ZOONOOZ June 2015

inside june 2015

wildlife

All Hail the Whalehead King: The Shoebill

Beyond the eye-catching beak, many mysteries surround

these astonishing birds.

The Wind Beneath Our Wings: Life at the Avian Propagation CenterWhen bird parents cannot raise their chicks properly, skilled keepers are ready to nurture eggs and hatchlings. It’s quite a process!

The Appeal of BananasPeel back the layers of the banana’s story and discover a surprising history and lifestyle.

When Murphy Met Mina: Red River Hog Pair Getting Along “Swine”This darling dynamic duo is a match made in hog heaven.

conservation

explore

Conservation Corps: An Early Start at Making a Difference

Teenagers are taking a real “hands-on” approach to conservation.

Conservation: The Devil’s in the DetailsSan Diego Zoo Global is

working with agencies in Tasmania to save the

iconic marsupial, the Tasmanian devil.

on the cover: Shoebill stork Baleniceps rex

©Ken Bohn, SDZG Photographer

From the Archives

Support

Through the Lens

Chairman’s Note

You Said It

more

LAST MONTH, ON ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY, MAY 15, we held our “Rally 4 Rhinos” event at the Safari Park to call attention to the urgent need for rhino conservation and to encourage our members, visitors, and supporters to help spread the word. De-spite the rainy day, it was a great event. A highlight was the students from San Pasqual Union Elementary School in Escondido participating in a “crash mob” dance called the Rhino Romp. In the afternoon, a symposium was held at the Beckman Center with pre-sentations from the International Rhino Foundation, William C. Woody, Chief of Law Enforcement for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, and conservationist Iain Douglas-Hamilton from South Africa.

As part of the Rally 4 Rhinos campaign, the public was asked to spread the word about rhino poaching, writing “stop killing rhinos” on their hand, taking a photo, and posting the photo to social media using the hashtag #Rally4Rhinos. The campaign spread like wildfire, reaching around the world, with postings from South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, UK, France, Vietnam, Brazil, Russia, across the US, and more. More than 2,000 photos were shared in social media, and there were more than 19.5 million social media impressions, all centered on rhino conservation.

All species of rhinos in the wild are facing the worst poaching crisis in history. Only 25,000 black and white rhinos remain across all of Africa, and if the current poaching rates are not stopped, they could become extinct in the wild in the next 20 years. Greater one-horned rhinos face similar frightening circumstances, and the numbers of Sumatran and Javan rhinos are so low that they are already critically endangered.

As many of you know, rhinos are poached for their horns, despite the fact that they are made of keratin, the same material as human hair and finger-nails. Although international trade in rhino horn has been banned since 1977, the demand, particularly in Asia, is higher than ever. Today’s poachers are well

equipped and highly organized, using helicopters, machine guns, and veterinary drugs to kill rhinos and criminal syndicates to smuggle rhino horn. What you may not be aware of is that the US is actually a signifi-cant destination for rhino horn. In fact, California has the second largest market for it in the nation behind New York City. Some people may consider the rhino crisis to be something that happens elsewhere—but these illegal markets for rhino horn are right in our own backyard.

San Diego Zoo Global is committed to helping save rhinos from extinction. During Rally 4 Rhinos, we announced that we are building a rhino conserva-tion center barn at the Safari Park later this year. We plan to house and care for more southern white rhi-nos, establishing the Safari Park as a sanctuary to pro-tect these rhinos and their offspring until the poach-ing in Africa can be stopped. Researchers at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research also will move forward to explore the science necessary to preserve the genetics of the northern white rhino, and San Diego Zoo Global will continue to support the ban of rhino horn and ivory sales asked for by the proposed bill AB 96.

Saving rhinos will also require something equally as powerful: public perception, education, and par-ticipation. Public campaigns are underway in other countries to discourage the use of rhino horn, and our voices need to be heard here in the US as well. We will be continuing the momentum from Rally 4 Rhi-nos throughout this summer, with further activities to raise awareness for World Rhino Day on Septem-ber 22. In whatever way you can, I hope you will raise your voice to prevent the extinction of rhinos.

Robert B. HorsmanChairman

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

OFFICERSRobert B. Horsman, ChairmanSandra A. Brue, Vice ChairmanJudith A. Wheatley, SecretarySteven G. Tappan, Treasurer

BOARD OF TRUSTEESM. Javade Chaudhri

Berit N. DurlerRichard B. GulleyClifford W. Hague

Linda Lowenstine, D.V.M., Ph.D.Patricia L. Roscoe

TRUSTEES EMERITIFrank C. Alexander

Kurt Benirschke, M.D.Thompson Fetter

Bill L. FoxFrederick A. Frye, M.D.

George L. GildredYvonne W. LarsenJohn M. Thornton

Albert Eugene TrepteBetty Jo F. Williams

James Lauth,General Counsel

Douglas G. Myers, President/CEO

Charles L. Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus

THE FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

OFFICERSMurray H. Hutchison, Chair

Maryanne C. Pfister, Vice ChairSusan N. McClellan, Secretary

Richard M. Hills, TreasurerMark A. Stuart, President

Robert B. Horsman, Ex officioDouglas G. Myers, Ex officio

BOARD OF DIRECTORSChristine L. Andrews

Joye D. BlountRick BregmanLisa S. Casey

Douglas Dawson Berit N. Durler, Ex officio

U. Bertram Ellis, Jr.Arthur E. Engel

Craig L. GrosvenorJudith C. Harris

Michael E. KassanSusan B. Major

Michael D. McKinnonGeorge A. Ramirez

Thomas TullMargie Warner

Ed Wilson

Rhino Conservation in the Spotlight

chairman’s note

4 ZOONOOZ n JUNE 20154

5SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL n SANDIEGOZOO.ORG

Members get up closeFREE all year long!

Start your membership today. Call 619-718-3000 or visit sandiegozoo.org

It’s been a very magical day. @cocolarsen

I was born at Balboa Naval Hospital in 1963 and grew up in

SD until I was 14 yrs old. My fondest memories as a child was going to this zoo. I remember at age 12 my friends and I could ride the public bus and get into the zoo for 50 cents. I believe as long as you were of school age it only cost 50 cents! Those were the days!Kelly Griffin

Me feeding a Greater One-Horned #Rhino @sdzsafaripark in 2008. What a privilege! @corbinmaxey

Be careful Mom! Cat mothers are skilled at carefully picking up the

little ones with those intimidating teeth. Nindiri the Jaguar and her cub.Mike Wilson

Early morning with the Pandas!

Robin was awesome, and this is the perfect way to start your zoo day. So many adventures...so many memories. Dodi Balagna Morrison

ZOONOOZ n JUNE 2015

you said it

66

The mom is very protective so you

have to stay back but this little baby is ador-able!! #sandiegozoo@sandsusie

I really enjoy this new ex-

hibit at the Safari Park! I can really get up close with these beautiful tigers. Thanks again for all you do! Keep up the great work! Lindalea Lowrie-Griffith

Just hanging out with my new friends! #butterflyjungle

@littlekatelyn

Oh don’t mind me—I’m just on safari, hanging with a giraffe.

@foreveramber226

Thnx, had an amazing day! Kudos to your staff for replacing my new hat after it blew off the Skyfari.

I appreciate it!@JGGShopsDC

This is my big boy, Xiao Liwu

(Charlie). He was born in 2012, 3 months before I had brain surgery. He helped me to recuperate—he s till is helping me. #endextinctionPamela Teets


Grevy’s zebra Equus grevyi with foal

Photo by Ken BohnSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

through the lens

sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz

By Wendy PerkinsSTAFF WRITER

Photos by Ken BohnSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER


This page: The sharp, curved projection at the tip of a shoebill’s beak is used to hook prey. Opposite page: The name “shoebill” comes from the clog-like shape of this bird’s mighty beak. These birds belong to Order Pelecaniformes, along with pelicans.


eird can be wonderful—and that’s certainly true of the shoebill stork

Baleniceps rex. The shoebill’s char-acteristic, oversized beak is a stand-

out and an important adaptation, odd-looking yet marvelous when its uses

are revealed. While the bill is certainly a scene-stealer, there’s more to this reclu-

sive African bird than its mighty mandibles. From its specialized feeding niche to its zen-like hunting strategy to its nesting habits, the shoebill stork is an astonishing wonder.

W

A shoebill’s long legs make it well adapted to keeping most of its body dry as the bird wades through its marshy habitat.


Standing about five feet tall, shoebill storks live in some of the most inaccessible habitat on the planet: the upper Nile’s dense marshes and impenetrable swamps. This is a realm choked with papyrus and other aquatic flora. As hippos and elephants plow through the area, they open channels in the vegetation, which become prime real estate for shoebills. These birds prefer open areas that allow for a quick fly-out if danger comes near. One benefit of this habitat is a rich supply of food in the form of fish, frogs, and large invertebrates.

ALL IN

When it comes to procuring a meal, hunting is not exactly the best descriptor for the shoebill’s technique. They don’t stalk prey—they wait

for it. Positioned on floating mats of vegetation, a shoebill stands stock still. If it needs to move to improve its posi-tion, it does so deliberately and oh-so-slowly. Beak tucked to its chest, the bird watches the water for fish to rise to the surface. Because the water in this area is so low in oxygen, fish must come to the surface to gulp air. When they do, the shoebill makes its move—and what a move it is!

In the blink of an eye and with maw agape, the bird launches its body forward in a powerful lunge that looks a bit like a belly flop. Before another blink, the bird has a mouthful of food. But before it can swallow its meal, it has a little sorting out to do; along with the fish or frog, the bird has scooped up floating vegetation as well. Once the tangle of plants and debris is out of the way, small prey is swallowed whole. Larger catches like lungfish are efficiently chopped into chunks by the sharp edges of the shoebill’s powerful beak.

APPEARANCE AND ALIAS

How this African bird came by its common name is as plain as the beak on its face. The name shoebill comes from the Arabic moniker for the species,

abu markub, meaning “father of the shoe” due to its re-semblance to clog-type foot apparel. These birds are also known by another name: whale-headed stork.

In his lifetime, noted 19th-century ornithologist and artist John Gould observed and painted thousands of birds. The man had just about seen it all. Yet, in his docu-mentation of the first shoebill specimen he received, he deemed it “…the most extraordinary bird I have seen for many years.” Gould dubbed the species Baleniceps rex, meaning “king whalehead.” The name fits; the tall bird is indeed regal in posture and movement, and the beak does resemble the head of a baleen whale: flat on top with a wide, convex lower portion. No matter what common name is used, it always comes back to that impressive eight-inch-wide bill. And rightly so—that beak is key to the bird’s existence.

SCOOP AND TELL

Used in breeding and nesting, the shoebill’s as-tonishing beak is truly a multipurpose tool. It’s used not only for catching food but also for com-

munication. Shoebills are monogamous by nature. Both partners work together to build the nest, scouring their territory for suitable material. When they return, they greet each other with a bobbing dance accompanied by bill clattering. The sound of the mandibles clapping to-gether repeatedly has a deep, hollow quality. It’s believed

A small fish like this may be

swallowed whole, but larger fish

are first chopped into chunks by the

shoebill’s sharp-edged beak.

PH

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SDZG


that the sound produced by a male and a female differ, because their bills are slightly different in size (males’ are larger).

To build the nest, the pair “sews” grasses into an ex-isting platform of plant material. They use their toes to work the material in and jump up and down on it to press it in more securely. It’s a two-stage construction project. First, a nest mound measuring about nine feet in diam-eter is established. On top of that, the birds place a three- to five-foot-wide nest of softer grasses and stems.

Both male and female incubate the eggs. They alternate sitting on the nest, turning the eggs and monitoring the temperature. Keeping the clutch of one to three eggs warm is important, of course, but in their habitat, shoebills must also keep them from overheat-ing. Again, that remarkable bill comes in handy.

Scorching temperatures and the high humidity of their habitat can sometimes reach extreme levels. Shoebills have frequent ly been observed pouring beakfuls of water over eggs in the nest and later over their chicks. The gush of liquid cools things off immediately thanks to the effects of evapo-rative cooling.

IN SEARCH OF THE GREAT

UNKNOWN

Although we know bits and pieces of their natural history, many

aspects of shoebill life remain a mystery. “Typically, inacces-sible habitats like The Sudd make it extremely difficult to study species like this,” said Michael Mace, curator of birds at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. One of the unanswered questions about shoebills is how many there are. The In-ternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) describes the population as “…widely but very locally distributed …from South Sudan to Zambia.” Estimates conservatively suggest a total population of 5,000 to 8,000 individuals. But IUCN points out that this could be low and that further study is needed.

In 1988, the Safari Park received five shoebills. At the time, they were the first of their kind in the US, and even today there are fewer than a dozen in zoos in this country. “This is an opportunity to study them in an ac-

cessible environment,” said Michael. “When you have populations that are low in the wild, it’s important to un-derstand their natural history and reproductive cycles, so that if populations decline, we have the resources to help them—as San Diego Zoo Global has helped California condors, loggerhead shrikes, and alala.”

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

In the late 1990s, a huge flight aviary designed to en-courage breeding was built in an off-exhibit area at the Park. The vegetation planted back then has ma-

tured, creating a lush marsh-like habitat for the two shoebills that inhabit it. Three ponds, stocked with fish and frogs, allow the birds to feed in their species-typi-

cal fashion while misters and sprinklers simulate the humid-ity and rainy season of their native habitat. An observation booth allows staff to gather more information about them. One thing they’ve learned is that the birds nest away from where they eat.

The pair that lives there now started building nests about three years ago but did not lay eggs. That changed last fall. The first clue keepers had that the birds were up to something was a shift in their behavior. “They became very defensive of their nest,” ex-plained Andrew Stehly, lead keeper. “Instead of just ignor-ing us as we serviced the avi-ary, they would take wing and land right in front of us, staring us down.” On a previ-ously installed closed-circuit camera, the keepers saw why: a single egg on the nest. Unfor-

tunately, the egg never hatched. One morning, about two weeks after staff estimated it should hatch, the egg disap-peared. The parents had pushed it out of the nest, as birds sometimes do when an egg is not viable.

The bird team at the Safari Park is looking forward to next year, hoping for a successful hatch so they can learn more about these impressive birds. “Shoebills serve as ambassadors for the importance of African wetlands,” said Michael. “Wetland conservation is critical, and what benefits this iconic species also benefits other ani-mals and plants in the habitat.” Hopefully, as knowledge grows, conservation flows. Long live King Whalehead! n

The structure of a shoebill’s mouth makes it appear that the bird is smiling (or in this case, laughing)—an illusion that only adds to the bird’s mystery.


Tucking its huge bill tightly to its chest gives the shoebill a better view of whatever prey may pass before it.

PH

OTO

BY

SDZG

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL n SANDIEGOZOO.ORG 15

WHEN MURPHY

MET MINA: RED RIVER

HOG PAIR GETTING ALONG“SWINE”

By Peggy ScottASSOCIATE EDITOR


rom the tips of their comical ears to the end of their non-curly tai ls, red r iver hogs

Murphy and Mina simply ex-ude porcine personality. Smart, sassy, and possessing startlingly sharp senses of humor, the pair is creating a stir in Urban Jungle at the Zoo—and beginning to hog all the attention!

F

Murphy (left) is larger than Mina, but her personality more

than makes up for the size difference!




“Mina loves her walks with her keepers.

She always wants ‘her’ people with her.”

A stroll through Zoo grounds with her trainers is one of Mina’s favorite pastimes.



Pig TalesRed river hogs can’t help turning heads—they certainly are eye-catching animals. The “fanciest” of the wild swine, these pretty African piggies sport reddish-brown coats with a white crest running along their spine. Both males and females have tusks, but the males’ tusks are larger. The red river

hog’s most characteristic feature, however, has to be its long, cartoonish ears, tipped with tassel-like tufts. And that happens to be where Murphy and Mina stand out even among others of their species. Murphy’s ears were injured early in life so he doesn’t have ear tufts, and young Mina’s have yet to grow in. Even if they weren’t so unusual

looking, however, the Zoo’s newest dynamic hog duo would somehow manage to get no-ticed.

“They are partners in crime—always on a ‘search-and-destroy,’ mischief mission,” says Kelly Elkins, a lead animal trainer with the Zoo’s Backstage Pass experience. “They are sometimes too smart for their own

A born ham, Mina is a

Backstage Pass star in the making.


good. And Mina is always the ringleader!” Since they’ve joined forces, they seem ador-ably unstoppable.

Nine-year-old Murphy is well known to Zoo regulars. For several years, he hammed it up in shows at Hunte Amphitheater. His stage career earned him quite a loyal following. “He has a fan club,” Kelly admits. “People visit him every day.” These days, his admirers will notice that Murphy’s act has expanded to include his partner.

Wilhelmina (“Mina” to her friends) came to the Zoo from the Safari Park, where she was hand-raised, along with her brother, “Iggy the Piggy.” With her outgo-ing nature and obvious star quality, Mina was the logical choice when Backstage Pass had an opening for a new cast member. Be-cause this species is social—like most wild pigs—keepers thought the spirited little hog would make a good companion for Murphy, who could use a pal. But their initial meet-ing didn’t go quite as planned. “She was only five months old when she came here,” Kelly explains. “And so when they were in-troduced, she went over and tried to nurse from him. He froze and gave us the funniest ‘what is going on?’ look. But he was such a good sport.”

Awkward first impressions aside, the hogs are settling into cozy cohabitation, napping together and happily sharing food—an herbivore diet of pellets, root veg-etables, greens, and grass hay. Fruit, a spe-cial treat, is saved to camouflage medicine, should that need arise. Murphy is quite fond of yams and carrots, but Mina seems content with her pellets.

As with all relationships, there has been a bit of compromise. Mina is one-third Mur-phy’s size, but she is 100 percent in charge. “She rules the roost, and established that early on,” Kelly says. “She stands on his back, pulls on his ears, nips at his legs, all kinds of normal pig communication stuff. Female are typically in charge. He could certainly put a stop to things if he wanted to, but he’s so pa-tient with her.” Which isn’t to say he doesn’t let his feelings be known—or at least that’s what his keepers think. “She had been really active one day, and when we came in the next morning, we saw Murphy had bumped one of the food tubs up against the door of their

little log cabin, sort of ‘locking’ her in. We laughed about it and said he probably got a good night’s sleep that day!”

Snout and AboutFor these intelligent animals, stimulation and enrichment are crucial. They play elaborate games of hide-and-seek with their keepers: “They hide things—like pool drains—in their exhibit and we try to find them,” Kelly explains. Murphy and Mina also enjoy strolls through the Zoo—accompanied, of course. “Mina loves her walks with her keepers,” Kel-ly says. “She always wants ‘her’ people with her.” Murphy, on the other hand (or hoof), is always widening his social circle. “He loves when Sophia and Zari, the miniature Mediterranean donkey and Grant’s zebra that live nearby in Ur-ban Jungle, stop by on their walks to the animal ambassador area. He greets them through the fence at the front of his en-closure, and then turns his rump around, hoping they’ll give him a little scratch.”

With their distinct—and different—personalities, Murphy and Mina might be a perfect pig pair. “She’s so active and has such a nose for trouble, and he is such a sweet pig,” Kelly says, fondly. “They are turning into BFFs, though. They move stuff around in their exhibit together, nap together, forage together.” Sounds like a match made in hog heaven! n

“She stands on his back, pulls on his ears, nips at his legs, all kinds of normal pig communication. Females are typically in charge. He could certainly put a stop to things if he wanted to, but he’s so patient with her.”

A stage veteran, Murphy works well with many trainers, including Mark Freeland.


By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER


THE WIND

BENEATH OUR WINGS:

LIFE AT THE AVIAN

PROPAGATION CENTER


The ABCs of the APCThe APC is made up of three “strings”: one for incubating and hand-raising, and two for off-exhibit breeding. This behind-the-scenes area is impeccably clean and tidy. “Bird eggs are porous and susceptible to disease,” ex-plained Jessica, so rigorous cleaning is done regularly. Bird enclosures are kept neat, in-cubators are disinfected monthly, and both incubator rooms are sterilized weekly. Some enclosures house more than one bird spe-cies. “Doves and pigeons are generally more peaceful,” said Jessica, “while babblers can be destructive and aggressive to each other and outsiders.” The birds behave differently while keepers are openly watching them, so staff must be discreet to get the true picture of the avian dynamics. They monitor the birds’ be-havior surreptitiously from the walkway or by observing real-time, closed-circuit cam-era footage in the APC office. Keepers agree that getting the birds to reproduce—espe-cially new pairings—is the biggest challenge.

Privacy helps, but so can just the right nest-ing material, a favorite food, and seasonal cues. But once the birds breed, they may not be the best parents, so “we depend on the APC staff to hatch and rear many of our birds,” said Dave Rimlinger, curator of birds at the Zoo. “I am always impressed how our staff can often successfully raise a species on the first try!”

(Roll) Over Easy Sometimes eggs are pulled from the nest so the birds will lay more, thereby increasing the chances of survival and the potential overall number of chicks. When keepers collect the delicate eggs from a nest, they are placed in one of several incubators that can be adjusted to incubate that species. Jessica pointed out that different species require different “dry temperatures, wet temperatures, and rate of egg turning” to survive. Smaller eggs need more turns per day than do larger eggs; both require less turning closer to hatching. For

instance, parrot eggs need a dry tempera-ture of 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit, while kiwi eggs incubate best at 97 degrees Fahrenheit. The latter also need a cover over the incuba-tor window, since wild kiwis are nocturnal and nest underground. Eggs never “see” the light of day, and letting light into the incuba-tor can jeopardize survival. Eggs of species that come from an arid environment, like the pygmy falcon, typically require less humidity in their incubator.

Keepers monitor the eggs closely and record development milestones. “Develop-ing eggs all go through the same stages, just at different times,” said Jessica. Incuba-tion times range from 9 to 11 days for the crested coua to 75 days for the kiwi. Each egg has a weight-loss spreadsheet, and gath-ering this data is a quiet and efficient event. A keeper removes the egg from the incuba-tor and places it in warm millet to minimize jostling. The egg is candled by holding it in front of a bright light to observe embryonic

hysical labor, hard science, math-ematical skills, patience, and a gentle touch all come into play at the Zoo’s Avian Propagation Center (APC). Breeding some of the rarest birds on the planet is a wondrous though sometimes

perplexing task. Each species (and indi-vidual) has its own needs, preferences, and

idiosyncrasies that can impact successful reproduction. Meticulous records are kept on each egg so keepers can discern what works and what doesn’t for success-ful hatchings. There are several steps to fledging a chick, from the moment the egg is laid: one or both parents must incubate the egg properly, ensure that the chick can pip its way out of the shell, feed the youngster’s voracious appetite, and keep it safe until it is ready to leave the nest. When things don’t go as planned, highly skilled keepers and veterinarians at the Zoo are ready to intervene. “Parent-reared chicks are always our preference,” said Jessica Theule, senior keeper at the APC. “But if we detect difficulties in the nest, we are prepared to hand raise chicks if necessary.”

The APC keeps records of every egg laid and hatched at the Zoo; last year 2,300 eggs were documented and tracked. The APC serves as the rearing and holding area for birds going on grounds at the Zoo and Safari Park and to other institutions. “We are committed to conservation efforts for a lot of different species,” said Jessica. “From assurance populations to education to using our knowledge to help species in the wild, like the mangrove finch in the Galápagos Islands, our work here has a far-reaching impact.”

P Candling an egg reveals if

it is fertile and how the chick is

developing.


development. It is carefully weighed then quickly returned to the incuba-tor. Eggs weigh less as they get closer to hatching, so tracking progress and comparing it to established baseline data is key. Candling reveals another clue that hatching is imminent: the air cell at the large end of the egg increases in size. This structure provides oxygen to the chick during the hatching pro-cess. Many species have an egg tooth, a sharp projection on the bill, that is used to crack the shell from the inside and pip their way to freedom.

Post Pip: The Brooder RoomThe APC brooder room has cozy, tem-perature- and humidity-controlled boxes that house the newly hatched. Often still featherless, the tiny creatures must be kept warm and nourished. Not only do diets vary among chicks, but so does the feeding style. Some boxes have the word “ghost” taped to the outside, meaning that keepers must wear a cam-ouflage outfit for feedings to prevent the chicks from imprinting on humans. A four-day-old pelican receives chunks of chopped fish from a “ghost” keeper. Un-usual among birds, pelicans hatch with their eyes open, but sometimes they need help getting the fish to the right place. Once in its mouth, the wobbly, pink chick throws its head back like as if it were taking a shot of whiskey to get the fish down. It takes several moments for the food to pass down the gullet to the stomach. With feedings taking sev-eral minutes, baby pelicans rest on a heated pad for their meals, unlike other birds that scarf down their food so fast they are back in their toasty abode be-fore they catch a chill.

Sometimes these “avian amateurs” run into health issues. Recently, three fuzzy, black-and-white long-toed lap-wings came to the APC because one of them had injured its long toes. The toes were wrapped and separated with soft medical tape so they would heal prop-erly. Neonatal avian care at its finest!

The APC handles

everything from emus to

hummingbirds. Big or small,

they raise them all!

Staff at the APC have a gentle

touch, endless patience,

and intimate knowledge of

their charges.

All aspects of the Avian Propagation Center are kept clean and tidy to protect the eggs.

PH

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BY

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MY

SPR

ATT,

SD

ZG


Tracking a bird’s weight is a sure way

to monitor its health. These young owls are

much calmer when weighed together.



PH

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TAM

MY

SPR

ATT,

SD

ZG P

HO

TOG

RAP

HER

The goal of the APC is to

produce healthy birds, like this adult cock-of-

the-rock.

It is a magical transformation

from a wobbly chick to a mature cock-of-

the-rock bird.

Challenges and VictoriesThe Andean cock-of-the-rock is ex-ceedingly rare in zoos. The APC first reared them in the 1980s, then the spe-cies was out of the collection for several years. When we acquired them again, they were still a rarity. Now, the tide is turning for this species, since the ex-perts at Dallas World Aquarium have been very successful at raising them, as has the APC, with eight chicks fledged in 2014. It is hoped that one day soon, this avian wonder will become more common in zoos and in the wild.

The vainly named beautiful sun-bird is another challenging species, because spiders are its primary food. In 2013, keepers had staff and volunteers throughout the Zoo collecting thou-sands of daddy long leg spiders to feed to the parents to share with their chick. It was a colossal effort, but it paid off and the chick fledged (he now lives at

the Safari Park). The following year, a beautiful sunbird egg was hatched and the chick was reared at the APC. It was fed a diet of tasty cricket abdomens, and the tiny chick, weighing a mere 0.63 grams at hatch, thrived. The APC is also home to the only pair of Blyth’s tragopans in the US. It is hoped that this gorgeous pheasant will soon have a nestful of youngsters—or at least eggs. The talented staff at the APC can take it from there. n

All this “eggs-pertise” is shared when San Diego Zoo Global hosts an annual Incubation Workshop, which people from zoos and conservation programs from around the world attend. Using chicken eggs, attendees are versed in embryo development, incubation management, and what to do when things go wrong.

This Dalmatian pelican chick

already has a voracious

appetite.


THE APPEALOF BANANAS

By Wendy PerkinsSTAFF WRITER

Photos by Tammy SprattSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

ananas do not grow on trees. It’s true! The plant’s long, broad leaves

are supported by a single stout structure called a pseudostem, which only

looks like a tree trunk. But banana plants are actually

considered giant herbs. They are herbs that bear fruit—which means, botanically speaking, that

the fruit is a berry. Intrigued? That’s just the beginning.

B


TROPICAL AND ANCIENTBanana plants belong to the genus Musa. Wild bananas are found throughout Southeast Asia today, but they are mostly inedible to humans. Containing little fruit and many hard seeds, they are too much work for too little gain for Homo sapiens, but they are a boon to wildlife.

The bananas we eat are seedless. It is believed this mutation was first noticed and nurtured by humans in Southeast Asia circa 8,000 to 5,000 B.C.E. Ar-cheological findings suggest humans in the Kuk Valley of New Guinea may have been the first to domesticate the plant. Other evidence suggests that spontaneous domestication may have also occurred soon after in other parts of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. From there, domesticated Musa plants were carried across the tropics and cul-tivated over hundreds of years. As Musa spread, so did the diversity.

BANANA-COPIAAsked to draw a banana, most people would sketch something resembling a curved cylinder narrowing to a point at both ends. That’s what is most commonly seen in the produce section—often our only exposure to the fruit. Yet among the well over 1,000 types of domesticated bananas, there exists a range of shapes and sizes. Some are round as a bowl-ing ball, others long and straight. Cer-tain types are short and thick, some are pear shaped, and a few look like nothing else—especially not the bananas we typi-cially buy at the grocery store.

The names given to the plethora of ba-nana varieties are often vividly descriptive: False Horn (long and straight); Praying Hands (pieces grow close together, some-times even fused); Monkey Fingers (excep-tionally long, slender, and slightly curved); and the astonishing Hapai (“pregnant” in Hawaiian) banana, so named because the fruit develops inside the trunk! An abun-dance of fruit flies and ants on the trunk of a Hapai banana plant is a sign that the fruit inside is ripe. To harvest the bananas, the farmer carefully cuts the central stalk open and pulls the fruit out.

A banana plant’s inflorescence

takes the form of a long stalk. Mature female blossoms become bananas. Maroon bracts of the terminal bud lift to reveal the

male flowers.

Right: Sprouts called “pups” emerge

from the rhizome beneath the soil surface.

Below: A “bunch” of bananas is all the fruit

on a single stalk. The smaller bundle we buy in

stores is more correctly called a “hand.”


31

MUSA SPEAKAround the world, different human cultures have developed their own Musa species. Some are called plantain instead of banana, and there is a noticeable difference between the two. Starchy plantains are cooked before being eaten. They have a low-moisture content (65 percent on average), contain little sugar, and are not good eaten raw. Bananas contain more moisture (83 percent on average) and a higher sugar content, which makes them delicious to humans when eaten raw.

Whether the subject is plantain or banana, there’s a simple lexicon for refer-encing the harvest—and most of us have been saying it wrong. A single banana is called a finger. About 20 fingers make up a “hand,” and multiple hands grow in a bunch, also known as a stalk. Depending on the variety, a bunch of bananas may contain 3 to 20 hands!

HOME GROWNBeing tropical, bananas require great quantities of water, heat, and rich humus-type fertiliz-ers. In warm climates like those found in the southern US and many Mediterranean coun-tries, growing bananas has be-come a popular pastime for gardening enthusiasts. New va-rieties pop up frequently, bred for the home garden market.

The San Diego Zoo cul-tivates 24 species of banana plants on its 100-acre grounds. The leaves and stalks are har-vested and given to our pri-mates and elephants as browse. The fruit sometimes supple-ments the commercial bananas purchased to feed many ani-mals in the collection. In our Mediterranean climate, it takes a good 2 years to reach fruiting, whereas in the tropics it takes 12 to 14 months, depending on the variety.

The Zoo’s Musa collection not only provides nutrition and enrichment for the ani-mals, it also adds to the beauty of the grounds. Clusters of stout trunks and long, broad, deep green leaves create a lush, tropical feel, and visitors can see what plant produces this favored fruit. For all these rea-sons, bananas are a truly ap-pealing group of plants. n

It begins with just one leaf.... Generally, a banana plant produces 40 leaves before fruiting.

New banana leaves—called “cigar leaves” because of their tightly rolled shape—emerge one at a time from the center of the stalk.

The veins in a banana leaf do not branch as in some other plants, making them tear easily when disturbed.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL n SANDIEGOZOO.ORG

32 ZOONOOZ n APRIL 2015

CONSERVATION:

IN THEDETAILS

DEVIL’STHE


DETAILS

DEVIL’S

By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER


It is the largest car-nivorous marsu-pial in the world. It is solitary and nocturnal, roam-ing nearly 10 miles by night looking

to scavenge or hunt whatever is available. Powerful jaws and teeth enable it to consume its prey—bones, fur, and all. Though barely bigger than a beagle, it has a fierce and effective vocal rep-ertoire, from harsh coughs and snarls to high-pitched shrieks, especially when bellied up to a large carcass or vying for a mate. When early European settlers encountered the famously ferocious mammal, they dubbed it a “devil” and tacked on its geographic range to avoid confusion: the Tasmanian devil Sar-cophilus harrisii. But something the creature cannot stave off with its wily ways or ear-splitting shrieks is devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a highly contagious, consistently fatal cancer that starts in the mouth and moves to the animal’s face. It is found only in this species. The disease has already decimated 85 percent of wild devils since 1996. The unusual affliction has created a crisis for this species that re-quires commitment and collaboration to combat, and San Diego Zoo Global is con-tributing expertise and support to this pressing conservation cause. “It is an urgent situation,” said Bob Wiese, Ph.D., chief life science officer of San Diego Zoo Global. “We need to find ways to re-establish Tasmanian devils throughout their historic range and keep the animals free of this aggressive and fatal disease.”

Opposite page: Researchers around the world are working together to save the Tasmanian devil. This page: Famed for its ear-splitting shriek, the Tasmanian devil has many other talents—like being the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world!


Safe HavenResearchers are working diligently on sev-eral fronts to save the Tasmanian devil. Breeding centers, including the Trowunna Wildlife Park in Tasmania, are working to-gether to form disease-free populations that can be reintroduced to the wild. These as-surance populations are critical to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP). To facilitate breeding and natural behavior, devil enclosures are spacious and complex with climbing structures, hiding places, and nest material.

The University of Sydney is a leader in genetic sequencing of the Tasmanian devil. This expertise will be used to monitor ge-netic variation in the devils being bred in zoos and breeding facilities. San Diego Zoo Global is contributing $500,000 to this proj-ect, including funding geneticist Catherine Grueber, Ph.D., at the university. Her con-servation work will help maximize genetic diversity within assurance populations.

Protected LandscapeA vast river separates the Tasman Penin-sula from the mainland, making it a man-

ageable location to reintroduce devils and monitor them. A fence has been built across the narrow isthmus to keep out devils that may have DFTD and could spread the dis-ease. Catch-and-release traps made out of PVC pipe are baited and set around the area. When a Tasmanian devil is caught, biologists take a series of measurements; check its body condition; closely inspect its mouth, since tumor cells are transmitted through biting and emerge there first; mi-crochip the animal; and collect tissue sam-ples. This project is “worthwhile because it is the only way we can actually stop the disease from getting into the population,” explained Bill Brown, wildlife biologist for STDP. The re-wilding of this peninsula will be a critical and ongoing process in saving the Tasmanian devil.

Maria Island, a picturesque ecosystem isolated from the mainland, is an ideal habi-tat in which to translocate healthy Tasma-nian devils. To date, more than 80 adult ani-mals inhabit the island, from a release cohort of 27. Researchers continue to monitor the animals through 14 video-camera traps set throughout the island, as well as observing telltale signs of them, such as their unmistak-able scat. In addition to the devils’ activities, the camera traps reveal other native creatures like echidnas and wombats. It is a long-term investment in Tasmanian devils. “We knew it wasn’t going to be a dump-and-run exercise,” said Drew Lee, translocation team leader with STDP. This is a collaborative effort to resuscitate populations of this iconic species, including laboratories, breeding centers, se-lect zoos around the world, and San Diego Zoo Global.

Our DevilsKatie Tomlinson, senior keeper at the Zoo, attended a workshop on Tasmanian devil husbandry at Trowunna Wildlife Park in the hopes that we would one day be chosen to exhibit the devils. Happily, in 2013, San Di-ego Zoo received four Tasmanian devils for our Conrad Prebys Australian Outback ex-hibit: three males named Conrad, Nick, and Jake, along with Debbie, a female. Katie has worked with them from day one and con-siders them her “little pride and joys.” The animals have settled in nicely and each has

Maria Island is a scenic ecosystem isolated from the mainland. It is an ideal habitat in which to translocate healthy Tasmanian devils.Researchers continue to monitor the animals through 14 video camera traps set throughout the island, as well as observing telltale signs like their unmistakable scat.

San Diego Zoo Global is funding the work of a geneticist at the University of Sydney to better monitor genetic variation among devils being bred in zoos and breeding facilities.


Camera traps reveal the secrets of the forest, like echidnas and wombats.

Researchers take several measurements of the devils to monitor their health.

Tasmanian devils are collected in a simple and safe trap, which researchers check frequently.

The animal’s mouth is inspected closely, as the devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is transmitted by bite.

Tasmanian devils are collected

in a simple and safe trap, which

researchers check frequently.

Tasmanian devils are well-suited for making their way through the night in search of carrion and other small animals to eat.



its own personality: Jake is no longer tearing up the plants in his exhibit (in his defense, digging is natural for these animals), Con-rad enjoys peering at his food-bearing keep-ers through the exhibit door, Debbie shows her keen intelligence when she’s not feeling ornery, and Nick has totally embraced the laid-back Southern California lifestyle. The animals are rotated between the four ex-hibits, with new scents and different hiding and basking spots providing enrichment. They are “scatter fed” throughout the day, which keeps them active and engaged. As

dyed-in-the-wool carnivores, they get mice, beef parts, fish, and big juicy bones—there are never leftovers! The devils’ biggest job is to teach visitors about the health plight of their wild counterparts, while dispelling the dervish reputation of the species. “We have a great opportunity to introduce them to people here in the US, and show that they are not just a cartoon character,” said Katie. Inspiring people to care about these unusual marsupials and working with other organi-zations to save them from extinction is our mission. And it’s not impossible. n

Shout Out: We are pleased to collaborate with the Tasmanian government’s Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, The University of Sydney, and the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia to help save the Tasmanian devil from extinction.

Four Tasmanian devils reside at the San Diego Zoo at the Conrad Prebys Australian Outback.

Devils are curious and intelligent animals, each with its own distinct personality.


Conservationcorps:

An Early Start at Making a Difference

Conservation Corps members give nature a helping hand.


Folks lamenting about “kids today” haven’t met the young people who devote their time and energy as members of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Con-servation Corps. These high school students have made a commitment to making a difference, and that dedication is helping shape a more promising future for wildlife. In return, participants gain confidence-building skills and the pride of know-ing they’re helping build a better tomorrow—one day, and one project, at a time.

Conservation Corps is a hands-on program for teens in-terested in conservation, science, public speaking, and com-munity service. Conservation Corps members help make a difference in two different ways. “The students participate in four ‘Action Days’ and four ‘Interpretation Days’ each semester,” explains Sasha Stallard, education manager at the Safari Park. “They work with various San Diego Zoo Global staff members on real conservation projects in the field as well as on Safari Park grounds, where they share information with guests about wildlife and conservation, using artifacts, biofacts, and interactive games.”

Getting Their Hands DirtyIn February 2015, participants from Conservation Corps and the San Diego Zoo’s Zoo Corps, along with members of their families, rolled up their sleeves and dug into a project at Lake Hodges. The volunteers helped plant 825 native plants as part of an ongoing project to help restore habitat that was destroyed by the 2007 wildfires. This particular project began in 2014, with the goal of planting 20,000 native shrubs across 25 acres around the lake by 2016. To date, more than 10,000 plants have taken root as part of this green-thumb group effort. It was spearheaded by the team from the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research Applied Plant Ecology division, in conjunction with the San Dieguito River Park,

By Peggy Scott ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Photos by Tammy SprattSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

Symbolic fencing will help protect snowy plover and lesser tern nesting areas at Breaker’s Beach in Coronado.


with a Wildlife Conservation Society Climate Adaptation grant and a Climate Ready grant from the State Coastal Conservancy.

“Having the Conservation Corps and Zoo Corps teens help on this restoration project has been great,” notes Christa Horn, conservation program specialist at the Institute. “The teens volunteering have been vital to the success of this important conservation project. They have accomplished so much while getting to spend time outdoors, connect-ing with nature.”

Taking part in such projects has given some participants an outlet for their personal interests. “Animals are my passion,” says one Con-servation Corps member. “I love every moment I am involved in help-ing either a species or a habitat. Every time I leave CC I feel good about what I have accomplished.”

The experience is just as rewarding for program organizers. “This program is a favorite part of my job!” Sasha says. “The students in this program inspire and amaze me every time we get together. Their drive, determination, and interest in having an active role in conservation education gives me hope, not only for the future of San Diego Zoo Global but also for the future of conservation in general. The greatest

Ropes will be attached between

these stakes to deter beachgoers from entering the

nesting area.


thing about this program is that whether the students choose a career that directly relates to conservation or not, their experiences will help to shape the decisions they make as they move into the world as adults. They leave the program as strong stewards for conservation, ready to take action and make a difference in the world.”

At the Core of the CorpsEach Conservation Corps session runs five months (January through May and August through December). Students interested in applying must attend a mandatory information meeting with a parent/guardian. If selected, applicants must be available for an interview and, if accepted, must be available to attend a manda-tory two-day training program. A limited number of applicants are selected each session.

Applications for the program are distributed only at the informa-tion meetings. The program fee is $150 per student. The next Conser-vation Corps session runs from September through December, and the information meeting is in August. For more information, call 760-796-5671. n

“ The teens volunteering have been vital to the success of this important

conservation project. They have accomplished so much while getting to spend

time outdoors, connecting with nature.”

The restoration project at Lake Hodges has resulted in more than 10,000 native plants taking root.

Corps members help restore native

plant habitat at Lake Hodges in

North County.

PH

OTO

BY

KEN

BO

HN

, SD

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Conservation Corps members help spread the word about what Safari Park visitors can do to help save animals and their habitats.

e share the planet with close to nine million species of plants and animals—and seven billion people! Tragically, as the human population grows, so do habitat loss and wildlife poaching. Species like the rhinocer-os, tiger, and elephant are vanishing at this very moment. Humans are the cause of their demise, but you and I can be the heroes to help save

them from disappearing forever.

By Justin WeberDIGITAL FUNDRAISER, DEVELOPMENT

Chan in the World

support


San Diego Zoo Global is leading the fight against extinction. We’re committed to saving species large and small, furry, scaled, and feathered. With support from generous donors like you, we’ve suc-cessfully helped save species like the California condor and giant panda for future generations.

As a leader in conservation, our efforts span the globe, with over 140 conservation projects in nearly 80 countries. San Diego Zoo Global has successfully bred 165 endangered species and reintro-duced more than 40 of those species back to the wild. This passion, dedication, and teamwork are making a significant impact!

But our commitment and work are far from over. Today, we part-ner with 250 other organizations to save species like the rhino, el-ephant, and gorilla. We have the opportunity to make a difference in today’s world that will last beyond our lifetimes. If you’d like to join us in these life-saving efforts, make a gift to the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy today at endextinction.org. n

Nola, who lives at the Safari Park, is one of only five northern white rhinos left on Earth.

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Chan in the WorldPHOTO BY KEN BOHN, SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

43

By creating a Charitable Gift Annuity or including the Zoological Society of San Diego in your will or trust, you can help protect wildlife. To receive more information,

please call 619-557-3947 or visit our website at zoolegacy.org.

You can help secure the future for wildlife!

Heritage Guild

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL n SANDIEGOZOO.ORG

from the archives

King of HeartsKing Tut, a salmon-crested cockatoo, was the San Diego Zoo’s beloved official greeter for 40 years. He was already an adult bird when he arrived in San Diego on March 25, 1925. At first, his time was divided between the Zoo, where he delighted visitors with his vocal and physical antics, and various motion picture and theatrical duties—including a role in fan dancer Sally Rand’s act.

In early 1951, King Tut began spending more time in his position as official Zoo greeter. He still kept a clawed toe in show business though, through appearances on the long-running Zoorama television program and small roles in productions at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, as well as the Starlight Opera.

Friendly King Tut loved people, and they adored him. As one ZOONOOZ article about him pointed out: “His bearing is that of a king...a king who is well loved.” Mil-lions of people stopped to say hello to Tut during his long life at the Zoo, and he’d respond with a whistle or little dance to greet them in return. When he was most excited, he’d let loose with his (very loud) trademark shriek: “ah-ha-ha-HA-ha!” He retired from frontline duties in 1989, but he continued to appear at special functions—and re-ceive fan mail.

Today, a bronze likeness of the great King Tut greets guests to the left of the flamingo pond—in the exact spot his perch occupied for nearly half a century. n


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PUBLISHED SINCE 1926 JUNE 2015 n LXXXVIII–NO. 6

SAN DIEGO ZOO HOURS: June 1–19: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; June 20: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 21-30: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK HOURS: June 1–28: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 29–30: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information about our animals and events, visit sandiegozoo.org or call 619-231-1515.

The Zoological Society of San Diego was founded in Octo ber 1916 by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D., as a private, nonprofit corporation that now does business as San Diego Zoo Global.This digital edition of ZOONOOZ® is currently published every month. Versions are available for download on iPads and a PDF version is available for viewing on Kindle Fire, desktops, Android devices, and smartphones. Publisher is San Diego Zoo Global, at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, 619-231-1515. Copyright® 2015 San Diego Zoo Global. All rights reserved. “ZOONOOZ” Reg. U.S. Pat. Office. All column and program titles are trademarks of San Diego Zoo Global. Annual Memberships: Dual $125, new; $110, renewal. Single $102, new; $90, renewal. Membership includes unlimited entrance to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

MANAGING EDITOR KAREN E. WORLEY

ASSOCIATE EDITORS PEGGY SCOTT

STAFF WRITERS WENDY PERKINSKARYL CARMIGNANI

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL™ PHOTOGRAPHER KEN BOHN TAMMY SPRATT

DIGITAL IMAGING TECHNICIAN TAMMY SPRATT

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION DAMIEN LASATERCHRISTOPHER MARTIN KERRI ABRAMSHEIDI SCHMID-ROMEROSTEPHANIE BEVIL-PAGADUANDENNIS CORBRANKAMBIZ MEHRAFSHANIKRISTIN NIELSENKIM TURNERLISA BISSI

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL™ VIDEOGRAPHERS LEE RIEBERMARIA BERNAL-SILVADUSTIN TRAYER

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