ZOONOOZ May 2013

openin

g this

month

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MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH

SAN DIEGO ZOO

SAFARI PARK

Treetops Banquet Room

Mom is sure to appreciate the lovely setting and relaxing atmosphere for her celebration!

Continuous seating from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $39.95 for adults and $18.95 for children ages 3 to 11, plus tax and gratuity.

Nonmembers add Zoo admission. Please call 619-557-3964 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily for

reservations.

Visit sandiegozoo.org/zoo/alberts for the complete menu and more information.

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Hunte Nairobi PavilionFestive dishes and beautiful surroundings for Mom,

and kids will enjoy their own buffet!$39.95 for adults and $18.95 for children ages 3 to 11, plus tax

and gratuity. Two seatings, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., each limited to two hours.

Reserved seating. Please call 619-718-3000 for reservations.

Parking not included; nonmembers add Park admission.

Visit sdzsafaripark.org/dining for the menu and more information.

Happy Happens Againat Albert’s Restaurant

Call 619-685-3200 to reserve your table.

Enjoy specialty cocktails, glasses of featured wines or beers, and appetizers from our $6 and $7 menus, from 3 to 5 p.m. daily during Nighttime Zoo, June 22 through September 2, 2013.

Stay for dinner and make it a special occasion! Seating is available until 8:30 every night, allowing you to dine and unwind at your leisure before departing the Zoo.

inside may 2013

on the cover: Queensland koala Phascolarctos cinereuson this page: Parma wallaby Macropus parma

wildlife 8 Welcome to the Outback

The Zoo’s new Conrad Prebys Australian Outback exhibit opens this month. Get a sneak peek at all the wonders from Down Under that await!BY KAREN E. WORLEY

18 Sowing the Seeds of Success: Birds and Botany in Australian Outback

The plants in these aviaries are far more than just a pretty setting. Find out what we’ve planted to make the birds feel right at home. BY PEGGY SCOTT

conservation 16 Koala Conservation: The Buzz Around St. Bees

Koala conservation projects on Australia’s St. Bees Island are gaining momentum.BY KARYL CARMIGNANI

explore 20 WorldWild Tours

Join us for some amazing and exotic adventures with a focus on wildlife.

more 2 Chairman’s Note

4 Through the Lens

5 Save the Date

6 You Said It

25 What’s in Store

26 Support

28 From the Archives

Members get up closeFREE all year long!

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

http://www.sandiegozoo.org

A New Exhibit and a Big Thank You to Donors

chairman’s note

It’s a big month at the Zoo—our new Conrad Prebys Australian Outback opens on May 24. Several years in the making, this exhibit provides a new habitat that is large enough for our whole colony of Queensland koalas, as well as new homes for several other Australian mammals and a wide variety of Australian bird and plant species.

Of course, it wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of donors and the collaborative e!orts of Australian and US agencies, and I’d like to thank them for their contributions in bringing this new exhibit to fruition.

First and foremost is a heartfelt thank you to the exhibit’s lead benefactor, Conrad Prebys, who provided the major funding to make Australian Outback a reality. Conrad continues to be a dedicated and enthusiastic friend to San Diego Zoo Global, and his support means so much to us. You can read a bit more about him in this issue, as well, in the pro"le on page 26. We’d also like to thank three other remarkable exhibit donors: the Menard Family Foundation for providing funds for the exhibit’s ADA-accessible walk-way; Peter and Olivia Farrell, for funding the education classroom in the Queenslander House; and Brooke Koehler, for providing the funds to bring four new echidnas to the Zoo for Australian Outback.

We are also grateful to our partners in Australia for their expertise and support in providing three new koalas to increase the genetic diversity in our koala colony. #e koalas were generously donated by Dreamworld, with the assistance and agreement of the Austra-lian Wildlife Authority and the Queensland Wildlife Authority. #anks as well to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for their work with us on the agreements and permits. In ad-dition, we will be collaborating with the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation on projects to help koalas in their native habitat, including an arti"cial insemination and genome project and the Koalaland community collaboration and education program. Both of these initia-tives will help improve survival of the species in Australia.

An exhibit like Conrad Prebys Australian Outback is always a collaborative e!ort with the community, valued donors, and conservation partners. My thanks and the thanks of our organization go out to everyone who helped create this new experience for the San Diego Zoo. We are pleased and proud to open the new exhibit this month, and we look forward to sharing it with all of you.

Rick GulleyChairman

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBALOFFICERS

Richard B. Gulley, ChairmanWilliam H. May, Vice Chairman

Sandra A. Brue, SecretaryRobert B. Horsman, Treasurer

BOARD OF TRUSTEESM. Javade Chaudhri

Berit N. DurlerClifford W. Hague

Nan C. KatonaPatricia L. RoscoeSteven G. Tappan

Judith A. WheatleyDavid S. Woodruff, Ph.D., D.Sc.

TRUSTEES EMERITIFrank C. Alexander

Kurt Benirschke, M.D. Weldon Donaldson

Thompson FetterBill L. Fox

Frederick A. Frye, M.D.George L. GildredYvonne W. LarsenJohn M. Thornton

Albert Eugene TrepteBetty Jo F. Williams

William E. Beamer, General Counsel

Douglas G. Myers, President/CEO

Charles L. Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus

THE FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

OFFICERSJohn E. Gartman, Chair

Murray H. Hutchison, Vice ChairMargie Warner, Secretary

Maryanne C. Pfister, TreasurerMark A. Stuart, President

Richard B. Gulley, Ex officioDouglas G. Myers, Ex officio

BOARD OF DIRECTORSChristine L. AndrewsRichard A. Baldwin

Joye D. BlountRick BregmanLisa S. Casey

Douglas Dawson Berit N. Durler, Ex officio

U. Bertram Ellis, Jr.Arthur E. Engel

Fran GoldenCraig L. Grosvenor

Judith C. HarrisRichard M. HillsCraig A. IrvingSusan B. Major

Susan N. McClellanMichael D. McKinnon

George A. RamirezJoyce Summers

Thomas Tull

2 ZOONOOZ Q MAY 2013

Father’s Day Buffet

Sunday, June 16, 2013

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Hunte Nairobi Pavilion

Enjoy a live jazz band and spend a relaxing

day at the Safari Park to celebrate the

king of your pride!

No-host bar - Dads get one

complimentary drink ticket included

with their meal.

Adults $39.95, plus tax and gratuity.

Children (ages 3–11) $18.95, plus tax.

Nonmembers add Safari Park admission.

Call 619-718-3000for reservations

through the lens

Sulphur-crested cockatoos Cacatua galerita


ZOONOOZ®

PUBLISHED SINCE 1926MAY 2013

VOL.LXXXVINO.5

MANAGING EDITORKAREN E. WORLEY

ASSOCIATE EDITORSPEGGY SCOTT

DEBBIE ANDREENSTAFF WRITERS

WENDY PERKINSKARYL CARMIGNANI

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHER

KEN BOHNDIGITAL IMAGING TECHNICIAN

TAMMY SPRATTDESIGN AND PRODUCTION

DAMIEN LASATERCHRIS MARTIN HEIDI SCHMID

PREPRESS AND PRINTINGTRANSCONTINENTAL/PRINTED

IN CANADA

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THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR US AT THE ZOO: the Conrad Prebys Australian Outback exhibit opens on May 24! !is new home for our koala colony and other Australian animals has been in development for several years, and we are happy to unveil it to the public. I hope you’ll enjoy the eye-catching design, and sculptural and sign elements throughout the exhibit—including

the spectacular aboriginal-inspired totem poles at the entrance—in addition to the aviaries filled with colorful birds, homes for wombats, wallabies, echidnas, ring-tailed possums, and, of course, the eucalyptus woodland for our 25 koalas. You can find out more about the exhibit in this issue of ZOONOOZ. May has even more to o"er, with our Discovery Days: Garden Celebration at the Zoo presented by Sparkletts from May 9 to 12 and wonderful Mother’s Day brunches at both the Safari Park and the Zoo. And that’s just the beginning of our summer adventures: Nighttime Zoo begins on June 22 and the Park’s Summer Safari begins on June 29, with new entertainment, shows, and activities to enjoy. As usual, we have lots to choose from for fun with family and friends—I hope you can join us!

Douglas G. MyersPresident/CEO

Looking Forward to Fun

MAY May 3, 31 Roar & Snore: Amazing Animals, at

the Safari Park May 4, 11, 18 KinderTots: Learning to Balance

Like a Jaguar, at the Zoo May 5 Safari Park Half Marathon

presented by Health Net May 9–12 San Diego Zoo Discovery Days:

Garden Celebration presented by Sparkletts

May 10, 17, 24 KinderNights: Fascinating Feet, at the Zoo

May 11 Mother’s Day Sleepover, at the Zoo May 11 Roar & Snore: Mother’s Day, at the

Safari Park May 12 Mother’s Day Brunch, at the Safari

Park and the Zoo May 17 Plant Day and Orchid Odyssey, at

the Zoo May 17 Roar & Snore Junior: Alphabet

Safari, at the Safari Park May 24 Grand opening of Conrad Prebys

Australian Outback, at the Zoo

JUNE June 1, 8 KinderTots: Learning about Colors

with Polar Bears, at the Zoo June 2 Orchid Odyssey, at the Zoo June 7, 8 KinderNights: Gira!es at the Zoo June 8, 14 Father’s Day Classic Campout, at

the Zoo June 15 Rendezvous in the Zoo gala

(R*I*T*Z) June 15 Roar & Snore: Father’s Day, at the

Safari Park June 16 Father’s Day BBQ, at the Safari Park June 21 Members-only preview of

Nighttime Zoo June 22 Nighttime Zoo begins (through

September 7) June 22 Happy Happens at Albert’s

Restaurant begins (through September 7)

June 24 Safari Park Summer Camps begin (various dates through August)

June 24 Zoo Summer Camps begin (various dates through August)

June 29 Summer Safari begins, at the Safari Park (through September 7)

save the date

5SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL Q SANDIEGOZOO.ORG 5SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL Q SANDIEGOZOO.ORG

CONRAD PREBYS AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK INSTAGRAM CHALLENGEHead over to the Zoo’s shiny new exhibit (opening May 24), document your visit on Instagram, and tag your photos with #sandiegozoo and #AustralianOutback to automatically enter to win a behind-the-scenes adventure.

Dear [panda cub] Xiao Liwu: My wife has been going through some di!cult times recently. You have been her savior. She feels better when watching you on your webcam…. One of the highlights of her life was going to see you in person today. Whether you realize it or not, you have made a huge difference to our family.

Panda Hubby

I simply want to say that I so much enjoy reading the comments of those folks who are lucky enough to closely interact and provide loving care to these magni"cent elephants.

Steve

I must say my favorite part about Facebook is seeing the amazing photos posted by the San Diego Zoo. !ey always put a smile on my face!

Liz Rincon

The @sandiegozoo Twitter is the greatest thing to happen to me. !ank you for making my day! #iamobsessed

@raychulpfief

Squee! Your critters are so cute! I love it! I love this whole Tumblr.thedoomkitten

I’m so thankful that [panda Gao Gao] is at the zoo, where they take such good care of his special needs. On a di!erent, more personal note, I was disturbed to discover that I weigh more than Gao Gao! Time to get moving!! Haha!

Nancy Little

These are the incredible moments that make Facebook worthwhile! You color my world with beautiful animals.

Melissa Christina

you said it


Discover adventure like no other during Summer Camp at the Zoo and the Safari Park! There may be many summer camps out there, but ours have campers interacting with rhinos and giraffes, meeting meerkats, getting up close to cheetahs, and having a ton of fun along the way. With camp options for kids ages 2 through 17, these hands-on, be-a-part-of-it experiences will have your kids saying proudly, “I had an amazing time on my summer vacation!”

Call 619-718-3000 to make your reservations!

Welcome to the

Outback!8 ZOONOOZ Q MAY 2013

From Aussie animal totems to a bevy of col-orful and talented birds to pouched won-ders from Down Under, the time has come

for a walkabout among fragrant gum trees to explore Australia’s wildlife! !e Conrad Prebys Australian Outback exhibit at the San Diego Zoo opens on May 24, 2013, with a brand-new world for visitors to discover.

It all begins with beckoning 8- to 15-foot-tall totems, each one topped with an iconic Australian species: koala, platypus, crocodile, kangaroo, Tasmanian devil, and kookaburra. Which one “speaks” to you? It may be your guide, representing characteristics and powers you can learn to embody. As you head out along the path (which is ADA accessible and made possible by the Menard Family Foundation), "urries of color, activity, and song surround you as birds of Australia go about courting, nesting, and calling to their neighbors in the open-air aviaries. Look for budgies, #nches, bowerbirds, doves, starlings, lapwings, and more, all using the plants around them in natu-ral behaviors. You’ll also #nd kookaburras here, those cheeky Australian king#shers whose call sounds like raucous laughter. Just remember, they’re laughing with you, not at you. We think.

Across from the aviaries, you’ll have your #rst encounter with the Aussie mammals. Wel-come to where wombats waddle—and busily dig burrows for snug sleeping places. Common

By Karen E. WorleyMANAGING EDITOR

Photos by Ken BohnSDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

9SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL Q SANDIEGOZOO.ORG

The Conrad Prebys Australian Outback is a brand-new experience opening on May 24, 2013. You can encoun-ter species from the Land Down Under, ex-plore their world in the eucalyptus forests, and see our colony of koalas at eye level as they nap, eat, and climb. There will be 7 different mar-supials and 25 colorful bird species in this new exhibit area—take a look at this map for a preview, and start plan-ning your visit!

Queensland Koala

Koala Klimber

Queenslander House

10 ZoonooZ n May 2013

Gouldian Finch

Parma Wallaby

Kookaburra

Fawn-breasted Bowerbird

Aboriginal-inspired Totems

Echidna

Wombat

Clockwise from top: Hairy-nosed wombats, Gouldian finches, and Parma wallabies—oh my!

or hairy-nosed, these sturdy marsupials are most closely related to koalas. !ere is a bit of a resemblance, but wombats are adapted for solid ground instead of perching in the trees. In Australian Outback, their neighbors are the weird and wonderful short-beaked echidnas,

one of only three mammal species on Earth that lays eggs. Echidnas are also expert dig-gers, and if threatened, they can dig into the dirt quickly, leaving only intimidating and unappetizing spines poking up.

Ahead is an intriguing-looking rock wall with animals sculpted into it. Which animals are they—can you tell? Test your marsupial identi#cation skills, then check the sign to see if you were right. !e nearby exhibit will soon be home to another, di$erent type of mar-supial, perhaps the most fearsome of all: the Tasmanian devil. While they won’t be present for the grand opening, we are working with experts in Australia to bring the little devils to San Diego in the near future. !en they can show visitors what being a carnivorous marsu-pial is all about.

One species that is sometimes overlooked but is important in our Australian Outback exhibit is the rare Parma wallaby, the smallest species in the kangaroo family. As recently as the early 1960s, these wallabies were thought to be extinct, but a small population was dis-covered in 1965 on Kawau Island in New Zea-land. !e group was sent to zoos in Australia in hopes of breeding them and increasing the species’ numbers. Even more remarkably, another population was found in 1967 in the

Clockwise from top: Look for the beautiful and boisterous rose galahs, the well-known laughing kookaburra, the elusive ring-tailed possum, and the weird and wonderful short-beaked echidna.

As recently as the early 1960s, these wallabies were thought to be extinct, but a small population was discovered in 1965 on Kawau Island in New Zealand.

Clockwise from top: For the first time, you’ll be able to see all of our koalas together in their eucalyptus forest. Look for the architectural avenue bower that male fawn-breasted bowerbirds create. We’re hoping for more tree kangaroo joeys in our future.

forests of New South Wales, Australia, which turned out to stretch in pockets almost as far north as Queensland. While these dainty ’roos may not command the attention of the Tasmanian devil, they are an unusual species worth a second look.

One of the dangers that Australian mam-mals face, especially koalas, is crossing roads and running the risk of being hit by vehicles. A common sight in Australia is the “Koala Crossing” sign (or wombat or kangaroo), and you’ll #nd one in the Zoo’s Australian Out-back as well, guiding you to cross the street carefully as you move to the next section of exhibits. As you do, you’ll see Sydney’s Gi% Shop and Sydney’s Grill—perhaps an Aussie-inspired lunch and a memento of your visit are in order?

Across the way, the Queenslander House greets you, with its wooden walkways and spacious veranda, and you’ll #nd yourself sur-rounded by our Queensland koala colony, the largest breeding colony outside of Australia. Because the males can be territorial, they have their own perches in one area, while the more social females and their joeys share another area. !e best part is that the elevated walk-ways bring you to eye level with the koalas as they perch in their forest of eucalyptus.

Koalas are well known for sleeping during the day to digest their leafy meals, but if you watch, you’ll see more activity than you might think as they move from branch to branch and select the most tender sprays of their favorite eucalyptus—much as they would in the wild. You can also peek into the Queenslander House window to see the koala food prep area, and if one of our Education Department programs isn’t in session in the classroom (funded by Peter and Olivia Farrell), you can come inside the house to #nd out more about our conservation work with koalas on Austra-lia’s St. Bees Island.

Once you’ve had your #ll of watching the koalas (if that’s possible!), there’s an op-portunity to put yourself in the trees with them—well, with koala sculptures, anyway. Choose a seat in the crook of the Koala Klim-ber’s branches and have your photo taken to remember your walkabout through Australian Outback. As you head out to other adventures in the Zoo, you may just #nd yourself saying, “Crikey, that was fun!” It all begins May 24! Q

We asked you to vote for your

favorite shot of Cooladdi hanging

out in your Koalafornia Dream.

Below are the three Koalafornia

dreamers who you deemed

worthy of a trip to San Diego for

the opening of our new Conrad

Prebys Australian Outback

exhibit!

Congratulations to the winners!


If good looks could save a species, the koala would be sitting pretty. But despite its fuzzy coat and sleepy demeanor, this iconic marsupial is facing unprecedented pressures in much

of its homeland Down Under. Koalas were recently listed as vulner-able in three of the !ve Australian states they live in: Queensland, New South Wales, and Australia Capital Territory. To help reverse this downward trend, researchers from San Diego Zoo Global are collaborating with other scientists to learn about the ecology of this herbivore, as well as its reproduction, health, and genetic variability.

“"ere is a wonderful give and take of data gathered from zoo colonies and data gathered in the !eld,” said Jennifer Tobey, research coordinator at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Re-search, who has worked with the Zoo’s koalas for over 10 years and traveled to Australia to work on !eld projects. “"e more we learn and share about the koalas, the better we will be at conserving them and the habitat they need.”

ARE WE THERE YET?As the world’s largest island (and the sixth-largest country), Austra-lia is recognized as being megadiverse, giving rise to habitats from parched desert to alpine heaths to tropical rain forests. Koalas require woodlands of eucalyptus trees, which they use for food and shelter. Queensland koalas face two key issues: con#ict with human devel-opment destroying their beachfront habitat and being displaced from their inland habitat due to coal mining and associated roads. As in Southern California, Australian coastal cities are popular with both

residents and tourists. Some developers try to make their projects “koala friendly” by prohibiting pet dogs (which can kill koalas) and building fences o$ the ground so koalas can travel through residential areas. However, to expedite building plans, the life-giving stands of trees are o%en removed, leaving koala populations at risk.

Inland, there are land concessions that follow seams of coal. While many coal mines decimate the land, coal contracts require companies to repair the habitat when they are !nished mining. A research part-nership called Koala Venture between the University of Queensland’s

KOALA CONSERVATION

By Karyl CarmignaniSTAFF WRITER


THE BUZZ AROUND ST. BEES

Researchers from San Diego Zoo Global collaborate with others to learn more about the koala’s ecology. Wild koalas are carefully caught and measured, and some receive radio collars so researchers can learn more about their habits.


Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation and Rio Tinto Coal Australia has been working to study, track, and translocate displaced koalas. "e research began in 1989 at Blair Athol Coal Mine and now includes the near-by Clermont Coal Mine. Koala monitoring shows that koalas are repopulating the reha-bilitated Blair Athol land. Although humans cannot immediately restore natural biotic communities a%er a mining event, reclama-tion and rehabilitation of land can bene!t koalas and other wildlife.

PARADISE FOUND: ST. BEES ISLAND KOALASA volcanic island located about 18 miles o$ the coast of Queensland, St. Bees is as pic-turesque as it is remote. It is also home to a robust colony of koalas, which are largely undisturbed by humans, since 90 percent of the island is a national park. Research-ers are studying these animals to determine a baseline of behavior and health for other koala populations in zoos and throughout Australia. Former San Diego Zoo Global postdoctoral fellow and current research collaborator Bill Ellis, Ph.D., is passionate about the work, noting that koalas to the south in Brisbane are in serious decline, su$ering from disease, injuries, and death resulting from pets, vehicles, and habitat fragmentation. “In the future, groups like the St. Bees Island koalas might be the only

populations from which we can learn about koala reproduction, physiology, and general ecology, so they are vital to the future of the species,” he said.

AMPLE SAMPLESSan Diego Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Geo$ Pye works with the St. Bees team to gather sam-ples and assess the overall health of the koa-las. “Dr. Pye has a great deal of knowledge about and experience with our koalas at the Zoo, and that information bene!ts the work

on St. Bees,” said Jennifer. One interest-ing aspect of this island population is that they have exceedingly healthy teeth as com-pared to their mainland counterparts. Rick Schwartz, San Diego Zoo Global Ambassa-dor, explained the situation in a blog post he wrote about his time on St. Bees: “Typically, a koala’s life ends at around 12 to 15 years of age because their teeth have worn down from grinding eucalyptus leaves. For some reason, the St. Bees koalas’ teeth show much less wear and tear, perhaps due to their ge-netics.” Could they be living longer? Stay tuned.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?Radio and satellite collars do much to illumi-nate what animals are “really” up to, particu-larly mostly nocturnal creatures like koalas. Data collected from these technologies will

lead to a clearer understanding of social and mating behavior and how koalas manage their range. Proximity collars were recently placed on 21 koalas, which will record who has been near whom on St. Bees. During the mating season, this could prove fascinating!

Through cooperation and collabora-tion, it is hoped that the mysteries of these mighty marsupials will come to light. We will continue to support and participate in the conservation of this furry icon from Down Under. Q

Top left: Dr. Sean FitzGibbon “flagging” a koala down the tree (a cloth is waved above the animal to get it to descend the tree). Bottom left: Dr. Geoff Pye and Dr. Bill Ellis releasing a collared koala. Bottom right: Dr. Ellis and SDZG ambassador Rick Schwartz release a newly collared koala.


“If you plant it, they will…destroy it.”Not as poetic, perhaps, as the famous movie line, but for horticulturists in a zoological setting, this admittedly fatalistic outlook is a fact of life. When a habitat is being planned for certain mammals, those in charge of the greenery know the days in the life of the landscape are numbered. “Our hyenas and bears are brutal on the plants,” says Mike Letzring, horticulture collections manager at the Zoo. “If they’re not tearing them up, they’re sitting on them. But we know that and plan accordingly. Anything we want to stay nice, we plant outside the exhibit.”

In the case of planning a habitat for birds, however, it’s a di!erent ball-game. Birds are closely tied to their environment, and for our feathered friends, shelter and sustenance are particularly entwined. “Birds rely on the trees and plant life for their existence,” explains Dave Rimlinger, curator of birds for the Zoo. “"ey bene#t from eating what the plants produce, the cover provided for shelter, the nesting sites and materials to build those nests, and the safety for the eggs and o!spring.”

Getting to the Root"e relationship between birds and horticulture will be a highlight in the Zoo’s new Conrad Prebys Australian Outback. Within the aviaries,

By Peggy ScottASSOCIATE EDITOR


Birds and Botany in Australian Outback

Left: Australian king parrots can live 80 years.Upper left: Kangaroo paw plants produce fuzzy flowers.Upper right: Banksia flower heads are made up of hundreds to thousands of individual flowers.

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF SUCCESS


guests will be able to observe a wide range of Australian bird species, from rose galahs to plum-headed finches, in habitats con-taining native plant life. It’s a project that has been in the planning stages for a few years. As Seth Menser, senior horticulturist at the Zoo, explains, one element of the pro-cess involved collecting and sourcing seeds in Australia. Seed-collecting trips have tak-en place in Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Seth notes that our goal is to have Austra-lian native plants to match the animal com-panions in the new exhibits. So, along with fauna from Down Under such as lorikeets, kookaburras, and star finches, guests can experience Australian $ora, including #cus, acacia, banksia, eucalyptus, melaleuca, gre-

villea, hakea, syzygium, cycad, boab, bottle-brush, orchid, tree fern, and kangaroo paw.

“With these plants, many of which are not usually grown outside Australia,” Seth explains, “visitors to the Zoo’s Australian Outback will get a true, immersive Aussie experience!”

A Bumper Crop for BirdsOf course, different birds have different plant needs and uses. Dave notes that many Australian #nches are so closely associated with grasses that the group is referred to as “grass#nches.” “"ese birds feed on grass seeds and build their nests out of grasses such as $ax lily Dianella tasmanica and Mairei’s fescue Festuca mairei. An excep-tion is the Gouldian #nch, which nests in a hollow tree,” Dave says. The Gouldian #nch’s food of choice is the seed of the an-nual spear grass sorghum, but it will make do with other grass species if its favorite is unavailable.

For nectar-feeding birds such as hon-eyeaters, the selection will be just as sweet. “"e blue-faced honeyeaters, rainbow lori-keets, and other nectar-feeding parrots will gravitate to the protea, banksia, dwarf bot-tlebrush, and grevillea,” Dave says. “"ey will also build their nests in them. Australia is rich in nectar-producing plants.”

Plant Architects"e bowerbird has a unique use for plants, Dave points out. "e males build an elaborate bower to attract females. This avian over-achiever uses plant materials to construct av-enue-style walls with a carefully lined path, and then he gathers special trinkets to me-ticulously decorate his masterpiece. If a fe-male likes what she sees, mating takes place in the bower. “If we didn’t provide the right plants and sticks for the building project, the life cycle wouldn’t continue,” Dave points out, noting that some male bowerbirds are pickier than others. “Fawn-breasted bower-birds tend to use green decorations, while the satin bowerbird only decorates his bower with blue items—feathers, berries. "ey can be very particular.” Mike calls the horticulture collection in Australian Outback “a general idea of the plants in Australia.” "e continent is vast, as is the animal and plant life that inhabits it. “We’ve taken into account maintenance and water-usage concerns, and I think we’ve put together as close a representa-tion as possible.” When you visit Australian Outback this summer, keep an eye out for the horticultural wonders—they’re sure to grow on you! Q

Left: Male bowerbirds build elaborate bowers to attract females.Above: Gouldian finches are also known as rainbow finches.Right: The bottlebrush plant has a lovely frangrance.


Travel the World with the San Diego Zoo!

WORLDWILD TOURSIf you love animals and exploring faraway places, travel with the San Diego Zoo’s WorldWild Tours™ to some of the wildest places on Earth in 2013 and 2014. Our itineraries highlight the wildlife at each destination and include expert naturalists and a San Diego Zoo escort, plus a group of like-minded travelers.

BORNEO: An Unforgettable Journey

AMAZON SOUTH AFRICA

An Orangutan OdysseyJuly 7 through 20, 2013$6,880 plus airfare(per person, double occupancy*)

Experience spectacular wildlife in the rain forests of both Malaysian and Indonesian Borneo. Animal highlights include orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys—only found on this island!—along with crocodiles and hundreds of bird species.

Explore the Amazing AmazonSeptember 13 through 22, 2013with post-tour extension to Machu Picchu and Cusco$4,198 to $4,398 plus airfare(per person, double occupancy*)

Immerse yourself in the wildlife of the Amazon jungle as you cruise through the vast Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve aboard a spacious new riverboat. Highlights include 15 primate species, 450 bird species, and the rare but delightful pink river dolphins.

Where Adventure Awaits!August 17 through 29, 2013with post-tour extension to Cape Town$7,995 plus airfare(per person, double occupancy*)

Nothing compares with the excitement of seeing African wildlife on a safari through South Africa—whether this is your first trip or your tenth! Come prepared to see elephants, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, and wild dogs, just some of the spectacular animals that roam in the reserves there.

Coming in 2014CHINA

TANZANIA

*Single travelers are encouraged to book WorldWild Tours™ on a twin-share or single basis.

A Treasure Trove of Wildlife & Culture March 1 through 12, 2014with Rwanda extension$5,995 plus airfare

China & Pandas with Yangtze River CruiseJune 30 through July 11, 2014with Tibet and Hong Kong extensions$5,195 plus airfare

For brochures, visit our website at www.sandiegozoo.org/travel or call Julia Altieri at 619-685-3205.

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/travel

“Shades of Green” is the theme for this year’s San Diego Zoo Discovery Days: Garden Festival, presented by

Sparkletts, May 9 to 12, 2013. It offers a bouquet of activities to help you discover the fascinating connections

between plants and animals—and people. Your discoveries may motivate you to do some gardening

at home, and the Garden Festival is just the place to get the dirt on how to sprout a

green thumb. Enjoy special presentations, chat with our gardening pros, join in a

scavenger hunt and fun crafts for kids, and take the Plant Lovers VIP Tour.

Garden Festival is just blooming with fun opportunities for the

whole family!

Dig In to the

Call 619-718-3000 to make reservations for the Plant Lovers VIP Tour.

Add to Your Aussie Adventure

Members-only Preview with Joan Embery

Nighttime Zoo

Friday, June 21, 2013

Stay late for Nighttime Zoo!Nighttime Zoo returns for summer fun on June 22, and this year’s event will include Australian entertainment in celebration of the opening of the Zoo’s Conrad Prebys Australian Outback. Music, food, shows, and more will pay tribute to the Land Down Under as we enjoy the length of summer days and cool summer evenings. Bring family and friends for a grand good time! The Zoo will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from June 22 through September 2, 2013. See you there, mate!

Join conservation ambassador Joan Embery in Hunte Amphitheater at 6:30 p.m. for a special performance of our new Aussie acrobat show. A lucky guest will win the opportunity to have his or her photo taken with Joan. In addition, from 4 to 9 p.m. on June 21 only, enjoy a 20-percent discount on food entrées purchased with a beverage, including Albert’s Restaurant (excluding food carts and alcoholic beverages) and a 10-percent discount for merchandise in the gift shops (excluding gift carts). This preview is a one-night, members-only event—don’t miss the fun!

MAY–AUGUST 2013 MEMBER SPECIAL

$10 OFF ALL ANIMAL ADOPTIONS

Pick a panda, polar bear, cheetah, koala, or many more critters, and enjoy this

discount on any online animal adoption package.

Offer valid May 1–August 31, 2013.Visit sandiegozoo.org/adopt or call 619-557-3914. To redeem online, enter coupon code ASZW0513 at checkout. No limit. Not valid with any other offers or at on-grounds

adoption booths.

MAY–AUGUST 2013 MEMBER SPECIAL

SAVE $10 PER PERSON ON A SLEEPOVER

AT THE ZOOSpend the night at the Zoo during one of our overnight adventures,

with family activities, private bus tour, animal presentation, scavenger hunt, and more! Call 619-718-3000 to confirm space.

Offer valid May 1–August 31, 2013.Offer valid only through advance phone reservations. Provide membership number and promotion code 225007 at time of booking. Limit 4 per membership number. Space is limited.

Age restrictions apply. Price, hours, and schedules subject to change. San Diego Zoo admission not included. Not valid for prior reservations or in conjunction with any other offers or discounts.

Offer not valid for same-day purchase. Other restrictions may apply.

MAY 9–12, 2013 MEMBER SPECIAL

TWO SOLAR BUTTERFLIES FOR ONLY $30

During Discovery Days: Garden Celebration at the Zoo, purchase two solar butterflies for only $30 (regularly $19.95 each). Available at

our ZooStore and Mercado (also available at the Plant Trader at the Safari Park).

Offer valid May 9–12, 2013.Please show your valid San Diego Zoo Global membership card at time of purchase. Not valid with any other offer or discount.

JUNE 2013 MEMBER SPECIAL

10% OFF ALL HATSGet yourself a new look for less! Valid at all gift shops at the Zoo

and Safari Park. No limit while supplies last.

Offer valid June 1–30, 2013.Please show your valid San Diego Zoo Global membership card at

time of purchase. Not valid with any other offer or discount.

AUGUST 2013 MEMBER SPECIAL

QUENCH YOUR THIRST FOR FREE!

Receive a free 32-ounce beverage when you purchase any entrée at Treehouse Café in the Zoo’s Lost Forest.

Offer valid August 1–31, 2013.Excludes Kids Meals and alcoholic beverages. Please show your valid San Diego Zoo Global membership card at time of purchase. Not valid with any other offer or discount.

JUNE 2013 MEMBER SPECIAL

10% OFF ASIAN ENTRÉES AT HUA MEI CAFÉTake a break and relax at Hua Mei Café,

located next to the Zoo’s Panda Trek.

Offer valid June 1–30, 2013.No coupon necessary; please show your valid San Diego Zoo

Global membership card to redeem offer. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

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ZOONOOZ DigitalKoala Special Edition

ZOONOOZ for iPad is free!

Launching this June, experience photos, video, and interactive features exploring our work with koalas over the years.

Visit our shops at the Zoo and Safari Park to purchase these featured items. Items and prices may vary based on availability. Available in select stores.

large crocodile

plush $149.99

aviator sunglasses

$24

khakishorts

$49.95

greensnakeplush $15.99

outback hat$36.95

khaki vest$69

koalafornia t-shirt$18.95–$19.95

koalaplush$39.99

boomerang$9.95

what’s in store

25SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL Q SANDIEGOZOO.ORG 25SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL Q SANDIEGOZOO.ORG

Everyone who meets Conrad Prebys is quickly caught up in his enthusiasm for wildlife, and no one knows that better than San Diego Zoo Global’s staff. From Conrad’s support of our elephant care center to his love of our bear trio in Polar Bear Plunge to his anticipation of Australian

Outback’s opening day this month, we always know he loves the ani-mals and wants us to build the best possible new homes for them. His name graces each one of these exhibits, and it is well deserved!

There are many amazing aspects to Conrad’s career and meteoric climb to become one of San Diego’s foremost businessmen and phi-lanthropists. Yet he is also honest about and proud of his humble be-ginnings. He will be the first to tell you that he grew up in a family that wasn’t affluent but was big on love and integrity: “I had a very lov-

ing mother—whatever success I’ve enjoyed, I attribute to my mother, who raised five roughhouse boys, and we always knew she was there for us.” Conrad grew up in South Bend, Indiana, during the tail end of the Great Depression, although what he remembers best is his happy childhood. In the mid-1960s, he came to San Diego to visit one of his brothers and came to work for a builder. Later, with a friend as a part-ner, he formed Progress Construction Company. Conrad has gone from building houses to apartments and other projects. His interest in construction carries through to new homes for elephants, polar bears, and now koalas, wombats, and Tasmanian devils.

Koalas have been synonymous with the San Diego Zoo’s histo-ry for close to a century. In the 1920s, we received our first pair of koalas, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Over the years, our colony has

From Humble Beginnings to a World-Famous PresentBy Mary Sekulovich

Senior editor, developMent departMent

photos by Ken BohnSdZG photoGrapher

Conrad T. PrEBys


grown, and we now have more than 25 of the beloved marsupials. When Conrad learned that the Zoo was looking for a lead gift to build a new complex for Australian animals, he was intrigued. As he reminds us, “You know that quote, ‘I’ve never met an animal I didn’t like’? I’ve always had that feeling. There’s just something about bonding with animals.”

On May 22, Conrad and his partner, Debbie Turner, will attend the first of several exhibit openings. A portal flanked with Aborig-inal-inspired pillars will welcome Zoo guests and members to the Conrad Prebys Australian Outback. Then animal sculptures, graph-ics, and artifacts will lead you to the heart of the complex, where a Queenslander-style koala care center sits amid a eucalyptus grove the koalas will call home.

While Conrad is proud to have his name associated with the San Diego Zoo, he sees some wonderful things coming with his gifts to renovate older exhibits, especially guests enjoying the new areas and other donors joining his philanthropic example. “I can’t think of a more fun thing to do than helping those in your community: it’s so rewarding, and it’s therapeutic.” With a life philosophy like this, it’s no wonder that Conrad’s humble beginnings have led to incredible personal and professional success, making him the standard bearer for generosity and philanthropic spirit in the zoo world. n

30TH AnniversaryR•I•T•Z 2013

Saturday, June 15, 20136:30 p.m. until midnight

Honorary Chairs:Audrey S. Geisel and Dragon & Don Sherman

Co-Chairs:Jane Fetter, JJ Fetter, and

Margi Fetter Graham

Tickets:$450 per guest

$900 per guest for R•I•T•Z Circle seating

For tickets, please contact Marilyn Neumann,R•I•T•Z reservation chair, at 619-287-5435

or [email protected].

Rendezvous In The zoo

R•I•T•Z 2013 ChallengeFor every dollar donated, our honorary chairs will

match it 3 for 1, up to $1.5 million to benefit lemurs and the Zoo’s new Madagascar exhibit.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDSThese individuals represent the past, present, and future of the Zoological Society of San Diego. Their spirit of generosity has and will sustain our

mission. Because of this exceptional support, we are honored to include

them in our Circle of Friends.

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE DIAMONDThomas and Alba Tull

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE GOLDHarry and Judith Collins

Tom and Berit DurlerDon and Dragon Sherman

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE SILVERMary Jane and Robert G. Engman

COLLEAGUE’S CIRCLEJerry M. Harrington

Dick and Pam JacksonRichard and Carol Sullivan

TRUSTEE’S CIRCLENan C. and Gery S. KatonaJoseph and Suzanne Oliver

Brian and Joy PlaceCharles and Beverly Rikel

BENEFACTOR’S CIRCLEMarian Frank

John and Jill Gartman

To reach a Circle of Friends representative, please call 619-231-1515, option 2, ext. 4421.

By creating a Charitable Gift Annuity or leaving the Zoological Society of San

Diego in your will or trust, you can help protect wildlife. To receive more information, please call

619-744-3352 or visit our website at www.zoolegacy.org.

You can help secure the future for wildlife!

HeritageGuild

27san diego zoo global n sandiegozoo.org

It had long been a dream of San Diego Zoo founder Dr. Harry Wegeforth to have the first koalas in North America. In 1924, then Zoo director Tom Faulconer arranged an animal exchange with zoos in Sydney and Melbourne for koalas, as well as other Australian species. Mr. Faulconer set sail on a voyage that was complicated by storms, seasickness, and even an alliga-tor that took a stroll on deck after a squall. But the ship made it to Sydney Harbour, and he was delighted with the rare and valuable Aussie animals that were ready for him, set to come to the San Diego Zoo.

But unfortunately, that didn’t include the koalas. The Australian government hadn’t lifted the ban on their exportation, and Mr. Faulconer said later, “I made up my mind to swallow my disap-pointment.” Everything was ready for the journey home, and they were set to embark. But then, just before the “all ashore whistle” blasted, a small delivery truck pulled up to the gangplank with two large crates bearing a sign that said “Koala Bears for the Children of San Diego, U.S.A, from the Children of Sydney.” They were Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, named after characters in an Australian children’s book. To Mr. Faulconer’s elation, the Taronga Zoo director got the permits at the last minute, and the marsupials could come to San Diego.

On the trip home, the koalas even shared Mr. Faulconer’s cabin, being VIPs, and made him quite popular with the passengers. He found himself “competing with a British Lord and an East Indian Maharaja for the most popular man on the ship.” Of course, Snuggles and Cuddles, as they came to be nicknamed, were immediate celebrities at the San Diego Zoo, and they set the stage for San Diego’s ongoing love of koalas. n

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Come to the San Diego Zoo

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from the archives


Participate in Your Health and Wellness

Empowering you to make better-informed health decisionsHealth Net is pleased to sponsor the Safari Park Half Marathon and to help our communities stay healthy.

Health Net

Health Net is a registered service mark of Health Net, Inc. © 2013 Health Net of California, Inc. All rights reserved.

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