiastically eats papaya, honeydew and banana.

“For every diet, the goal is to find healthful food that the animalswill eat,” says Lavin. “By reviewing what they’re actually eating, wecan ensure that’s the case.”

Scanning the SkiesFor researchers in the zoo’s Davee Center for Epidemiology and

Endocrinology, monitoring captive populations for avian influenzais a win-win situation. Data collection fits in neatly with ongoingefforts to monitor the health of zoo animals. At the same time, zooscan provide an early-warning system for this fast-spreading andpotentially deadly disease.

Like human flus, avian influenza comes in a variety of forms, frominconvenient bugs to highly pathogenic strains that could wipe out entirepopulations. A variant of the latter, H5N1, has made headlines with itsspread throughout Asia and parts of Europe. This highly pathogenic virushas killed millions of birds as well as more than 200 people living in closecontact with infected animals. The virus, which can be spread by migrat-ing ducks and geese, has yet to appear in the United States.

To help determine whether that remains the case, Lincoln ParkZoo, through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, has partneredwith the U.S. Department of Agriculture to begin a zoo surveillanceprogram. Zoos throughout the country will monitor their birds, col-lecting samples via noninvasive throat and cloacal (the other end)swabs. The swabs will be sent to one of three laboratories enlisted inthe project, and the Davee Center will compile the results.

It has taken more than two years to put the protocols in place,but the first testing began in March 2008. The project started small:at the moment, three zoological institutions are sending samples tolabs in a bid to test the procedures. If everything goes according to plan, a larger rollout will begin in early summer, enlisting all of thezoos contributing to the effort.

news of the zoo( )

Above, left-to-right: Injecting fish on the menu with a special vitamin E paste is one way to ensure that birds at the McCormick Bird House are getting all of their vitamins. Nutrition Manager Shana Lavin, Ph.D., is scrutinizing other aspects of the zoo menu as well. The Davee Center forEpidemiology and Endocrinology is rolling out a zoo-based surveillance program for avian influenza, which has the potential to spread between cap-tive and wild bird populations.

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SPRING 2008 11

“Zoos are really well set up for disease surveillance,” saysResearch Epidemiologist Julia Chosy, Ph.D., the project leader.“They’re distributed in all parts of the country, from urban to ruralareas, deserts, wetlands and major migratory pathways. They alsooffer a wide range of species as well as an interface betweenhumans and animals. Ultimately, this project enables zoos to filltwo roles—they’ll monitor the health of their animals, as theyalways have, but they’ll also be able to contribute to public healthin their surrounding communities.”

The testing will help scientists learn more about high- and low-pathogenic strains of avian influenza—how they form and howthey spread. At the same time, the surveillance infrastructure willbe ready to handle whichever disease surfaces next. “Most diseasesthat affect humans originally come from animals,” says Chosy.“Zoo-based surveillance is a powerful tool.”

The Students Become the TeachersWhen Sue Teller-Marshall brings animals to Chicago Public

Schools as part of Lincoln Park Zoo’s Zoocology environmentaleducation program, she doesn’t begin with a lecture on the ani-mal’s diets, or social groups, or lives in the wild. Instead, after abrief review on safe handling, she and her accompanying docentslet the animals take the stage.

“Our goal is to get the students observing the animals, writingdown what they see, so they’re motivated about finding theanswers themselves,” explains the zoo’s Traveling Zoo coordinator.“The schools already have science curriculums; our role is to pro-vide new experiences that the teachers can build upon.”

Blue-tongued skinks and La Plata three-banded armadillos cer-tainly rank as novel for the second and third graders participatingin Zoocology, which is funded by the Polk Bros. Foundation.

Kindergarteners and first-grade students in the program receive lessexotic, but equally exciting, visits from chickens and rabbits. Kidsfrom seven participating schools are invited to touch, observe andsketch the scaled, feathered and furred visitors (although the chickensare off limits for handling due to precautions about avian influenza).

As they experience wildlife firsthand, students are encouraged tocome up with their own explanations for animal features, pondering, say, why the blue-tongued skink’s tongue is blue. One exer-cise even prompts them to plan a sleepover for their guests, deducingfrom their features—thick claws, big mouths or tough hides—whatthey eat and where they’d like to bunk down for the night.

“They come up with some pretty good speculation,” says Teller-Marshall. “Having the animals in the classroom really gets themexcited to learn.”

Cultivating CocoonsVisitors to Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House (SMRH)

this summer may notice a few more winged visitors fluttering in theButterfly Garden near the building’s exit. Lincoln Park Zoo’s volun-teer gardeners, in collaboration with SMRH Curator DianeMulkerin, have planted a variety of special plants to attract colorfulpollinators ranging from common buckeyes to zebra swallowtails.

Cosmos, snapdragons, lilacs and pawpaw were among the newadditions, reflecting the fact that butterflies require different plants at different points in their life cycles. The cabbage white but-terfly might munch on its namesake plant as a caterpillar, forinstance, then switch to sipping nectar from a cosmos or verbenaas an adult.

“We’re hoping these plants will attract a lot of local butterflies,”says Mulkerin. “It’s one more piece of wildlife for visitors to inter-act with.”

Above, left-to-right: Kids in the classroom interact with a blue-tongued skink as part of the Zoocology environmental education program. Newblooms at the Butterfly Garden near Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House should attract some fresh flyers.

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12 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Silverback gorilla Kwan lounges on his elbows inside an exhibit atRegenstein Center for African Apes, languidly surveying his family as theyamble around him and periodically glancing through the glass at the crowd

of people clutching tiny computers and intently staring back at him. This is noth-ing new, of course; the animals are ogled each day, none more so than the majes-tic silverbacks that are fawned over by the females in their troops, the guests inthe lobby and the scientists who daily digitally chart their behavior.

But what’s different today is that the people clutching the tiny computersaren’t zoo scientists, but zoo visitors playing scientist for a day. They’re tak-ing part in a program titled Exploring Ape Behavior, which is appropri-ate, but it could also be known as Exploring Scientist Behavior,because that’s what participants are doing.

“With Exploring Ape Behavior, we can introduce people to thestudy of animal behavior using species we most relate to—chim-panzees and gorillas,” says Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D., director ofthe Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation ofApes and the co-manager of this program. “This is like a crashcourse in why we study animal behavior and how we do it,enabling zoo visitors to understand the great science we do byparticipating in it.”

From Spectator to Scientist (Sort Of)Before they begin collecting any data on zoo animals, zoo scien-

tists are exhaustively trained on collection techniques to ensure thateach is recording the correct behaviors in a similar fashion; dependabledata demands reproducability.

This program’s scientists-for-a-day also receive training (albeit in a much-compressed capacity) to understand how important standards are to scientists.Each Exploring Ape Behavior session begins with an hour-long tutorial by program coordinator Mark Foster, whose experience collecting data on thechimpanzees of Gombe National Park serves him well.

Stepping into Scientists’ Shoes…Exploring Ape Behavior

Above: Silverback Kwan is just one of the great apes that visitors will observe throughExploring Ape Behavior. Behavioral observations will be collected on tiny touchpads(right), producing a map of activities over time for one of the zoo’s gorillas or chimpanzees.

BY CHRIS MCNAMARA

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14 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

“We could never train anyone to completely collect scientific datain one hour, but we can provide participants an approximation ofwhat the process is like,” says Foster. “Those who take part inExploring Ape Behavior will get a hands-on indoctrination on theimportant research work being done here. They will learn aboutapes, scientists and themselves. And they’ll have a lot of fun, too.”

Standing before the glass of an ape exhibit and using slides dis-played on a flat-screen television, Foster educates each ExploringApe Behavior group on the different forms of data collection, thenexplains interval sampling, the method of observation used in thisprogram. This technique notes an animal’s behavior at intervalsover a set period of time, then aggregates that information to painta larger picture of behavior.

Foster asks and answers questions from the group. He warnsagainst common data collection pitfalls and provides tips for emu-lating real researchers. Near the end of the tutorial, he distributesiPod Touch computers and instructs participants on using the cool little gadgets for data collection.

Then it’s out of the seats and into the shoes of scientists. Eachobserver conducts five-minute observations of a chimpanzee orgorilla. A beep every 15 seconds prompts people to record theactivity of their animal at that moment. Eight options are avail-able, from “feed” to “active,” “social” to “aggressive.” When an apeis just lounging on his elbows, as was Kwan in the scene described

earlier, “inactive” is the right button to press.

Authentic Observation“We tried to make this program as authentic as possible,”

explains Supervisor of Behavioral and Cognitive Research SteveRoss, who along with Lonsdorf and Curator of Primates SueMargulis, Ph.D., wrote the Institute for Museum and LibraryServices grant that funds the program, with additional support fromthe Field Foundation of Illinois. “It’s important that participants inExploring Ape Behavior use the same technology, employ the samemethods and observe the animals in the same ways we do. The goalis for them to get a sense of what it’s like to be a scientist.”

Adds Margulis, “It provides insights into not just what kind ofresearch we do, but why we do it. This program shows guests theimportant role that research plays at Lincoln Park Zoo, promptingthem to explore the broader applications of that knowledge. Betterunderstanding of one animal at one zoo helps us understand allanimals around the world.”

Lest participants in Exploring Ape Behavior think they’re theonly ones collecting information, they should note this: thosedoing the exploring are being explored themselves. “A side compo-nent is that we monitor how the public learns about animal behav-ior,” says Ross, revealing that everything is studied and analyzed inthe world of a scientist. <<

Above: The scientists-for-a-day begin their session with a research briefing from program coordinator Mark Foster. Right: Social displays, feedingand even naptime are among the behaviors participants can expect to observe for chimpanzees such as female Kathy (right).

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WINTER 2008 15

Tips from the ProsWant to conduct research like a pro? Ask a pro.

Here Ross, Lonsdorf and Margulis—veterans of

countless hours of ape field studies—provide tips on

collecting observational data:

Steve Ross“Attention to detail is crucial to performing

research. Very subtle behaviors can be very important.

Record what the animals are doing, not what they’re

thinking (which we can’t know anyways). Simply

observe their behaviors and record an objective view of

what is going on.”

“With interval sampling, which is the form of data-

gathering we’re doing with Exploring Ape Behavior,

you’re taking a snapshot of what the animals are doing

at a given moment. It takes a little skill to learn to

freeze time for a second and record what the animal is

doing, not picking the most interesting thing they’ve

done in the last few minutes.”

Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D.“Try not to affect the animal’s behavior yourself. If

you want to understand why an animal is behaving the

way it is, don’t alter it by interacting with the animals.

Try to disappear into the environment.”

“You have to collect lots and lots of data to under-

stand behavior. If you only studied Kwan for five min-

utes, you might think all gorillas do is sleep. But if you

studied him repeatedly at different times of the day

you’d get a full picture of his activity.”

Sue Margulis, Ph.D.“Although observing behavior can be tedious at

times (many animals, including humans, spend a large

proportion of time sleeping), you always need to be

ready to record details of behavior. Sometimes, ani-

mals can alter their behavior very quickly, and it’s

important to keep your focus at all times.”

“Watching animal behavior may seem easy, but it

can be challenging when your goal is to observe sys-

tematically and objectively. It’s important to track

what animals are doing without necessarily making

guesses or assumptions about why they are doing it.”

*Exploring Ape Behavior sessions are now underway,

running Wednesdays–Sundays at 11 a.m. Participation

costs $5. Visit www.lpzoo.org/EAB for more information.

This program is offered to those 12 and older.

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16 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Death. It’s not a comfortable topic. Most of us go to greatlengths to avoid discussing it, employing euphemismsand delay tactics to dodge the subject. Zoos are no excep-

tion, as keepers and curators often struggle with how to share thenews of a loss in the collection.

But Research Biologist Lisa Faust, Ph.D., believes that betterinformation on animal mortality will help zoo staff and visitorscome to terms with this natural process. “When an animal dies,people want to know whether it was old or young or how long itwas ‘supposed’ to live,” says the scientist. “In the past, differentinstitutions have answered these questions in different ways. Someprovided a maximum age, others referred to an average age and asa result, visitors were often unsure how to interpret a death.”

In a bid to develop more definitive answers on animal longevi-ty in captivity, Faust has developed a software tool to compilemortality data from zoos and aquariums throughout the country.The PopLink Survival Tool, made possible through aConservation Endowment Fund grant from the Association ofZoos and Aquariums, is an add-on to the free population manage-

ment software, PopLink, developed by the Alexander Center forApplied Population Biology. Released in February, the SurvivalTool gathers information from zoo records across the country anduses it to produce an easy-to-understand report that details aspecies’ median life expectancy.

What does that term mean? To understand median lifeexpectancy, it’s helpful to first take a look at maximum longevity.Simply, maximum longevity is the longest that a member of anygiven species has been recorded to live. For humans, that number is122 years. But while that information is interesting, in an outer-lim-its kind of way, it doesn’t tell us much about the average humanlifespan. Few of us will make it to 100, after all.

Median life expectancy, the statistic compiled by the SurvivalTool, is far more useful. Effectively, it denotes middle-of-the-roadstatus for a population. The median life expectancy for humans inthe United States is 81; half of the population passes away beforethat point and half passes away afterwards. For chimpanzees, Fausthas found, the median life expectancy is 32; for Amur tigers it is 8.This number conveys how long the typical individual can beexpected to live. Some will die earlier, as they would in nature, andsome will die later.

These statistics can change. Improved veterinary care andnutrition may extend lifespans over time (further research on thesubject is needed, Faust states). Young populations—those thathave only been in zoos for a short time—will see an increase intheir median lifespan as the population ages as a whole. ThePopLink Survival Tool takes these changes into account, providingupdated views of zoo lifespans as new data comes in.

Beyond the math, however, the software may help to inspireclosure in the wake of losses. “Death happens at every part ofthe lifespan, even in a perfect system,” says Faust. “By placingthese deaths in context, we can better appreciate the animals’lives as a whole.”

back story( ) An Animal Actuary

Research Biologist Lisa Faust, Ph.D., believes that

better information on animal mortality will help zoo staff

and visitors come to terms with this natural process.

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SPRING 2008 17

Brush-tailed BettongBettongia penicillata

Determining when a brush-tailed bettong birthoccurred isn’t as straightforward a prospect as itmight seem. As with most marsupials, the newly bornbrush-tailed bettong is no bigger than a cooked grainof rice when it exits the birth canal and enters itsmother’s pouch, where it stays for the next 13 weeks,latching onto a nipple as it slowly matures. Eventuallyit becomes clear that something’s happening—thepouch becomes distended, a foot occasionally pokesout—but it’s only with the joey’s emergence that keep-ers can begin a countdown in reverse, traveling back100 days to the approximate birthday.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s first brush-tailed bettong joeyemerged from the pouch on December 24, 2007, mak-ing his ostensible birthday September 15. Of course,just because he came out didn’t mean he was eager tostay out. “He kept trying to go back into the pouch,but finally the mother wouldn’t let him,” reportsDiane Mulkerin, curator of Regenstein SmallMammal-Reptile House (SMRH), the home of thesmall marsupials. “His feet were too big!”

The bettongs’ large launchpads serve as the species’main mode of locomotion. Like their larger kangaroocousins, brush-tailed bettongs are bipedal, using twolegs to hop around their native Australian habitat. Thisnocturnal animal prowls the forest floor at night, look-ing for roots, tubers, seeds and especially fungi to feedon. During the day, individuals rest in solitary nestscomposed of grass, sticks and bark. Maintaining thesenests is a primary preoccupation for the species. “Theyspend a lot of time picking through the grass and hay oftheir exhibit, looking for the softest bits,” says KeeperDan Mondl. “Their tail is prehensile, so they’ll use it tostore a bundle of hay as they keep searching.”

Once common throughout Australia, bettongsbecame increasingly rare in the early 1900s as habitat lossand introduced predators, such as cats, rats and foxes,pushed the species close to extinction. Today, captive-breeding programs and efforts to control non-nativepredators have led to a rebound in parts of its range.

The species’ recovery has been aided by the speedwith which juvenile bettongs develop; they reachmaturity within months of leaving the pouch. Becauseof this rapid growth, SMRH’s joey was moved to hisown off-exhibit holding area in early February. Theparents have a breeding recommendation from theBrush-tailed Bettong Population Management Plan,though, so more new arrivals may be forthcoming. Infact, keepers witnessed breeding in early January,meaning the reverse countdown may have a firmertarget this time around.

field note( )

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Bright Outlook—Bali Mynah Breeding Befitting their beautifully colored plumage, the Bali mynahs at

the McCormick Bird House are attracted to the brightly coloredstrips of paper keepers began presenting them in February. Thebirds, critically endangered in their native Indonesia due to habitatloss and the pet trade, collect the colorful materials to accessorizenests made of dried grass and twigs.

Visitors can see both the male and female decorate their nest-box homes at the back of the Riverbanks Exhibit. But only the maleperforms the courtship displays (head bobbing, chirping) that willhopefully lead to breeding and chicks to populate the beautifulnest, as has happened in years past.

As they do with many other species, keepers also provided themynahs larger quantities of food in February, including a widervariety of fruits and insects, in another effort to prompt breeding.“We try to mirror their wild diet,” says Bird Zoological ManagerElizabeth Bruccoleri. “These birds will only breed when resourcesallow it, so we give them the impression that now is a good time tobreed, just as happens in the wild.”

Sichuan Takin Society The Sichuan takin herd at the Antelope & Zebra Area takes after

its leader in terms of demeanor. Just as adult male Kublai is calmand composed, so too are the two females and their two offspring.But that serenity doesn’t mean there isn’t a strict hierarchy; in fact,that hierarchy is greatly responsible for the serenity.

Herd animals native to the mountains of China, takin live inharems—females and offspring acquiesce to the male. Here inChicago, Kublai heads the group, while Chabi is the dominantfemale to Jinsi, who will scurry from a pile of hay when the high-er-ranking female decides it’s time to eat.

The offspring, yearling male Bao Zhen and slightly youngerfemale Mei Li, defer to all but playfully tangle with one another.They head butt, they play chase, they romp through snowdrifts. Asthese two descend from different sets of parents (another malesired Mei Li), they may soon be shipped to another Association ofZoos and Aquariums institution to breed once they mature aroundage three.

Exhibit SwapIn April, one of the exhibits at Regenstein Center for African

Apes will receive its spring cleaning, and the residents will swaphomes. As is done every few years, the mulch (some 30,000 poundsof it) will be replaced. Hank’s chimpanzee group will move fromExhibit B (the easternmost space) to Exhibit C (where they willhave access to the termite mound). Kwan’s gorilla clan will shiftfrom C to B. JoJo’s gorillas will remain in A, and Keo’s chimpanzeeswill remain in the Auxiliary Area, which should be flooded withspring sunshine.

“Chimpanzees access the outdoors more than gorillas, so this isa better setup as temperatures rise,” says Curator of Primates SueMargulis, Ph.D.

Above, left-to-right: Colored paper and expanded diets are part of the spring splendor provided by keepers at the McCormick Bird House to encour-age Bali mynahs to breed. Male takin Kublai is the leader of his herd at the Antelope & Zebra Area.

wild file( )

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Sharing Knowledge Across the PondIn late January, Margulis attended the Gorilla Species Survival

Plan annual meeting in Orlando, where she convened with membersof the European Endangered Species Breeding Program (theirequivalent of the SSP). “These meetings help us identify the com-mon issues that we all need to address—bachelor males, socialdynamics of groups, and more.”

This meeting coincided with the International Gorilla Workshophosted by Disney Animal Kingdom and the Brevard Zoo, whichMargulis attended along with Lead Keeper Dominic Calderisi andPrimate Zoological Manager Maureen Leahy.

“I’ve participated in some regional gorilla workshops, but thiswas my first international one,” says Leahy. “It’s great to combine ourzoo work with field researchers from range counties and peopleworking in sanctuaries. It combines the knowledge of all three com-ponents when it comes to gorilla conservation.”

Particularly Eager BeaversIt’s common knowledge that beavers are industrious creatures.

(Eager, you might say.) But as nocturnal creatures, most of theirwork is moonlighting. The three beavers at the Pritzker FamilyChildren’s Zoo normally don’t wake until 3 p.m. But in wintermonths their clocks get shifted, and they rise—like college studentson summer break—around 11 a.m.

This is good for morning visitors to the exhibit, who can witnessthe beavers dragging tree branches underwater, where they store themon the underside of their lodge. This behavior mirrors wild beavers,

who store wood under the frozen crust of ponds, like a stockpile offood at the ready. There’s no need to go out to eat when it’s so cold.

Simian Salon When a female gorilla presses her foot against the glass at

Regenstein Center for African Apes, you can be shocked at the sim-ilarities to your own foot, you can marvel at the awesome beauty ofnature or you can think to yourself, “Wow, she’s got nice toenails. Iwonder how she maintains them?”

Turns out it’s a combination of treatments. First, the gorillas’and chimpanzees’ finger nails and toenails are ground downthrough daily use—climbing trees, foraging through mulch,scratching itches. Secondly, they bite them, nibbling down nailbeds on fingers and toes. (Mothers will bite youngsters’ nails forthem.) Finally, zoo staff will play beauticians. Some apes allowkeepers to clip their tough nails during frequent training sessions.“We use regular nail clippers,” explains Lead Keeper DominicCalderisi. “The really, really big ones.”

Other apes refuse, prompting veterinarians to employ the clip-pers during biannual physicals when the animals are anesthetized.Case-in-point: silverback gorilla JoJo, whose nails Calderisidescribes as “hideous,” adding the stereotype “typically male.”

Above, left-to-right: Beavers at the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo shift to a later schedule in summer months. Gorilla grooming is typically an individ-ual affair, but keepers occasionally lend a helping hand.

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20 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

ArrivalsF

rom a visitor’s perspective, the zoo’s breeding deci-sions might seem a bit arbitrary.Why is it that twotakin have been born at the Antelope & Zebra Area

in the past year while the lion pride at the Kovler LionHouse has stayed at a steady threemembers for years?Whyare three young gorillas swinging through the exhibits atRegenstein Center for African Apes while the black howlermonkey group next door at the Helen Brach PrimateHouse remains adult-only?Why are there five juvenile redwolves howling and prowling at the yard in the PritzkerFamily Children’s Zoo while the African wild dogs atRegensteinAfrican Journey don’t have any pups to perk upthe pack?

In the case of the African wild dogs, the answer is sim-ple—it’s an all-male pack. But even the decision to house abachelor pack at Lincoln Park Zoo stems from careful sci-entific planning. By taking a closer look at managedspecies at Lincoln Park Zoo—both those with breedingrecommendations and those without—we can witnessfirsthand the planning and care that goes into ensuringpopulations remain healthy far into the future.

Zoo

Scientific planning goes into every breeding decision at thezoo, whether it’s recommending that black howler monkeysdon’t breed (top), giving the red wolves a breeding break astheir pups mature (bottom) or introducing a new pair ofGuam rails in the hope that chicks will follow (right).

BY JAMES SEIDLER

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SPRING 2008 21

The Planning BeginsIn the office of Steve Ross, supervisor of behavioral and cogni-

tive research, every surface is covered with small magnets. They’regrouped on the walls and cabinets; some bunches include 16 mag-nets in close proximity while others are limited to two or three.Two colors are represented—pink and blue—and each has sometext at its center: a name, studbook number, age and small annota-tion signifying contraception.

This collage represents the North American chimpanzee popu-lation, all 276 animals. Ross serves as the coordinator of theChimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP), a committee organizedby the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to conduct long-term population planning. As coordinator, Ross is responsible foroverseeing the SSP’s day-to-day activities: addressing husbandryquestions, following up on breeding recommendations and evenfiring off critical letters to movies and TV shows that present chim-panzees inappropriately. The bulk of his job, however, is workingwith a management committee and representatives from everyinstitution housing chimpanzees to develop breeding and transferplans for the species.

Population planning begins with studbooks, collections of thefamily histories of every animal in a population. (Ross does doubleduty by serving as the studbook keeper for the Chimpanzee SSP,updating info on new arrivals, transfers and deaths.) This informa-tion is sent once a year to the Population Management Center(PMC), a scientific institute housed at Lincoln Park Zoo in part-nership with the AZA. The PMC crunches the numbers, analyzingstudbook data to determine which individuals are well representedin the population and which are not. The latter—those with fewerrelatives, and thus, less-represented genes—are favored in breedingrecommendations. These recommendations are passed on to theSSP, which consults members before issuing final recommenda-tions. “The genetics data provided by the PMC is key, but withcomplex animals like chimpanzees, group dynamics and individualtemperaments play a big role as well,” says Ross.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s chimpanzees are already well represented inthe population; throw in the fact that there’s limited space to housechimpanzees nationwide, and it’s easy to see why the zoo’s chim-panzees lack breeding recommendations. Instead, they’re able toserve a valuable education and conservation role, highlighting tovisitors the richness of chimpanzee social groups as well as theirvulnerability in the wild.

Breeding Isn’t EverythingNumerous animals at Lincoln Park Zoo fill similar roles, help-

ing visitors form deeper connections with wildlife. Populationmanagers stress that it’s a mistake to view breeding status as short-hand for an animal’s worth. “At any point in time, just one-third ofa population is breeding,” says Sarah Long, senior population biol-ogist for the PMC. “Nonbreeding animals are essential members oftheir populations.”

This can be seen with a number of species at Lincoln Park Zoo.The African wild dog bachelor group at Regenstein AfricanJourney consists of four brothers from the same litter. By housingsiblings in a single-sex group, the zoo can highlight the complexsocial behaviors of this endangered animal while avoiding thefierce competition over breeding that is part of the species’ natural

lifestyle. They can also open up space for wild dogs at other insti-tutions, a necessity when litters can include as many as 14 pups.

The polar bears at the Polar Bear Plaza are a brother and sister—no breeding recommendation there! The pair grew uptogether, a familiarity that enables them to share exhibit space,enthralling visitors with wintry plunges, educating them aboutshrinking Arctic habitat and opening up limited polar bear habitats—specialized exhibits requiring 30,000-plus gallonpools—for more genetically valuable animals.

What are some other notable animals that lack breeding recom-mendations? A preponderance of young offspring has taken the redwolves and white-cheeked gibbons off the breeding list for the timebeing. The African lions’ breeding days are behind them; they’ve bredin the past, their offspring are well represented in the population andthey’re getting a little older. “People don’t see it, but it’s a cycle—it canbe years between breeding events,” says Long.

Getting the Green LightOf course, while breeding isn’t everything, there are some

Lincoln Park Zoo animals that keepers, curators and populationplanners would like to see produce offspring. Guam rails are onesuch species; a new pair is being introduced at the McCormick BirdHouse per an SSP breeding recommendation.

This critically endangered species was wiped out on its nativeisland of Guam due to the introduction of the brown tree snake.

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22 LINCOLN PARK ZOO22 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Fewer than 400 birds remain worldwide, with 54 in NorthAmerican zoos, 138 in captive facilities in Guam and an estimated100–200 living in an experimental release colony on the nearbysnake-free island of Rota.

All of these birds are descended from 10 founders rescued fromthe wild, a circumstance that makes preserving genetic diversityextremely important. “The goal of the Guam Rail SSP is to mini-mize inbreeding and preserve the most genetically healthy popula-tion that we can,” says General Curator Megan Ross, Ph.D., whoserves as the species’ SSP coordinator. Unlike with chimpanzees,where social groupings and individual behavioral traits have amajor influence on housing decisions, Guam rail population plan-ning is largely driven by the numbers—the genetic analysis per-formed by the PMC.

The birds at Lincoln Park Zoo aren’t genetically valuable in theNorth American population—their genes are well represented—but they’ve received a breeding recommendation because thechicks they produce are slated for release in Guam. “Release pro-grams have to balance maintaining diversity in the captive popula-tion and producing enough birds for release,” says Long. By pro-ducing chicks to reestablish a wild population, the zoo’s Guam railpair is helping its species recover.

While most SSPs aren’t gearing up for a wild release, everyspecies with a breeding recommendation is contributing to thehealth of its population. Two Guam Micronesian kingfisher

breeding pairs at the Bird House are helping to boost a similarlyravaged population. The introduction of the zoo’s pygmy hippos(see page 28) is aimed at adding young members to a long-livedgroup while continued breeding of the Helen Brach PrimateHouse’s Geoffrey’s marmosets and Goeldi’s monkeys serves thesame purpose. “Proven breeding pairs, even if they’re not the most genetically valuable, can ensure a balanced age range in apopulation,” says Long. “That kind of demographic stability isimportant—you don’t want to put all of your eggs in a few breed-ing-pair baskets.”

The Big Picture AZA institutions currently feature 112 SSPs for 161 animal

species requiring intensive population management. On top ofthat, there are 312 Population Management Plans (PMPs) thatconduct population planning for species whose conservationneeds are less pressing. All of the work that goes into these pro-grams—collecting and maintaining information on thousands ofanimals, conducting planning sessions to map the future of a pop-ulation, moving and introducing new breeding pairs when neces-sary—is aimed at preserving the health of these populations forgenerations down the road.

“The goal is to keep the animals in as natural a state as we can—to preserve all of the genes brought in from the wild,” says Long.“It’s only by collaborating that we can make it possible.”

Above: The bachelor group of African wild dogs at Regenstein African Journey exposes visitors to the complex social behaviors of this endangered specieswhile reserving breeding space for more genetically valuable animals.

<<

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SPRING 2008 23

Allen’s Swamp Monkey Allenopithecus nigroviridis

Any parent who has battled with a teenager can sympathizewith the adult male swamp monkey at the Helen Brach PrimateHouse. His eldest son is nearing adulthood, and dad is nearingthe end of his rope.

Just as would happen in the wild, aggression is developingbetween the two males. They bob their heads at one another andflash their eyelids—shouting in monkey-speak. As for now, thesix-year-old and his father alternate time on exhibit; this swampain’t big enough for the two of them, the three younger male sib-lings, mom and the group of black-and-white colobus monkeysin the exhibit.

“This is perfectly natural,” explains Curator of Primates SueMargulis, Ph.D. “In the wild, the young male would be gettingready to leave the family group. With our group, we are lookinginto finding a new home for him.”

As swamp monkeys are managed by a Species Survival Plan,population biologists are evaluating this individual’s geneticmakeup to determine the best home for him in another accred-ited Association of Zoos and Aquariums institution, one wherehe would best mesh with the existing social structure and pres-ent the most unique genes for potential breeding.

In their wild, wet, wooded homes in the Republic of Congo,these monkeys live in groups of up to 40 individuals, which pro-vides protection from predators such as leopards, snakes andbonobos. Water provides them a safe haven; the swamp mon-keys’ webbed feet provide them paddles.

Offspring dispersal varies by primate species. In most OldWorld monkeys (native to Africa and Asia), males are the oneswho ship out in search of new groups. And while swamp mon-keys are the exception to the rule of primates hating the water,they follow this one to the letter. Even the adolescent males.

field note( )

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24 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Simian Science: Researching Primates at Lincoln Park Zoo

On a normal day at the Helen Brach Primate House, the howler monkeys are bounding through thebranches, bellowing their eponymous calls. The pied tamarins spring through saplings in theirexhibit, displaying more athleticism than any member of Chicago’s sports teams. And the white-

cheeked gibbons conduct constant aerial acrobatics, their exhibit at the south end of the building a blur ofwhite and black soundtracked by the gasps of guests.

But just as the animals are busy, so too are the keepers, supervisors, scientists and curator who care forthese primates. Research at the Primate House is as constant as the howls, springs and aerobics—less imme-diately awesome to behold, perhaps, but exciting in a different context. Just ask the humans.

The Curator“Animal research is conducted for a wide range of reasons,” says Curator of Primates Sue Margulis, Ph.D.,

who oversees all primate activity (both human and animal). “The knowledge gleaned can improve hus-bandry, facilitate breeding and improve the chances of animals rearing their young. This facility lends itselfto research because we have a diverse population of primates that are easily observed.”

BY CHRIS MCNAMARA

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SPRING 2008 25

A recent analysis of proposals sent to Lincoln Park Zoo’sresearch committee, which reviews and approves all projects,detailed that 58 percent of all proposed studies in the past twoyears focused on primates. Scientists—like visitors—love gibbons,tamarins and swamp monkeys.

Margulis’ roles range from supervising studies to conductingher own. Currently she is mentoring a master’s-degree student researching tool use among white-cheeked gibbons, focusing on the animals’ ability toselect the right stick for each task. A Ph.D. candidateunder the curator’s watch is analyzing pair-bond for-mation in Goeldi’s monkeys.

Margulis is also working with Davee CenterResearch Assistant Diana Armstrong to study hor-monal patterns in a breeding pair of pied tamarins.And she is partnering with Research Associate SylviaAtsalis, Ph.D., on a study of post-reproductiveFrancois’ langur females. (See below.)

“The challenge is that primates watch you asmuch as you watch them,” explains Margulis, who’sbeen studying our wild cousins for nearly threedecades. “Most primates are very curious; if they seesomebody they’re not familiar with, they may reactand want to interact. It may take some time beforethey habituate and ignore an observer.”

Case-in-point: summer 2007, when a researcherfrom Princeton couldn’t observe swamp-monkeybehavior because the little primates were too interest-ed in her service dog. She discovered that her poochneeded to sit below the window ledge—out of pri-mate sight—in order for things to return to normal.

The Zoological Manager “Research enables us to make better animal-management deci-

sions,” says Zoological Manager Maureen Leahy, who assists thecurator in all projects primate. Leahy reviews studies, helps pairscientists with keepers and monitors data collection by rookieresearchers.

It isn’t always glamorous. Most hormonal studies rely on non-invasive samples—scooping poop is crucial—but the rewards areworth the unpleasantness. “Primates are socially complex animals,which can make research a challenge,” she says. “But it also makesthese studies very exciting. There are a lot of similarities we candraw among primate species.”

The Ph.D. Candidate Breeding recommendations are granted by Species Survival

Plans based on a number of factors—age, the representation of anindividual’s genes in the captive population and more. ButMichelle Rafacz’s work might add another factor to consider, mak-ing demographic recommendations even more informed. Rafacz isusing the Primate House to study mothering.

“I hope to learn about the variation we see in maternal care incaptive populations of gibbons, to possibly predict which femaleswould make appropriate mothers based on their hormones and

history,” explains the Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago. In other words, if Rafacz can make a connection between hor-

mones (scientifically sampled) and good mothering skills (observed),this information can be used to predict which gibbons—and perhapswhich primates overall—will make good moms based on their phys-iology, thus influencing breeding recommendations.

The Research Associate Lincoln Park Zoo’s Primate House serves as a hub for a study by

Margulis and Atsalis. The effort is examining 14 animals from zoosin seven cities (including Chicago) to determine whether post-reproductive females occur in Francois’ langur society.

“We are trying to determine whether primate females over acertain age undergo menopause like human females do,” saysAtsalis of the project, funded with a grant from the Wenner GrenAnthropological Foundation and expected to conclude inDecember 2010, at which time the pair will publish the results inprimate journals. “We want to determine whether other primatespecies that share breeding traits and strong matrilineal socialstructures also experience long post-reproductive lifespans.”

The results should help in husbandry decisions for Francois’langurs, educating zoos on how to best place post-reproductivefemales in mixed-generational groups. But even before this studyfinishes, similar studies will begin on other primate species,broadening our knowledge of how female primates experiencereproductive aging…broadening our knowledge of primates as a whole.

Scientific research is a constant at the Primate House, as depend-able as the howls, springs and acrobatics exhibited by the residents. <<

Left: White-cheeked gibbons are dual study subjects, with scientists observing their tool-use skills and mothering abilities. Above, left: Scientists are observing how the zoo’sGoeldi’s monkeys maintain their pair bond (one that has resulted in four offspring). Above,right: Francois’ langurs are part of a wide-ranging study examining whether older primatesexperience menopause.

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26 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

The zoo scientists are quick to clarify that their December tripto Puerto Rico wasn’t a tropical holiday. “We didn’t even seethe sun for the first half of the trip,” says Joanne Earnhardt,

Ph.D., director of the Alexander Center for Applied PopulationBiology. Between long hours spent indoors compiling populationdata and driving rain that washed out a wild release of the veryspecies that had drawn them to the island, their trip to the tropicsmight as well have been a wintry weekend back in Chicago, with raingear standing in for winter coats.

Of course, the Puerto Rican parrot doesn’t make its nest in LincolnPark. This critically endangered species is what prompted Earnhardt,Senior Population Biologist Sarah Long and Research Assistant CarrieSchloss to make their winter voyage. The only U.S. parrot, and one ofthe first species protected under the Endangered Species Act, thePuerto Rican parrot saw its numbers decline in parallel with theisland’s development. Habitat loss was the primary culprit, althoughhunting, hurricanes, predation by hawks, boas and introduced rats,and parasitism from warble flies impacted the population as well.

Whereas the bird’s population once numbered in the tens ofthousands, a 1930 survey identified 2,000 individuals on the island,and by 1975 the wild population had fallen to 13 parrots. In responseto this decline, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Puerto RicoDepartment of Natural and Environmental Resources established acaptive population in 1973 at the newly constructed Luquillo Aviary.This population produced its first chick in 1979 and has grown overtime—expanding to a second aviary, Rio Abajo, in 1993—to morethan 200 individuals in captivity.

So far, so good, from a conservation standpoint. The captivepopulation has grown, and the wild population increased as well,thanks to the placement of captive-born chicks in wild nests andbeginning in 2000, the release of adult birds to the wild. Today50–60 wild birds can be found in the El Yunque National Forestand Rio Abajo Forest Reserve.

This success has raised its own issues, however. As wildlife man-agers have discovered, it’s much easier to manage population data for13 parrots than several hundred. Aviary researchers had a wealth ofrecords stretching back for more than a decade—births and deaths,family trees and releases to the wild—but while the information wasdetailed, it wasn’t organized in one place.

“Each aviary had its own method for data collection,” explainsSchloss. “Different people recorded different information into differ-ent files, and there wasn’t a way to share all of the data at once.” Mostof the records were based on housing, chronicling the flow of parrotsin and out of, say, Cage 20. From a husbandry standpoint, this wasideal, but it made it difficult to follow a bird throughout its lifespan.While the parrot researchers had several hunches about the birds intheir care—they thought females might be breeding at younger agesand clutch sizes might be increasing over time—they didn’t have anyhard data to back them up.

That’s where Lincoln Park Zoo came in. Organizing data for smallpopulations is a zoo specialty. The Alexander Center for AppliedPopulation biology has even produced a special software program—PopLink—that zoos across the country use to organize their animalinfo. It made sense to take a similar approach with the island’s par-

Census in the Caribbean: Preserving the Puerto Rican ParrotBY JAMES SEIDLER

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rot population. As Earnhardt explains, “It’s much easier to see pop-ulation trends when all of your data is in one place.”

Of course, organizing several decades worth of data doesn’thappen overnight. The parrot researchers started the process by e-mailing all of their electronic records to Lincoln Park Zoo, whereSchloss and intern Alex Rekkas worked to enter it into a centraldatabase. Each parrot logged into the system inspired further ques-tions: was it still alive? Who were its parents? Had it been releasedto the wild? Answers came in further communiqués from theisland, although the scientists also exercised their sleuthing skills,finding a population record produced by researchers at theUniversity of Minnesota in 1994, a 1986 book on Luquillo’s parrotsand a 2003 scientific paper analyzing the history of Puerto Ricanparrot nests in the region.

Armed with this information, Earnhardt, Long and Schlosstraveled to Puerto Rico to finalize the data collection in person.They were immediately impressed by the scale of the parrot conser-vation effort. The Luquillo Aviary had constructed a new facility inOctober 2007, one featuring a nutrition center, a quarantine areaand even a secure hurricane room where parrots could ride outtropical storms.

The birds had a variety of open-air housing options, includingisolated single units for territorial birds and concentrated “con-dos” for more social squawkers. A flight cage the size of a gymna-sium served as a training ground for birds being prepared forrelease. Inside, parrots were able to seek out natural foods andbuild up their flight muscles for the wild. The zoo scientists wereeven recruited for a little personal training: “The parrots’ naturalinstinct is to fly away from people, so aviary personnel encour-

aged us to walk up for a closer look—it gave the birds a little exer-cise,” says Long.

The boundary between the aviary and the wild is a fluid one. Inthe wild, the parrots’ favored tree hollows remain in short supply,so aviary workers construct artificial nests to encourage breeding.Overhangs are installed above nests to protect against flooding andsnakes; built-in doors enable researchers to monitor the health ofthe chicks inside. Released parrots have even been known to returnto the aviary at dawn and dusk to chatter with old exhibitmates.

The zoo scientists came away with a healthy respect for the workbeing done on the island. They also came away with enough data tocreate a centralized population database with information on thelifespans and relationships of 612 Puerto Rican parrots, past andpresent. This information will assist conservation efforts by identi-fying population trends. In the future, it may even help to recom-mend the best birds for breeding or release to the wild.

Data collection is ongoing—a necessity for any living popula-tion—and the researchers in Puerto Rico are serving as collabora-tors in the process. Training sessions were conducted on the islandto teach the scientists there how to maintain the centralized data-base. They enter changes in real-time, the zoo offers a periodicreview and the Puerto Rican parrot population continues on itspath to recovery.

“We’re always looking for situations where our skills can be ofuse, and the Puerto Rican parrot program pairs talented collabora-tors with an interesting balance between captive management andwild release,” says Vice President of Conservation and ScienceDominic Travis, D.V.M. “It’s a perfect place for us to be.”

Even if it’s raining.

SPRING 2008 27

Above, left: The Luquillo and Rio Abajo aviaries provide Puerto Rican parrots with space to gather and chatter. Below, left: One of the 10 most endan-gered bird species, the Puerto Rican parrot has rebounded thanks to intensive captive-breeding efforts. Below, right: The scientists in Puerto Rico main-tained meticulous records on the birds in their care; Lincoln Park Zoo scientists helped organize this information into a central database.

<<

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28 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Hormones Open a Window into Well-being

Lincoln Park Zoo researchers have traveled to the plains ofTanzania, ventured into the rain forests of Brazil and trekkedacross the scrubland of the American Southwest. But even asthey study far-flung animal populations, improving our knowl-edge of chimpanzees, jaguars and black-footed ferrets, some oftheir most valuable research is taking place on zoo grounds.

From Sichuan takin to La Plata three-banded armadillos,pygmy hippos to pied tamarins, Endocrinologist RachelSantymire, Ph.D., of the Davee Center for Epidemiology andEndocrinology, is expanding our understanding of animal well-being. Her procedure is simple and nonintrusive—animals’feces are collected and processed to measure levels of stress andreproductive hormones.

These chemical signatures may provide a better understand-ing of fecundity and anxiety, providing curators and keeperswith another resource to ensure the best possible conditions forthe animals in their care.

Forecasting FertilityFor zoos, population management isn’t as simple as letting

nature take its course. Breeding is rooted in careful planning:mates are matched on the basis of family history to ensure max-imum genetic diversity and healthy long-term populations.Lincoln Park Zoo’s Population Management Center starts theprocess by analyzing records for animals throughout theAssociation of Zoos and Aquariums to identify the best choicesfor breeding.

After the numbers are in, Species Survival Plan (SSP) andPopulation Management Plan committees make annual breed-ing recommendations that take into account available space(you don’t want hippos with no place to house them) and pop-ulation demographics (births should be spread out to maintaina healthy age range).

Even the best population planning doesn’t ensure a smoothintroduction. Zoo pairings are often incremental affairs, withkeepers gradually acclimating animals to one another. This isparticularly true for species that are solitary in the wild, comingtogether only to breed. Regenstein African Journey’s pygmyhippopotamuses are one example; these diminutive mammalsspend most of their lives alone in West African waterways.Because of their aquatic homes and nocturnal lifestyles, little isknown about their behavior in wild. So when the Pygmy HippoSSP made the recommendation to introduce the zoo’s pair forbreeding, keepers were eager to have a little scientific data toback them up.

A Second Look:

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SPRING 2008 29

“Generally, the pygmy hippos don’t pay much attention toeach other,” says Curator of Mammals Dave Bernier. “They’rehoused in adjacent exhibits, so they can see, smell and hear oneanother, but most of the time there isn’t much interest.” When thefemale nears estrus, though, this indifference gives way to a vari-ety of breeding behaviors. Both pygmy hippos eagerly approachthe doors separating their enclosures, rapidly opening and clos-ing their mouths and offering grunts and vocalizations (Bernierlikens the sound to “raspberries”). The male defecates andspreads his feces to mark territory, and his skin produces a slimysecretion that bubbles and foams.

Even with this ample evidence of breeding intent, keepers haveto be cautious about introducing the hippos. Introduce them at theright time, and the result is breeding; introduce them a little tooearly or a little too late, and their natural tendency toward solitudecan result in aggression.

By evaluating the female pygmy hippo’s hormone levels overtime, Santymire’s work pinpoints the right time for introduction.Through collaboration with Regenstein African Journey keepers,the endocrinologist has determined a basic reproductive cycle andeven helped to verify the relationship between behavioralchanges—“raspberries,” feces spreading and all—and ovulation.

While the research has confirmed the accuracy of the keepers’observations, it has also required a departure from Santymire’susual methods. “The female hippo defecates in the water, whichrules out feces as a source,” says the scientist. “Instead, the keep-ers gather saliva. They feed her corn to get her to salivate and thengather the sample with a long swab. The result is a bit gooey, butit works.”

Similar work is taking place to map the reproductive cycles ofSichuan takin, La Plata three-banded armadillos, eastern black rhi-noceroses, Amur tigers and pied tamarins. In each case, Santymireand keepers are collaborating to answer key questions. How long isthe reproductive cycle? Is it seasonally based? When is the idealtime to introduce animals for breeding? By using science to betterunderstand species’ basic reproductive biology, Santymire and col-laborators can ease breeding at Lincoln Park Zoo and other insti-tutions across the country.

Promoting Peace in the PackIn zoos, as in the wild, many sources can have an impact on ani-

mal behavior. New neighbors, changing exhibits, temporary con-struction and even reproduction have the potential to influenceanimals. (The more severe stressors of the wild—finding food toeat and worrying about being eaten—are absent in zoo care.)

Evaluating the effect of these external factors is another areawhere Santymire’s hormonal studies can help—measuring stresshormones in feces can provide a window into well-being. But whilereproductive surveys verify the behavioral changes observed bykeepers, Santymire’s health studies are aimed at ensuring thatexcess anxiety isn’t occurring in the absence of behavioral changes.

One example can be seen with the zoo’s sable antelopes. In thewild, these social animals live in herds of up to 30 animals led by asingle male. Because these hoofed mammals are naturally adaptedto living in group settings, zoos strive to provide them with com-panions whenever possible.

Sable antelopes are also hierarchical animals, however, with aneed to establish a dominance structure within their group. Thisled to a zoo conundrum. A female sable antelope at the Antelope &Zebra Area was living alone after her companions had passed awaydue to old age. A suitable companion had been found—anotherolder female—but curators and keepers worried that an introduc-tion might lead to more competition than companionship.Toresolve the debate, fecal samples were collected before, during andafter the introduction of the horned pair. The results, compiled aspart of the research of Western Illinois University graduate studentErin Loeding, showed that shared housing was beneficial for bothanimals. “We didn’t see any behavioral issues prior to the introduc-tion—they were both eating well and acting normally,” saysBernier. “But the fecal hormone levels showed lower levels of stresshormones when the animals were housed together. That’s a simplequestion we couldn’t have answered any other way.”

“The results helped to validate the decision to introduce theseanimals,” says Vice President of Collections Robyn Barbiers,D.V.M. “We’d assumed that social housing would be beneficial forthem, but now we have data to back it up.”

Similar studies have been conducted in Regenstein Center forAfrican Apes and the Kovler Lion House to determine whethertemporarily shifting exhibits alters the comfort levels of the resi-dent apes and big cats. While analysis is still proceeding, the answerseems to be no, validating another Collections strategy.

“We have a great partnership,” says Santymire. “Keepers andcurators want to provide the best possible care for the animals, andwe can provide a way for them to evaluate their work.”

More projects await in the future, with plans in place to conductthe first hormonal study on a reptile, the prehensile-tailed skink.Even as she embarks on new efforts, Santymire is happy to knowshe has the support of the zoo’s keepers. “I can’t emphasize enoughhow crucial their support is,” she says. “Who else would be willingto gather hippo saliva?” <<

Left: Sable antelopes are a social species—they live in herds in thewild—but new introductions have the potential to spur competition. Byanalyzing stress hormones in the zoo’s antelopes, EndocrinologistRachel Santymire, Ph.D., has produced data showing the benefits ofcompanionship. Above: Pygmy hippos are naturally solitary animals,coming together only to breed. Reproductive surveys help keepers pin-point the right time for introductions.

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30 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

FamilyFamilyFun140 YEARS OF

he Commissioners of the Central Park, in answer to your requeston behalf of the Park Commissioners of your city, present to the cityof Chicago two pair of swans. These are of the stock presented sev-eral years since to our park by the cities of Hamburg and London,and will be with you, as they have been with us, a great popularattraction.

This prescient correspondence, as printed in the ChicagoTribune on August 27, 1868, marked the inception of Lincoln

Park Zoo 140 years ago. As predicted, the swans were a hit,and the zoo has grown ever since, adding even more amaz-

ing animals to its collection and advancing a mission ofconservation and education.

The snapshots that follow commemorate the zoo’s140th anniversary by representing a small sampling of

the zoo’s history. There are excerpts from the earliestanimal records—worn ledgers with neatly inkedentries noting births and new arrivals. There are

news clippings trumpeting the arrival of Bushman, thefirst gorilla to reside at Lincoln Park Zoo (and perhaps its mostfamous resident). And there are photos of generations of familiesenjoying a walk across zoo grounds. The fashions have changedover time—mirroring Lincoln Park Zoo’s revolutions in conser-vation and care—but the joy of experiencing wildlife hasremained constant.

Above: Families stroll zoo grounds around the end of the 19th century. Below: Handwritten records detailing new arrivals are a far departure fromthe computerized databases that enable today’s scientific planning.

T

<<

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Above: Newspapers trumpet the arrival of gorilla Bushman (right, pictured as a youngster), perhaps the zoo’s most famous resident. He was a fixture in the news-papers and film strips of his day; when he died in 1951, visitors filed past his empty cage for weeks to pay their respects. The collars and anthropomorphiz-ing photos seen reflect his era’s outdated views of animals. Today’s Lincoln Park Zoo is dedicated to placing animals in settings that mimic the wild, inspiringeducational opportunities for guests and natural behaviors from animals. Below, left: Visitors celebrate Independence Day in 1928 with a stroll past Eadie Levy’sLandmark Café. Below, right: Chicago police officers pose next to one of the zoo’s lions—a reminder of a past era’s laxer safety standards.

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Above: Children watch a carriage promenade down the zoo’s Main Mall. Below, left: Lincoln Park Board President David Jackson, with shovel, breaks groundfor the Helen Brach Primate House in 1928 with zoo Directors Alfred Parker (far right) and Floyd Young (second from right). Below, center: Visitors gather nextto the Dream Lady sculpture, which can still be seen at the north end of the Primate House. A note on the back of the photo offers contemporary commen-tary: “Eugene Field statue is beautiful but in bad location. People fall on steps frequently.” Below, right: Zoo Director Alfred Parker stands with a cheetah onDepression-era zoo grounds. The parading of animals was common at the time, reflecting less-enlightened attitudes toward conservation and care.

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King of the Jungle Summer ADOPTAnyone who has heard African lion

Adelor’s roar echo through Lincoln ParkZoo will attest that he certainly is theking of this jungle. Now you can ADOPTthis lion or one of his loyal subjects—aGrevy’s zebra, meerkat or Hoffman’s two-toed sloth.

Each package is $40 (plus $5 S&H)and includes a lion, zebra, meerkat orsloth plush, personalized ADOPT anAnimal certificate, animal fact sheet andan official ADOPT an Animal decal.

ADOPT an Animal packages can bepurchased at www.lpzoo.org, by calling312-742-2322 or on zoo grounds at thezoo shops, Gateway Pavilion or kiosks.

16–20 10 a.m.–3 p.m.Conservation Careers Camp(ages 13-15)Explore zoo careers in education, animalcare and conservation with Lincoln ParkZoo and the Great Lakes Region of Roots& Shoots of the Jane Goodall Institute.

20 SuperZooPicnic 6:30–9:30 p.m.This fun-filled annual memberevent will include music and danc-ing, behind-the-scenes tours, coolanimal crafts, free carousel and train rides,animal feedings, keeper chats and manymore fun, free activities.

Watch your mailbox for invitations.Check your e-mail for updates.SuperZooPicnic tickets are $8 in advance($10 at the gate) and can be ordered by

calling 312-742-2322. Children 5 andyounger are free and need no ticket.

23–2710 a.m.–3 p.m.

Conservation Careers Camp (ages 13–15)

Explore zoo careers ineducation, animal careand conservation withLincoln Park Zoo and

the Great Lakes Region ofRoots & Shoots of the Jane

Goodall Institute.

27 Jammin’ at the Zoo7-10:30pmJoin us for the wildest concerts in town,featuring popular acts rocking amid theanimals. Bands will be announced shortly.*Subsequent shows are July 25 and August 22

Join Our Team! We are looking for friendly and enthusi-astic people to join the zoo’s team ofemployees dedicated to providing out-standing service to guests. For a fun andrewarding part-time job, please visitwww.lpzoo.org or stop by GatewayPavilion for an application. Questions?Call Assistant Director of Guest ServicesChris Jorgensen at 312-742-2353.

calendarPrograms and Special Events

)(MAY6, 13 & 20 9:30 & 11 a.m.Tiny TykesThe Nose Knows (2-year-olds)Can you use your nose to find the zoo’sAfrican wild dogs, wolves and aardvark?

7, 14 & 219:30 & 11 a.m.Tiny TykesThe Nose Knows (2-year-olds)

8, 15 & 22 9:30 & 11 a.m.Tiny TykesUp, Down & All Around (3-year-olds)Enjoy a class about animals that move indifferent ways! Learn about the kanga-roo, white-cheeked gibbon and puma.

17 10–11:30 a.m.Bug Club (ages 5-7)Want to know how bugs spendthe winter? Or what makesMadagascar cockroaches hiss?Discover the wonder of bugs inthis class, which highlights a newspecies each month.

JUNE 6 Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo 23rd Annual Spring Benefit—A Night at the Flamingo Club8:30 p.m.–1 a.m.Guests will be transported to a swanky 1960s-inspired night club to rub elbows with theRat Pack while sipping on classic cocktails,enjoying delicious treats and rocking away tothe sounds of Maggie Speaks.

Cost: $110 general admission, $125 at thedoor, $200 for VIP tickets and $1,750 for 10VIP passes. Proceeds benefit the AuxiliaryBoard’s Endowed Fund for Conservation andScience. Please call 312-742-2163 or visitwww.lpzoo.org for more information.

Zoo members receive a discount on program registration. To register,

call 312-742-2053 or visitwww.lpzoo.org.

Youare

invited!

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PO Box 14903Chicago, IL 60614www.lpzoo.org

Non-profitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDLincoln Park Zoo

Your membership supports everything wedo, from animal care to publishing Lincoln

Park Zoo magazine. Thank you.

membership matters)(Coming soon! An online members’ community!The zoo’s web site (www.lpzoo.org) is soon to be upgraded. Sowhat does that mean for you? Zoo members will be able to:

•Check information on memberships•Renew their memberships or buy gift memberships for others

•Make contributions to the zoo’s Annual Fund•Update contact information, including address, phone and e-mail

•Manage subscriptions to Lincoln Park Zoo e-mails•Register for member activities and automatically receive member discounts

The new web site will be a living community. Keep youreyes open for more information in the coming months. Andin the meantime, continue to use the current web site. It’s stillpretty wild as it is!

Reciprocal BenefitAmong the many benefits of Lincoln Park Zoo membership isreciprocity with more than 100 other zoos and aquariumsaround the nation. As you travel in the coming months, takeadvantage of this benefit and enjoy free admission to LosAngeles Zoo, San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay or MiamiMetrozoo. Go to www.lpzoo.org/support/membership for afull reciprocal list. Just be sure to visit us once you return—Lincoln Park Zoo loves its members.

Year of the Frog…Year of Crisis

In this Year of the Frog, as designated bythe Association of Zoos and Aquariums(AZA), we celebrate the fragile beauty of

these weird and wondrous creatures.Lincoln Park Zoo is hosting educational

events throughout the year andexhibiting a variety of amphibian

species to educate andinspire visitors.

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