Fall / Winter 2016

Be prepared… the dragons are coming! Page 10

Dear Zoo Friends,

Since it opened in 1996, the Australasia loop has been the site of

countless oohs, aahs and treasured family memories. Who could forget the sensation of feeding a lorikeet for the first time? Or watching a tiny kangaroo joey take a peek out of his mom’s pouch? After 20 years of faithful service to our guests, it’s time to give this beloved part of the Zoo an extreme makeover. When it reopens in February 2017, all of your favorite animals and experiences will return, and you’ll have the chance to experience some incredible new additions: • A state-of-the-art Komodo dragon exhibit • A walk-through kangaroo yard and feeding experience • New and improved aviaries with better flow and amenities • A 100-seat outdoor theater for presentations • Hands-on activities showing how climate change is affecting animals in Australia and Asia As one of just a few accredited, not-for-profit zoos not associated with a government body, our existence depends on remaining competitive. These improvements will make the Zoo and Brevard County a more compelling place to visit, which in turn will allow us to invest more in our community-based education and conservation programs. We look forward to seeing you at the reopening in February! In the meantime, you can visit and feed your winged friends in their beautiful “vacation homes” we built in Wild Florida. See you at the Zoo, Keith Winsten Executive Director, Brevard Zoo

ECZS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Heather McDonough - President

Toni George Joni Norton Jessica Assam Beth Gitlin Cole Oliver Jackie Barker Steven B. Harrison Taylor Pancake Laura Bomalaski Mark Huey Barbara Wall Scanlon Kim Brown Dana Kilbourne Lew Schwartz Michael Cerow Heather Lewis Kent Smith Michelle Masline Scott Miller Mary Smith Mike Crews Leasha Flammio-Watson William W. Moore Mary Ann Sperando William Glenn Young Christy Galzerano

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Keith Winsten - Executive Director Jon Brangan - Deputy Director Frank Fieseler - Chief Operating/Financial Officer Michelle Smurl - Director of Animal Programs Trevor Zachariah, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACZM - Director of Veterinary Programs Jody Palmer - Director of Conservation Programs Chris DeLorey - Director of Education Cheri Purnell - Director of Membership Programs Karen Davis - Director of Development Andrea Hill - Director of Marketing & Communications Sharon Connelly - Director of Operations Jean Galvin - Director of Volunteer Programs Christopher Martin - Director of Human Resources Andrew Batten - Director of Risk Management Dan Wright - Director of Facilities

How to reach us: 321-254-9453

General Zoo Information ......................ext. 220 Membership ...............................................ext. 231 Education ...................................................ext. 219 Volunteer Opportunities ........................ext. 440 8225 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940

BrevardZoo.org

Thank you to our Corporate Partners Wildlife Conservation through Education and Participation Brevard Zoo is funded in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, The Florida Arts Council and by the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners and Brevard County Tourist Development Council.

SELECT PHOTOS COURTESY OF BREVARD ZOO STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. Printed on 100% Recycled Paper

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EVENTS

September 3-5; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Enter the World of Crocodilians at this beloved annual event! Bruce Shwedick of the Crocodilian Conservation Center of Florida will be on hand with Nile, Cuban, American and slender-snouted crocodiles. We will also celebrate the opening of our marine toad and Jamaican boa exhibits in the Caribbean Trail! As always, you’ll have the chance to feed stingrays, cheer for your favorite tortoise in a nail-biting reptile race and chow down on invertebrates at our Bug Buffet! All activities are included with Zoo admission.

Title Sponsor

Saturday, November 5 7-11 p.m.

Jazzoo is beyond your wildest imagination as the Zoo transforms into a night of

limitless everything—all for one all-inclusive price! Enjoy unlimited food from more than 40 of the area’s best restaurants, beer, wine and liquor from multiple open bars and music on six separate stages ranging from Jazz to top 40 to surf rock to country. Add a sports bar, biergarten, cigar lounge and mechanical bull and you have an event too amazing for words! Acclaimed saxophonist Jackiem Joyner returns to headline. Tickets are available to members at a discounted rate of $70 if purchased by October 15. A VIP upgrade, which includes one-hour early admission, animal encounters and preferred parking on Zoo property, is available for a $25 upcharge. Grab your tickets online at BrevardZoo.org or by phone at 321-254-9453 ext. 283. See you in November! Premier Presenting Sponsor

Signature Sponsors

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EVENTS

Cont.

SPECIAL ZOO MEMBER PRICING!

Back and more spooktacular than

ever! Stop by the Zoo in October to experience this family-favorite Halloween activity, featuring more than 30 treat stations each weekend. Once you’ve had your fill of candy, brave a tween-friendly haunted house, take a ride on the Boo Choo train, rock out with our DJ, channel your creative spirit with creepy games and go for the gold in our costume contest!

October 14, 16, 21 and 23

Treat Station sponsorship opportunities are available Contact Chris Stagman at [email protected] or 321-254-9453 ext. 485 for more information

Boo at the Zoo will take place on October 14-16, 21-23 & 28-30 from 5:30-9 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays and 5:30-8 p.m. on Sundays

The Woods Family...Extended

Everyone met the

Woods family last year, the suppliers of that “special quality” beef town residents liked so much. Well, authorities discovered the gruesome details of where the meat was coming from the night of the Harvest Celebration. There was an investigation and they quickly rounded up and arrested what Woods family they could find and any Grounders that were tending to the

ranch. The Woods Ranch has now been turned into a maximum security mental institution called The Dark Woods House of the Deeply Disturbed. Authorities have invited the community to an open house at the asylum, to allay any fears they might have. Can we really escape the Woods?  Join us October 7-8, 14-15, 20-22 and 28-29 from 8:30 to 11 p.m. at Treetop Trek

What could possibly go wrong? Learn more and get tickets at runforyourfreakinlife.com

EXTRA ZOO SAVINGS! Florida Resident Specials (August 1 through December 16)

Zip into savings at Treetop Trek!

Arrive before noon and take 25% off any course except Chutes and Ladders! May not be combined with any other discount, offer or promotion; not valid September 3-5 or November 23-27. All participants must present a state-issued photo ID and the flyer found at TreetopTrek.com.

WARPED WALL

Not content to push your limits with zip lines?

Challenge yourself with the Warped Wall, Treetop Trek’s newest experience! After a brief running start, see if you can ascend a steep 12-foot ramp and pull yourself over the top. Three attempts are included with the purchase of Canopy Walk, Challenge Reloaded, Black Diamond or Zip Only. Guests not participating in Treetop Trek may purchase three attempts for five dollars. 4

$3 TUESDAYS $5 SUNDAYS IN SEPTEMBER Big savings lie ahead for friends and family! All September long, general admission for Florida residents is just three dollars on Tuesdays and five dollars on Sundays, starting after Labor Day Weekend. Each person will need to show a valid Florida ID to receive the discounted rate. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount, offer or promotion.

We are WILD about our MEMBERS!

Your kids can come GROW with us here at the Zoo! Check out all the amazing programs we have available for kids ages 2 to 16 and best of all, only Zoo members get discounts on all of our activities. To register or learn more about our programs visit BrevardZoo.org/education/experiences

ZOOper kids 

9-10:30 a.m. • Ages: 2-4 Give your tot the opportunity to explore nature in a safe, nurturing environment. Join us monthly for animal encounters, a walk through the Zoo, games, crafts and more!

September — Carnivore Countdown  October — Artistic Animals November — Holiday Helpers  January — Season’s Greetings FOUR-CLASS SERIES: Adult/Child pair $60 Members $80 Non-members

TWO-CLASS SERIES: Adult/Child pair $30 Members $40 Non-members

ZOO CREW

2-4 p.m. • Ages: 5-12

(drop-off is optional for ages 5-8 and preferred for ages 9-12)

$15 Members • $20 Non-members Our homeschool classes, led by Zoo educators, inspire and challenge students through interactive lessons as we explore interesting and current topics in science and conservation. September — Animal Architects

October — What Color is Your Camouflage? December — Eat or Be Eaten! November — Classify This! February — Awesome Amphibians January — Amazing Plants

JR. ZOOKEEPER CLUB

1-3 p.m. • Ages: 10-13

Hey, tweens: Join our club for access to special behind-the-scenes tours, amazing animal encounters and fun social opportunities. Cost per session: $15 Members $20 Non-members Exclusive Event cost: $24 Members $24 Non-members September 18 — Quarantine Queries October 16 — Heroic: Horseshoe Crabs November 20 — Stellar Siamangs December 10 — Jr. Zookeeper Challenge (Exclusive Event)

Winter WINTER break BREAK camp CAMP

Amazing Animals

p

8 a.m.-4 p.m.

December 27-30 Explore all the ways animals have adapted to make it in the wild and see up close how amazing they are!

For children in grades K-6

Animal Super Senses

- 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

January 3-6

Campers will investigate the different senses of a variety of animals and discover what makes them so unique. 5

FAMILY FUN

Calling All Wildlife Detectives: New Zoo Mysteries Each Month!

Does your family like adventure and mystery? Each month, we have new Zoo mysteries, so stop by the Wildlife Detective Training Academy between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to grab a case before embarking on your next Zoo excursion. All new detectives receive an official Detective Card after solving their first animal mystery. After four solved cases, you achieve Brevard Zoo Detective status and receive an honorary place on our detective wall!

Lights Out Safari Adventures!

Are you brave enough to embark on a nocturnal safari? These special evening programs are full of adventure and include a nighttime stroll through the Zoo, up-close animal encounters, fun activities and pizza for dinner. Our overnights include a continental breakfast.

Night Hikes

Upcoming Dates

Ages 5-12 September 10 - Survival Safari Challenge 5-9 p.m. October 8 - Experimentation Exploration (Night Hike only) $24 Members November 19 - Zoo Mythbusters $28 Non-members

Overnights

Ages 7-12 5 p.m.-9 a.m. $35 Members $45 Non-members

HAPPY NEW YEAR! OVERNIGHT December 31 - New Year’s Eve (Overnight Only. See page 18)

Zoo Teens

The Zoo Teen volunteer program allows youth to serve their community by increasing environmental awareness and exploring career opportunities. Each year, Zoo Teens (ages 13 to 16) work alongside staff to create a positive and memorable experience for Zoo visitors. Teens perform a variety of tasks at the Zoo, including animal husbandry, animal handling, face painting and assisting with Zoo camps, special events and public education programs. Applications for the 2017 program are due by Sunday, October 2. Visit BrevardZoo.org/volunteer-programs/zoo-teenprograms for details.

20th Annual Teacher Open House

Celebrate your child’s special day at the Zoo! Choose a Treetop Trek adventure or a nighttime excursion through the Zoo. Contact [email protected] for more information. 6

This year’s educators-only event will be September 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a night to mix and mingle with other educators, plan experiences for your students and win great door prizes! Educational organizations and businesses from throughout Central Florida will be present to talk with educators and provide informational handouts and freebies for your classroom and school.  For more information and to register, visit BrevardZoo.org/education/groups.

Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond G’day, mates! When our Australasia Loop re-opens in February 2017, it will debut as a new experience with a new name: Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond. Have no fear, though all of your favorite animals will return and will be joined by some brand-new species as well. A thrilling addition to the trail will be Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizards. Though our dragons are still young, these mighty reptiles have the potential to grow as long as 10 feet. The state-of-the-art exhibit will give our dragons plenty of room to grow and will mimic a sandy beach on the dragons’ island home in Indonesia. A large water feature will include freshwater fish and an opportunity to watch the dragons swimming below your feet from a glass walkway. Of course, all of your old favorites will be returning in new and exciting ways, too! Surrounding a central plaza area, our raucous flocks of lorikeets and cockatiels as well as our red kangaroos, wallabies and emus will return to their own interactive exhibits. You will once again be able to purchase seed sticks or nectar cups to feed the birds and will also be able to feed our kangaroos. The kangaroo exhibit will be reconfigured to allow guests to travel a path inside the exhibit and offer a treat to our adorable marsupial mob. This new plaza area will drastically improve the flow of traffic and will allow you to park your stroller and enjoy each walk-through exhibit at your own pace. There will be no more need to backtrack to collect your stroller after visiting the birds. Our group of fruit bats will make a return in a brand-new walk-in exhibit that will allow them to display their natural behaviors in full view of guests. The exhibit will allow you to better appreciate these amazing flying mammals. Along the waterfront near the entrance to the trail will be a 100-seat outdoor theater. This theater will be home to presentations and demonstrations and allow us an opportunity to introduce you to our animals in a variety of new ways. All along the trail you will be able to participate in hands-on activities that will demonstrate how climate change is affecting animals in Australia and around the world. With returning favorites and all-new experiences, we are excited to share this fresh look at the amazing wildlife of Australia and the islands of southeast Asia.

ALSO PLANNED FOR 2017! Restroom renovation and addition: Our original restrooms are due for a makeover. We will renovate them and build two new family restrooms that will be accessible from outside the Zoo. Celebration Garden: The Zoo has needed an elegant spot to recognize everyone who has made us so successful over the years. Our new Garden will begin off of the Main Loop of the Zoo and travel to the Flamingo Pond. It will be a quiet place to relax and stroll as you see some creative features that recognize our supporters. Compost facility: We need something to do with all of our Zoo poo! Well, we finally have an answer thanks to Waste Management. We will be constructing our own facility to compost all of the wonderful manure. This new space will be located behind the scenes in the back of the Zoo near our largest manureproducing barn. Once the compost has cooked and cured, we will use it around our grounds to keep all of our plants looking and growing great.

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C O N S E R VAT I O N Fish Kill Cleanup

As we all remember, the Indian River Lagoon experienced

a severe fish kill in March as a result of declining water quality and ensuing algal blooms. Zoo staff jumped into action, working with community partners to organize a cleanup of the dead fish, which if not removed would have contributed to excess nutrients already plaguing the Lagoon. Zoo staff and volunteers alone collected more than five tons of carcasses from the Lagoon, which resulted in an award from the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition.

Keep Brevard Beautiful, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other organizations and individuals worked together to remove more than 100,000 pounds of fish! This is exactly the kind of teamwork we’ll need in order to address our Lagoon’s issues moving forward.

Diamondback Terrapins

Did you know crab traps pose a serious threat to diamondback terrapins? By asking one of our aquarists for a free bycatch reduction device you can prevent terrapins from entering and drowning in your traps. And if you want to learn more about these charismatic turtles found in the Lagoon, we host training sessions with them for guests to see every Saturday at 11 a.m. near the Paws On Aquarium. Oyster Mats

After eight years

and 77 restored reefs, the Oyster Mat project has completed its original goal of oyster restoration in Mosquito Lagoon within Canaveral National Seashore! Thanks to the dedication of over 48,000 volunteers in the local community as well as visitors from afar, more than 45,000 oyster mats have been deployed to potentially recruit 10.6 million live oysters to clean the Lagoon and protect our shorelines! Brevard Zoo, University of Central Florida and many other fabulous project partners and community volunteers participated in this project. Though our restoration efforts will no longer be needed within Canaveral National Seashore, Dr. Linda Walters and her team at UCF will continue to monitor the reefs and migrate their restoration efforts further north in the Lagoon. Our Lagoon still needs plenty of help, so the Oyster Mat project will be teaming up with the Oyster Gardening project to give the Brevard County area even more support! This effort will transform into what will be known as the “Restore Our Shores Project,” focusing not 8

just on mats but also oyster bags and shoreline plantings of spartina seagrass and mangroves. We are very excited to see what these two projects can accomplish together! Fascinated by frogs? Want to become a citizen scientist? Your family can be a part of a nationwide conservation effort by signing up for a FrogWatch USA training session, where we’ll teach you everything you need to know about listening for frogs in your own backyard! Ages: 7 and up Cost: $5 per household (up to 4 family members) Upcoming training sessions: February 1, 10 & 18

Oyster Gardening

The Oyster Gardening team deployed 2016’s first oyster reefs in May at the Merritt Island Riverpoint Program Center, placing 1,270 blank oyster shell mats and 540 half-sized oyster shell bags in order to build two reefs, one on the Banana River side and one on the Sykes Creek side. Oyster gardeners dropped off their carefully tended oysters at Kiwanis Park in Merritt Island that were then mixed with half-sized oyster shell bags filled with blank shell. Over the course of two days, the Oyster Restoration team, staff from Brevard County Natural Resources Department (BCNRD) and 96 volunteers from across the county participated in the reef build. Since the Merritt Island Riverpoint Program Center is affiliated with the Girl Scouts Citrus Council, a troop of upper-level Scouts traveled all the way from Kissimmee to volunteer for the second day of reef building! Once finished, the team built 400 total linear feet of oyster reef. The next 2016 Brevard County oyster reef location is at Geiger Point in Melbourne. Once completed, this reef will measure 700 linear feet, the largest reef built by the oyster gardening team in the county! In early June, our Zoo Teens, BCNRD staff and Sorensen Moving Company employees helped us gather and move thousands of mats and bags to the deployment site. We expect the Geiger Point reef and a smaller reef in Merritt Island to be finished at the end of the month.

Sea Turtle Healing Center

2016 has been a busy year for the

Sea Turtle Healing Center! So far, we’ve admitted 28 patients, released 14 and transferred four. Nine turtles remain in our care.

Even though our staff and volunteers did everything they could for them, we lost 11 turtles as their conditions continued to deteriorate. We are saddened by their passing, but this is the nature of wildlife rehabilitation. Zoo members, staff, volunteers and partners made this year’s Party for the Planet another success! More than 1,200 guests visited the Zoo April 16 to learn and take part in the different ways our community supports the 4 Rs: reducing, reusing, recycling and refusing. Thank you to our sponsor Florida City Gas and local partners Sea Turtle Preservation Society, Blue Life, Recycle Brevard and Goodwill for participating in the event!

Our new bead filter, which was purchased with funds generated by the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Turtle Krawl, is now up and running! This filter can handle larger waste loads and doesn’t require as much maintenance as other models, which saves us valuable time and money. We also created a new position to hire a part-time sea turtle assistant. Having more staff on hand allows us to devote even more much-deserved attention to each patient as we nurse them back to health! 9

AN I MAL Anna and Elsa and learn what enrichments they really enjoy. This, along with daily behavioral training, has allowed the dragons and their caretakers to form a trustbased bond and minimize stress when they relocate to their permanent home.

Komodo Dragons

One of the most exciting aspects of next year’s Australasia reopening is a Komodo dragon exhibit! You and your family will be able to view the world’s largest lizards in a natural setting and, if you’re lucky, watch them swim beneath your feet through an acrylic panel! Elsa and Anna, who are arguably the Zoo’s best-kept secrets, arrived in May 2015 and currently occupy a large holding area in our Expedition Africa barn. These two sisters, who will turn three years old on Halloween, have very unique personalities. Elsa is brave and adventurous, while Anna tends to be more reserved and curious. Having them behind the scenes has given the keepers the special opportunity to spend extra time with

Science Update

Have you ever seen our jaguars licking an ice block

with fish inside? How about the birds playing with a cardboard toy? New, challenging and fun puzzles keep our animals mentally stimulated and interested in their world—an essential component of animal wellness. Providing enrichment also helps us understand our animals better. Like you, when scientists see our young spider monkey exploring his habitat, we wonder, “what’s he thinking”? Watching how he solves challenging puzzles provides a glimpse into his thought processes and cognitive abilities. One of our current projects involves a challenge where two spider monkeys have to work together to get a reward that’s just out of their reach. We weigh a tray down with food so that it’s too heavy for one monkey to reach. But, if two monkeys pull together, they get a tasty treat! Not only is this a new, enriching puzzle for the monkeys to solve; it is also helping to answer the question of whether or not they can learn to cooperate. (Hint: we think they can!) 10

Because Komodo dragons are venomous, we use a technique known as “proteced contact,” which means the animals and their caretakers don’t occupy the same space without some sort of barrier. A large window was installed in their current habitat so that the keepers can safely train the animals and offer immediate positive reinforcement. Komodo dragons are found on several Indonesian islands, where they use their strong neck muscles to take down large prey like deer and wild boars. Because it is important for these muscles to be used, keepers have crafted special feeders and enrichments that encourage the dragons to pull on their prey as they would in the wild. Adults can weigh up to 350 pounds and grow to over nine feet in length; Elsa and Anna are each currently under nine pounds and four feet long, so guests will be able to watch them grow up over time. Be prepared… the dragons are coming!

In the coming months, look for more of these exciting puzzles in the primate exhibits. We are currently training the spider monkeys to use a touchscreen computer, testing their color vision abilities and seeing if they can count. I’m often at the Zoo with my team of Florida Tech students to work on projects or collect behavioral data; if you see us in the red Florida Tech shirts, feel free to say hello and ask us what we’re doing to learn more about the minds of animals. — Darby Proctor, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Florida Institute of Technology

U P D AT E Did You EAAT Today?

Enrichment happens every day at the Zoo to engage our animals in natural behaviors like digging, climbing, running and jumping. To come up with exciting new enrichments for their charges, the keepers devised a friendly competition called EAAT (Enriching Animals Awesomely Teams). Every month, our six teams create a fun challenge, toy or food item for their animals based on a theme. This project is still new, but so far we have seen our lorikeets devour treats under an umbrella for April Showers, giraffe “dance” around a maypole for May Flowers and lemurs rip open boxes of treats delivered by Santa Claus himself for Christmas in July. The animals seem to enjoy the new enrichments and the public has been able to keep up with the action on our Facebook page. We can’t wait to see what the keepers will come up with next! Commissary

and veterinarian, then updated by the Diet Specialist.

With over 800 resident animals representing 184 species at the Zoo, one thing needs to be addressed every single day: food! Some animals hope for worms and fruit while others can’t wait to start munching on hay and carrots. A few slithering friends are looking for mice on their plate and at least one picky jaguar demands ground pork. So many appetites with so much diversity in behaviors, backgrounds, needs and preferences. Who can help? Enter the Diet Specialist.

With so many diets going into the Zoo each day, the commissary team has devised methods for easily locating what food is needed and when. Color-coded buckets for each loop in the Zoo help the keepers find what they need. Separate carts containing the morning and afternoon buckets distinguish which diets are for which feeding. Looking for a sloth diet? Check the afternoon cart for a green bucket; green is the color for La Selva and since the sloth is nocturnal, the diet will go out later.

Each day at 5:30 a.m., the first person to arrive at the Zoo is the Diet Specialist. They begin by cruising through over 300 bird diets, many the same, many very, very different. In the aviary, the lorikeets will go through two gallons of nectar and a full five-gallon bucket of small diced fruits, pellets and vegetables. The kookaburra will eat three small mice. The wrinkled hornbills want a variety of fruits, figs, ground meat and pellets. The ducks need special waterfowl pellets and some chopped lettuce. The Diet Specialist has all these recipes set in a specific order, making sure similar diets are made together to save time. Once the bird diets are completed, work begins on more than 200 mammal diets, as well as meals for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Great communication from the animal care team allows for individual needs to be met. One particular macaw doesn’t like walnuts? This information is passed along from his keeper to the Diet Specialist and added to the notes. No more walnuts for him, but his buddy might still get some. The warty pigs are gaining weight? An adjustment is made by the curators

A second Diet Specialist arrives in the early afternoon to pick up where their coworker left off, finishing all cleaning and preparations for the next day at 7:30 p.m. Since everyone expects to eat again tomorrow, the whole process starts over again each day, with exciting new findings along the way. Whether it has fur, scales, fangs or a beak, the Diet Specialists are ready to make each animal something nutritious and delicious to eat!

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A N I M A L U P DAT E

Cont.

Australasia Keepers Prepare For Piglets

After reintroducing our male Visayan warty pig,

Pandan, to females Fancy and Makina, keepers hoped for a successful pregnancy and piglets. The last time the Zoo had warty pig babies was 2011; at that time, closely observing the female pig’s weight was the best tool keepers had for identifying a pregnancy. This time around, keepers have trained Fancy and Makina to participate in a voluntary ultrasound! Before the training process began, part of their enclosure was modified into a training wall by making flaps that lift up; this allowed access to the pigs’ bellies while giving them the freedom to leave the training session at any time. To start, the pigs were trained to line up and hold still next to the training wall. Next, a capped PVC pole was rubbed on their bellies to mimic an ultrasound probe. Once the pigs were comfortable with the mock ultrasound probe, a veterinary technician began attending training sessions to

desensitize the pigs to her presence. Finally, the vet tech was able to bring a portable machine to the exhibit and give Fancy her first voluntary ultrasound! A second ultrasound produced a picture of a possible fetus and a third one in late July revealed Fancy was carrying two piglets. The more timid Makina has not yet had a successful ultrasound, but she is getting closer each training session. Training animals for voluntary medical procedures creates less stress for the animal and helps keepers identify as early as possible if an animal is sick, aids in treating injuries, and, in this case, helps us prepare for piglets.

White-Faced Sakis

Chuckette (affectionately known as “Chuckie” by our keepers) is the Zoo’s resident breeding female white-faced saki monkey. She lives in La Selva with her daughter Alexandria, young son Blackbeard and partner Yuki. Although Chuckie has had numerous offspring at the Zoo, we almost never see her mating with Yuki, and monitoring her weight was until recently the only way for us to detect a pregnancy. Nikki, one of our La Selva keepers, came up with a training plan that enabled Chuckie to participate in voluntary ultrasounds, which would allow us to monitor the fetus’ development. Keepers lodged a small PVC pipe through the mesh of Chuckie’s exhibit, trained her to place her hands on the pipe and reinforce the behavior with watered-down peanut butter. Next, they desensitized her to being touched on the belly by a mock ultrasound wand. After many training sessions, keepers performed an ultrasound on June 29; this was the first time Chuckie had ever seen the machine, gel or technician. She was a little fidgety but did very well overall! We tried again the next day and, although we didn’t get a great picture, it was obvious she was carrying a fetus! She is most likely near the end of this pregnancy but we hope to continue these training sessions to keep track of fetal development in future pregnancies. As is the case with all animal training, Chuckie was free to come and go as she pleased. 12

Seriema Chick

On June 7, red-legged seriemas Bella and Beast successfully hatched a chick in their

exhibit in La Selva! This featherless bundle of joy quickly won over the hearts of its keepers, who named the chick “Chip.”

Seriema chicks grow up on the fast track. They are born with their eyes open and can stand at one week of age. At two weeks, many will venture down from the nest and by three weeks, they’re already walking with their parents. At four months, they are fully grown and ready to live on their own. Very early on, an astute keeper noticed that one of Chip’s legs was slightly swollen. A veterinary inspection revealed a piece of nesting material wound around the top of Chip’s leg, which was removed immediately. Thanks to the observations of the keeper and the quick work of our veterinary staff, the swelling subsided and Chip sustained no damage to his leg. Chip is very curious and eager to greet the keepers. At this time, Bella and Beast are throwing food on the ground, encouraging Chip to search for it!

Three Is Not A Crowd

In early July, we welcomed a third zebra to our herd! Lauren, who

was born in 2013, lost her mother when she was just three weeks old. Because she was hand-raised and didn’t have the social skills to be a part of a large group, it was determined that she would be better off with a smaller herd like ours. After arriving at her new home, Lauren was unloaded into a stall near the exhibit and introduced to fellow zebras Iggy and Zonka through the barn window. After a few days of adjustment, Lauren was given sole access to the yard she would eventually share with Iggy, Zonka and the rhinos; this allowed her to explore the new area without being harassed by the other animals. Next, all three zebras were let into the yard together and, although some kicking and biting was expected, the transition was very smooth. On July 19, female rhinos Kabibi and Uzuri were added to the mix, and male Howard joined them the following day. Again, this transition went very well, and Lauren acted like she had lived here with the rhinos for her entire life!

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We

Our Members!

Your Zoo membership isn’t just a terrific value for you–it benefits the whole Zoo! Memberships are an

important source of funding for the Zoo–they help support the day-to-day demands of animal care as well as our conservation and education efforts.  Brevard Zoo is a private, not-for-profit organization. In fact, we are one of a handful of accredited zoos that doesn’t depend on public funding to pay the bills. On average, we earn 90 cents of every dollar we spend while providing truly unique experiences with nature. We connect you with the natural world at a fraction of the cost of most other attractions and we work hard to educate your children and preserve our wildlife. Thank you for your support, it does make a real difference.  

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS:

REMEMBER: Skip the line! • Go straight to the turnstile with your membership card and photo ID for each named member. • Your membership card is valid for the person(s) whose name appears on the card. Supporting photo ID is required for the named adults. • Children (ages 21 and under) covered on the membership may use the card even if their parents are not present. • A named adult member must be present for guest option (Plus Plans) entrance or admission. • Memberships are non-refundable and non transferable. • Duplicate or replacement cards can be purchased for a $5 fee.

REDUCED ADMISSION to more than 120 zoos and aquariums nationwide. EARLY ADMISSION – open at 9 a.m. for members. Come in and see us getting ready for the day! 10% DISCOUNT at Wonders of the Wild gift shop and on select food and beverage purchases. BUY 1 GET 1 FREE kayaking at the Zoo (subject to blackout dates and availability). $6 OFF Rhino Encounters. $3 OFF paddle boat excursions. DISCOUNT on select camps, education programs and birthday party packages. SPECIAL MEMBER-ONLY ticket pricing on select evenings for Boo at the Zoo.

Volunteer Superstars

As a community Zoo, we encourage and appreciate public involvement. United by their passion for animals, conservation and education, our volunteers come from all walks of life and assist in virtually every aspect of our operations. For more information about volunteering at the Zoo and the exciting opportunities that await, visit BrevardZoo.org/volunteer-programs.

Our volunteer team is comprised of more than 350 amazing volunteers, each giving at least 4 hours a week. We appreciate all of our volunteers and the hard work they do for us, but also wanted to take a moment to recognize 26 of them for going above and beyond the call of duty. What does it mean to go above and beyond? These volunteers not only give more than 250 hours of service a year to the Zoo, but also rise to the occasion when we are short-staffed or there is a call-out, sign up for special events, and so much more! Congratulations to our Volunteer Superstars:

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Spencer Anderson Carl Applin Mike Babich Nancy Cooper Laurie Der Bob Hassol

Tanis Hatt Carolyn Jenkins Pat Jones Carol Lavin Donna Meger

Sandy Meierer Karen Moser Linda Owiesny Dennis Palmer Patricia Palmer

John Pordon Judy Price Tom Rossi Susanne Saether David Saylor

Dawn Smith Barb Stewart Bob Sunshine Morris Susaneck Steve Taylor Indra Wagner

This year’s Safari Under the Stars

celebrated the Zoo’s amazing achievements and, with the support of our incredibly generous community, assured the continued success of our mission of wildlife conservation through education and participation.

Raising a record-breaking $570,000, the event was punctuated by the introduction of groundbreaking initiatives like the creation of a designated venue and educational program designed specifically for children with special needs. Renowned animal behaviorist and autism advocate Temple Grandin was on hand to discuss her personal experiences and impel our attendees to support this life-changing project. Nearly $100,000 was raised for this effort alone. This year’s celebration marked our first sustainability focused event, eliminating single-use foodservice items wherever possible. Attendees gathered around our new hands-on conservation kiosk to learn about what we’re doing to protect local mangroves, oysters and pollinators. On behalf of the entire community, we could not be more grateful to our sponsors who are ensuring such extraordinary benefits for all who make the Space Coast their home.

2016

Title Sponsor Red Carpet Sponsor

Safari After Dark Sponsor

Sustainability Sponsor Entertainment Sponsor

Street of Dreams Silent Auction Sponsor

Healthy Zoo Healthy You Sponsor

Gala Dinner Sponsor

Premier Luxury Car Sponsor

Give From the Heart Showcase Sponsor

Safari Spirit Sponsor

Dessert, Liqueur & Cigar Lounge Sponsor

Nyami Nyami River Lodge Pre-Party Sponsor

Central Plaza Reception Sponsor

Walter and Dotti Gatti

Garvin Wealth Management

In-Kind: Bagel World  Cake So Simple Carrabba’s Italian Grill  Chick-fil-A Classic Wood Flooring  Crush Eleven Cupcake Girl  Digital Graphics Printing Dunkin’ Donuts  Exclusive Cigars Florida Beer Company  Four C’s Nursery Freeze Frame  Good Impressions Printing Green Turtle Market  Kernal Encore Jenn Manaseri  Ossorio Bakery & Cafe Panache – A Classic Party Rentals Company Panera Bread  Party Elegance Catering Renaissance Catering of Cocoa Sam’s Club SKY Advertising  The Soltree Company Southern Wine & Spirits Starbucks-Rockledge

Lynda Ulrich  K. Thomas Robbins & Gayle E. Woodson

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HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS Take a Walk on the WILD side with these Tours! Wild Encounter

Cost: $125 per person

This unparalleled adventure takes visitors off the boardwalk on an awe-

inspiring hour and a half to two hours of fun getting up close and personal with some of the Zoo’s most charismatic animal residents. The tour starts with the Lemur Rendezvous encounter then continues on with a Rhino encounter and ends with giraffe and/or zebra. Guests learn the intricacies involved in keeping these beautiful creatures conditioned, healthy and mentally enriched. Guests can explore first-hand how the Zoo’s skilled keepers utilize their training to interact with the animals. Wild Encounter Tours are offered Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Reservations are required 14 days in advance of desired date and subject to availability. Wild Encounter Tours are limited to 6 guests per tour. Available to ages 5 and older (due to kayaking requirements); children ages 5 to 11 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Zoo admission is included with the Wild Encounter tour.

Lemur Rendezvous Cost: $44.95 per person Take a kayak tour to the lush island home of our ring-tailed lemurs

and get closer than ever. Experience is 45 minutes to one hour and includes the kayaking tour with a 20-minute stop on lemur island. This is not a hands-on experience. You are welcome to take pictures and our lemurs may come up and touch you, but you will not be able to hold or touch them.

Lemur Rendezvous is offered Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Reservations are required 14 days in advance of desired date and subject to availability. Lemur Rendezvous experience is limited to 6 guests per tour. Available to ages 5 and older (due to kayaking requirements); children ages 5 to 11 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Zoo admission is not included with Lemur Rendezvous.

Jungle Encounter

Cost: $34.95 per person

Step off the boardwalk and immerse yourself in the world of La Selva–the rainforest! Meet anteaters, a sloth and other rainforest creatures in this magical 30-minute adventure. You will be able to touch and feed some of the animals, but you will not be able to hold them. Jungle Encounter is offered Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. Reservations are required 14 days in advance of desired date and subject to availability. Jungle Encounter experience is limited to 6 guests per tour. Available to ages 5 and older; children ages 5 to 11 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Zoo admission is not included with Jungle Encounter. 16

Cost: Zoo Members $13.95 per person Non-Members $19.95 per person

Rhino Encounters Meet the Zoo’s magnificent massive rhinos up

close and personal! These incredible encounters are offered daily (contingent on weather and rhinos) from noon to 1 p.m. Rhino Encounters are limited to 10 guests per encounter and subject to availability. Each tour lasts about 20 minutes. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a paid adult. Zoo admission is not included with Rhino Encounters.

Individual holiday gift certificates for each course can be

purchased online at TreetopTrek.com or in person at the Treetop Trek harness house during normal operating hours. Holiday gift certificates are valid through December 31, 2017. Annual passes are also available and make a great holiday gift! The cost for Chutes and Ladders Flight Pass is $79 and the cost for the Annual Flight Pass (which includes the Canopy Walk, Challenge Reloaded, Black Diamond and Zip-Only) is $199. Annual passes can be purchased online or at the Treetop Trek harness house during normal operating hours. For more information, visit TreetopTrek.com or call 321-254-9453 ext. 253.

Adopt an animal and continue to support YOUR Zoo! Furry, feathery or hairy…claws, paws, beaks or scales? By participating in this program, you have the satisfaction of knowing your contribution supports the daily care and well-being of our animals. A Share the Care “adoption” is the perfect (not to mention unique AND unconventional) holiday gift! FEATURING: ALLIGATOR, ARMADILLO, DEER, FLAMINGO, FOX, JAGUAR, MONKEY, OTTER OR OWL COST: $35 and includes an official “adoption” certificate; species ‘“Facts & Fun” sheet; Share the Care magnet; Zoobooks™ Animal Champions; and plush animal (your selected species). All sponsored animals must remain in the custody of Brevard Zoo and no ownership rights are conferred. “Adopt” online at BrevardZoo.org or call 321-254-9453 ext. 231 or ext. 225 17

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

Cont.

Give a WILD GIFT that lasts all year long!

Holiday Education Programs (See pages 5 and 6) Program space is limited. To register, visit BrevardZoo.org/education WINTER BREAK CAMPS Kindergarten to 6th grade (See page 5)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! OVERNIGHT December 31 • 5:30 p.m. - 10 a.m. • Ages: 7-12 Cost: $50 Members $65 Non-Members

GIFTS to the ANIMALS

Brevard Zoo Annual Memberships make great holiday gifts...

December 20-23 • 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Strap on your jingle bells and head to the Zoo to watch the animals unwrap exciting gifts! On Thursday and Friday, jam with our DJ, play fun holiday-themed games and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus! See our website for a complete schedule.

MEMBERS GET MORE! PURCHASE GIFT MEMBERSHIPS AT THE MEMBER SERVICES WINDOW, ONLINE AT BREVARDZOO.ORG OR CALL 321-254-9453 ext. 231 OR ext. 225

GO A LITTLE WILD... JOIN the



YOUR CHOICE OF Cheetah • Giraffe • Lemur • Meerkat • Rhino • Zebra $25 - Plush animal of your choice and Safari Club magnet

Celebrate the New Year with us on Saturday,

$50 - Plush animal of your choice, Safari Club magnet and tote bag $100 - Safari Club certificate of support, plush animal of your choice, Safari Club magnet and tote bag

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Join the Safari Club online at brevardzoo.org or call 321-254-9453 ext. 231 or ext. 225



December 31 at our fourth annual Noon Year’s Eve Celebration. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids can make crafts and play games in Paws On then join us at noon at the Paws On stage for a juice toast to ring in 2017! All activities are included with Zoo admission.

Let Us Host Your Next Event

Our Event Space is Great for Fundraising Events, Weddings, Company Picnics & Retreats, Holiday Parties and More!

AT BREVARD ZOO

BrevardZoo.org • 321.254.9453 x235 or x226

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 98 Melbourne, FL

8225 N. Wickham Rd. Melbourne, FL 32940

Printed on 100% Recycled Paper

Up Close and Personal with an Insider’s View! How would you like to encounter a rhino up close and personal? Or be among

the first to view new animals and exhibits? Or maybe get an insider’s view of Zoo operations? For as little as $84 a month, you and your family can join our distinguished Jaguar Society and enjoy special VIP “perks” on every visit in recognition of your commitment to the Zoo. In addition to monthly behind-the-scenes experiences and previews, Jaguar Society members are given exclusive previews of all new exhibits and animals, free Zoo admission, animal feedings, train rides, kayaking and guest passes. If you are interested in joining this elite group of Zoo supporters, please contact our membership department at 321-254-9453 ext. 234. Our staff will happily work to craft a membership that caters to the unique needs of your family.

Thank you to all of our current members! John and Nancy Abernathy Bruce and Jessica Assam Andy and Christine Barber Mick and Jackie Barker Tom Bedor Larry and Cindy Bishop John and Laura Bomalaski Jim and Cathy Bouck Dr. Edward Breakell and Donna Burleson John and Diane Breitfeller David and Kim Brown Gene and Becky Cavallucci Jim and Pam Cavanaugh Mike and Tonya Cerow Yuan-Tsong & Alice Chen Eric and Shelly Cooper Nelson and Gretchen Cover Nelson Cover III John and Carol Craig

Mike and Becky Crews Laurel Crowe Phil and Jeanne Farmer Brian and Hope Fisher Greg Watson and Leasha Flammio-Watson Betsy Stabler Franz Shane and Elaina Garvin Walter and Dottie Gatti Nick and Toni George Beth Gitlin and Scott Hoffman Nanialei Golden and Chris Johnson Lazaro and Carole Gonzalez Steve and Susan Hall Deanne Dailey Hansen Henry Harrison and Ruth Lambert Steve and Jill Harrison Julie Harrison and Dr. Steve Watts

Nick and Diane Heldreth Douglas and Barbara Hendriksen Robert and Patricia Henry Tom and Cortney Hermansen Don and Julie Herndon Chas and Vonnie Hoyman Marc and Lynda Huey Myra Igo Haley Keith and Kerry Johnson Mark and Lysee Kierstein Briggs and Dana Kilborne Matt and Sue Ann Kucera Joanne Labbe George Leonard and Liz Norwood-Fields Heather Lewis Alan Marumoto

Michelle Masline Clif and Kathy McClelland Patrick and Heather McDonough Scott Miller and Valerie Duda-Miller Steve and Jill Mimbs Brad & Carol Missimer Tom and Polly Molnar Bill and Jill Moore Doug and Joni Norton Arden Monroe-Obermeit and Tobias Obermeit Roger and Jennifer Ogburn Cole and Lizzy Oliver Taylor and Misty Pancake Lenny and Carol Ann Panzini Dan and Marian Pearson Paul and Cheryl Pearson

Clyde and Linda Pittman Jane Quadrozzi Peter and Laura Rochester Bryan and Judy Roub Penny Sallinger Gen. Chuck Scanlon and Barbara Wall Scanlon Jay and Laraine Schultz Lew and Heather Schwartz Kent and Mary Smith Dan and Mary Ann Sperando Ken Stackpoole Karen Sulitzer Ralph and Nancy Taylor Frank and Linda Vega Joe and Peggy Ward Glenn Young and Liz Moran Young Matthew and Karen Zifcak