MERICAN SSOCIATION OF National AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 8024 TOMMY DRIVE • SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92119 (714) 463-0738 RICHARD G. SWEENEY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AAZK BOLLETXI ftiiM B0LLETH is the official National publication of the American Association of Zoo Keepers. MZK accepts the full responsibility for all articles printed here¬ in. SHOT: Hr. Km Kawata f Editor (Toputa Zoological Fk,Top©ka # Iknsaa) Ms® Jerilee Yagello^Editorial AssietantCTopdka) Coordinator: Mr Richard Q Bwmmwj f MZK Mego,California REPORTERS: All membere of AAZK Virginia L Sveener j EDITORIAL ADVISOR: Mr Cary K. darklyMrector f Topeta Zoological B: # Topelsa f &MEs AAZK BOLLETXI is edited and compiled at Topakm,Itaa»s and is printed and dis- txlbuted at 3sa Diego,California. BI - MOimi ASSEMBLY STAFF: Kr Ken ¥illiag!iMi f Mickey Mrmtt.Bdb Mll,Carl ^rle AAZK MEMBERSHIPS: AFFILIATE(Kaeper) $5.00 mrnmllj ASSOCIATE: $5.00 aaw»lly FOREIGN: $10.00 aaamally SOTDfflf: $5.00 auuallj CGITRIBUTII'G $25.00 wuraally SUPPORTING LIFE $200.00 FOR DEOILS AND APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIPS: CONTACT NATIONAL HQ AAZK ALL MEMBERSHIPS INCLUDE SUBSCRIPTION TO "AAZK BULLETIN" TRUSTEES: KEN KENNEDY, PERRY ALEXANDER, ROBERT CRAWFORD, KEN KAWATA, EDWARD ROBERTS, HUEY HANNON HONORARY MEMBERS: GLORIA STEWART, JAMES (JIMMY) STEWART, MARVIN JONES, IVAN SANDERSON, R. MARLIN PERKINS SUBJECT: NORTHEAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS We hope you can plan to attend!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE: STATLER - HILTON HOTEL, 7th Avenue,New York City,N.Y. ROOM RATES: Single - 116.00 Double - 124.00 WHEN: JUNE 24 - 27,1971 (FRIDAY,SATURDAY,AND SUNDAY) REGISTRATION ON THURSDAY,JUNE 24 FOR TOOK: All members of AAZK, all zoo and aquarium personnel,Associate members and guests. HOSTS: NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL CHAPTER AAZK (BRONX ZOO) Mr William G Conway*General Director Wally Connelly, Conference Chairman PROGRAM? Members will present papers, films/slides about their zoo or aquariums, travels, and specific experiences with animal care and maintenance. The exchange of practical procedures,sharing of records,and the opportunity to communicate being the key issue, MATERIALS? Each delegate will recieve souviner brief case containing various items pertinent to the meeting;New York sights,AAZK papers,brochures from other zoos and aquariums,etc.etc. SPECIAL EVERTS? Tour of famous Bronx Zoo,Conference Banquet and Cocktail Reception at Zoo, Luncheon at Zoo, and closing Breakfast at Hotel. (ALL SUCH EVENTS INCLUDED IN REGISTRATION FEE.ALSO INCLUDES BUS TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM HOTEL STATLER-HILTON) EDUCATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL DISPLAYS? Posters from various AAZK chapters,Commercial Exhibits, and other publications. COSTS? Registration fee PER PERSON is $15.00 This fee includes all above mentioned special events. It does not include hotel costs,tips, or other meals. REGISTRATION PEE can be paid in advance to AAZK, 8024 TOMMY DR,SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA,92119 OR can be paid at Statler - Hilton upon registration. CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AT HOTEL WILL BE 10 AM to noon, and 2PM to 5PM, Thursday,June 24,1971. IMPORTANT NOTE? If you plan to attend please forward attached slip so hotel and other information can be mailed to you. All slips would be appreciated no later than JUNE- 1 ,1971 . WE MUST RESERVE BUSSES BY THIS DATE.. «MM» mm «m» mm mm mm mm mm «« wmm mm m» mm mm mm mmm mmm mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm mm mm mmm mm mm mm mm mm mmm mm 1 am interested in attending the NE Regional AAZK Conference. Please rush information and Hotel registration card to me. ADDRESS ___STATE _ZIP REGISTRATION FEE (CONFERENCE) ENCLOSED $ _NUMBER IN PARTY. ( ) I WILL PAY AT HOTEL,JUNE 24,1971 4 * VOL. 4, No. 3 & 4 MARCH-APRIL 1971 PATAS PLAIN AT THE JAPAN MONKEY CENTER by Shigetaka Kotera One of the several open enclosures at the Primate Zoo of the Japan Monkey Centre is the Patas Plain, which covers about 4,000 square meters. This is surround¬ ed by a low hot fence and is located in front of our 3rd primate building that houses African species. In the enclosure you can see a troop of 24 patas monkeys from the African savanna and 3 springboks, parents and young. It was 6 years ago that this enclosure was constructed. When we first drew up the plan, the design of stalls became the focus of hot discussion. We got together at the future site of the enclosure for a better idea. Everyone agreed when we came up with the idea of duplicating an African house with a heating device in it. All 3 stalls are zinc-roofed now, but they used to be roofed with knit bamboo which was more impressive. We just happened to have a Thomsons gazelle with a bad front leg, and it joined the monkeys to make a better African exhibit. Later it was replaced by springboks. Zoo geographically their distribution does not overlap that of patas; still the 2 species living together seem to give visitors a real African picture. Fifteen patas were housed at the beginning. They gradually increased their number, up to 24 at this writing. The physical condition and birth rate of the animals are generally good. On the other hand, we have disadvantages common to any open enclosure exhibit. Such as high mortality of newborn young, or lack of thorough treatment in case of disease. However, by showing free-living animals in harmony, and not "caged” ones, we can present the public a better impression of a zoo. Thus the merits and faults are balanced, I believe. (Translated by Ken Kawata from " Animals and Zoos ”# No. 251, pg. 406, published by the Tokyo Zoological Park Society) HOUSTON ZOO NEWS by Mrs. Beryl Fisher Births and hatchings : 1 Spix’s Guan 7 Egyptian Geese 1 Marsh Mongoose 1/1 Dwarf Gameroon Goat l/O Kodiak Bears(stillborn) 1 Marsh Mongoose(died after birth) JOE by Mrs. Beryl Fisher It is unfortunate more people didn’t know Joe, for lack of a better name, with his winning ways. His bright, inquisitive eyes were somehow sad and appealing, especially when he cocked his small thin face to one side and looked at you. Joe and I became acquainted just before Christmas last year. He was brought to the zoo, where I work, to be donated. Shivering with cold, sick with infection, he huddled in an open crate while above him, his owners listened to one of our curators explain the disastrous effects of putting a strange animal into an established colony. It was evident Joe’s owners were disappointed by the zoo’s refusal to accept him. Evident too, was the fact Joe was sick and needed care. His cuspid teeth 2 Nocturnal Currasow O/l Dwarf Cameroon Goat 1 Hippo 1 New Guinea Wallaby (observed in poach est. 6 weeks) 0/2 Black Leopard(born dead-Caesarean) had been clipped off and had begun to abcess. Evidently, the fact was forgotten that when animals are frightened, they bite in self-defense, not out of viciousness. As he huddled and shivered, the owners prepared to leave and on impulse I asked to hold him. The thought of his going back out into the cold was unbearable. He snuggled and clung to my sweater, tucking his head as if to blot out the misery he felt. The owners watched as I watched Joe. Looking at their faces, our thoughts coincided and almost without words, Joe became mine. In a secluded corner, sitting on a heating pad, under a heat lamp, Joe began to thaw out. His companion was an outdoor thermometer which would register his normal room temperature of 80 degrees. A call to the vet that evening sent me to the drugstore for Chloromycetin. For such a tiny animal, the dosage was very small and Joe was a good patient. He took his medication, drank water and orange juice, fortified with vitamins, from an eye dropper. He tried to eat mashed bananas but his face was so swollen he wasn’t very successful. The swelling was caused by the abcessed teeth; one eye was partially closed. He accepted the medication but didn’t seem to improve. Everyone encouraged Joe to get well. The children in our family (there are six) would speak to him and he in turn would hold their finger with his tiny hand. Four days before Christmas, Joe was too weak to sit up anymore. The abcess had ruptured, beneath the jaw and through the ear. His suffering touched all of us. Friends called about him and came on tiptoe to see him. There wasn’t really much to see except a big bundle of blanket and that small swollen face protruding from one end. He would open his eyes as much as he could when we called his name and reach out for your finger. Our vet worked with Joe the biggest part of one night and several hours the following day-giving him fluids and more antibiotics. Then back home we went and the medication and fluids continued every hour on the hour. Everything was charted and Joe fought as hard to get well as we fought for him. Joe lost his fight to live on Christmas Day. He just didn’t seem to be able to fight anymore. Maybe it was fitting that he died on this day. No More Pain! No more fightingJTo many people, especially the ones who clip little monkey’s teeth for better saleability, it doesn’t matter. Perhaps they never see the results of their act. As one person told me, "It’s nothing but a squirrel monkey; who cares?” JUST ONE OF HOW MANY ANNUALLY? STANLEY PARK ZOO, VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA by Ken Kennedy from Puget Sound Chapter AAZK Newsletter Acquired: 1 pr. of Barrows Golden Eye ducks Died: Lesser Panda who lived at Stanley Park for ten years. He was an adult animal when received. New Displays: Two cotton top marmosets & a Canada lynx ASSINIBOINE PARE ZOO MONTHLY REPORT—JANUARY 1971 by Erwin K. Smolinski Births: 1.0 Lion-tailed Monkey 1 Wallaroo A total of 18,431 visitors entered our zoo during January inspite of low temperatures to —18 degrees F. and chill wind factors as low as -64 degrees F. The total attendance for the year of 1970 was 1,824,924—An all time high for one year. - 2 - In 1970, Zoo Director Dr. Voss, left the Assiniboine Park Zoo and took on a new position in Toronto. Our new Director is Clive G. Roots, who came to us from England. The Zoo Supervisor, Rudy Wulf ( who was also an AAZK member) has also left the Zoo employ. This position was temporarily filled by Lawrence E. Waliberg (AAZK member) for 9 months, and has now been re-assigned to Rolf W. Henning, who has been with the Zoo since 1959(also an AAZK member). On January 23, 1971, Mr. John Malinauskas (AAZK member) passed away as a result of a heart attack. John started at the Assiniboine Park Zoo as a keeper on March 8, 1951* For a period of time, John was in command as Head Keeper. When new management took over at the Zoo, John was made Head Commissary which included all the feed supply ordering and distribution. Due to poor health, John left the Commissary and functioned as an Animal Foreman. John will be missed by the Zoo staff. The most interesting shipment to leave the Zoo during February was the consign¬ ment of 2.1 young Moose to Tokyo via Frankfurt and Anchorage. This was apparently the largest shipment of wild animals to leave Western Canada by air. Destined for a Japanese Zoo, they arrived safely in Tokyo three days after leaving Winnipeg. INSIDE OPT AMD RETORN by Bob Wendell from Unicom. Newsletter for the Phoenix Chapter AAZK Early one morning a few weeks ago as I was making my cage inspection rounds outside the reptile room, I noticed a young lad of perhaps eight or nine years of age staring intently into one of the rattlesmake cages. As I approached him he beckoned to me and asked why the snake inside the cage was shedding his skin, and if he could crawl back into it later on if he needed. I explained to him why snakes shed their skins periodically and assured him that the snake couldn’t crawl back into the shedded skin. The boy then went on to other displays, satisfied, or at least I had though so. However, about ten minutes later, as I was working inside the room and had already removed the shed snake skin from display, I heard this same boy return with someone else, explaining to him what was happening inside the cage. But whan he saw the snake and no skin—you guessed it . He exclaimed in a rather loud and very disappointed voice, 11 That man lied to me; the snake crawled back into his skin. 15 By the time I had managed to go out and explain to him what I had done with the skin, he had left the exhibit. So now there is a young boy who will grow up, passing along a first hand experience about seeing snakes crawl back into their skins. This little incident certainly proves to me how an innocent occurence begets a superstition or myth. HORNS AND ANTLERS by Dave Langdon from Unicom, Newsletter of Phoenix Chapter AAZK In the world of animal defense mechanisms perhaps none is as fascinating as the many varied forms of horns and antlers. Since man’s first beginnings when he recovered a long discarded deer antler for a crude knife, horns and antlers have figured prominently in man’s existence. In biblical times the horn of the rhino was utilized by kings as a drinking mug. This was a very useful article as, accord¬ ing to legend the owner could not be poisoned as long as he drank from one of these. Even in more recent times, the horn is still prized as a symbol of male strength^ power, and virility. Many cultures throughout the world, particularly in the orient regard the horn of many animals to be the pure embodiment of sexual prowess and attribute powers of aphrodesia to it. Fortunately, these beliefs have lessened somewhat under the advance of scientific knowledge. Many animals persecuted to the brink of extinction for their horns are slowly making a limited comeback. It is sad that man’* ignorant and wanton destruction of his surroundings is so often irrepairable and that the realisation of this has only just begun. It is very difficult to define exactly what a horn is. Briefly it is a natural development of a hard bony substance projecting from the skull which is used for defense, protection, intraspecific determination of dominance or all of these. There are many animals possessing outgrowths of skin covered bone or c@rat.in such as the horned lizard and the horned beetle or even feathers as with the horned owl. These, however, are not horns in the truest sense. Basically, true horns can be separated into two main groups: those which are permanent and grow throughout the life of the animal and those which are shed and regrown periodically. In this first group are the many species of antelope, cattle, sheep, goats, bison, and many others. The horn grows over a bony core which is part of the animals skull and is made of the same material as hoofs, hair, and fingernails. The horn of the rhinoceros is slightly different, being more fibrous in construction and lacking the bony core. The giraffes horns are odd in being almost completely covered by skin and it is also the only animal which is bom with true horns. These horns are made entirely of bone and are called antlers. In most cases antlers are carried only by the male of the species and are normally shed once a year. Around late fall the antlers ar© broken off at their base or socket in the skull. Soon small knobs appear and within several months depending upon their size the antlers take shape and harden inside a protective covering of velvet-like skin. When growth is complete this covering is scraped off by some vigorous rubbing on trees and rocks. During spring in the Phoenix Zoo’s North American hoofed animal exhibit, the mule and white-tail deer can be seen in”velvet". The even stranger sight of a buck with shreds of bloody skin hanging from his antlers usually sends zoo visitors into a panic-stricken search for a keeper to come and help the ?? dying" animal* THE PELICAN: CAN IT SURVIVE? by A1 Valenzuela from Unicom, the Phoenix Chapter AAZK Newsletter The Pelican is dying in America. Along the Louisiana coast, a disaster has occurred. By 1962, all that had remained of some 50,000 pelicans had vanished. All along the Gulf coast the pelican was beginning to disappear. In California, the pelican cannot possibly survive another breeding period which saw only five young survive on Anacapa Island. What is killing off the pelican? A number of professional wildlife workers don’t hesitate to place the blame on "Pesticides”. Such pesticides as DDT and Dieldrin both widely found in marine food chain, have long been suspected, and now reports from the Pacific- coast, where the pelican is doomed to extinction, have confirmed the net of evidence against agriculture’s biocides. The population turnover is faster now then ever before. Effects of some cumula— tive poisons are subjected to biological amplification. The pelican is thus involved in a food chain that is leading it to extinction. Grains treated with DDT are washed into drainage ditches and ultimately into marshes, and streams, where they are used for food by marine life. A nonlethal dose of DDT insecticide ingested by a filter-feeding plankter ( member of plankton) will be deposited in its fatty tissues. When the plankter is eaten by a predatory fish, the DDT will be incor¬ porated in the tissue of the fish. During its lifetime the fish is likely to consume much plankton; part of this plankton mass will he converted into energy, part into Fish protoplasm, and part will be excreted, but nearly all the fat-soluble DDT from the plankton will remain in the fatty tissues of the fish. The fish thus becomes a kind of insecticide trmp^ accumulating concentrations of DDT that are much higher then those found in its prey. The story is then repaeated when the fish in trun is eaten by an osprey, pelican, eagle, or other bird of prey. A California research team visited Anac&pa Island and counted almost 2,000 pelicans and 298 nests, but intact eggs were found in only 12 nest. More pointedly, 51 nests each held a single broken egg, the shells spong and flaking with little or no calcium carbonate. The weight from an incubating parent would be enough to break the egg. A .second visit to another Anacapa Island produced much the same findings. While 600 adult birds were counted and many were sitting on nests, only 19 of 339 nests contained intact eggs* Although associations between insecticide residues and declining reproduction rates do not prove a casual relationship there is now considerable laboratory evidence that DDT interferres with goradial development and calcium metabolism, re¬ sulting in symptoms of calcium deficiency, as well as creating hormonal disturbances resulting in delayed ovulation and inhibition of gonad development; these dis¬ turbances may prove to be interrelated,and to be related to unsuccessful reproduction. It is important to note that a satistically significant decrease in calcium content of eggshells occurred between 1946 and 1950 in several species of carnivorous birds—a period in which there was widespread introduction of DDT into the environment. DDT and poisons of the kind which affect an entire category of ©cosystem members (namely, the carnivorous element) are ©specially but subtly disruptive in their effects on natural communities. Since DDT and related chlorinated hydrocarbons are highly resistant to bacterial degradation, and since th© major sources of these compounds in the environmental are traceable to run-off from agricultural land and aerial fallout, both of which are hard to control, the only practical alternative to the destructive use of certain pesticides would seem to b© large-scale conversion to other methods of chemical and biological pest control. Levels of insecticides in fresh and salt waters are now so high that predatory water bird populations are beginning to decline sharply. Dr. Risebrough, the man who led the research team at Anacapa Island, was asked how many pelicans were raised that year? Dr. Risebrough replied, ”At most only five”. The pelicans’ ex¬ tinction appears inevitable unless DDT levels in the sea decline over the next few years. The pelican preying only on marine fish, which, in coastal fish are more contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons than most fresh water fish in the states. Only the stopage of pesticides of DDT and like poisons will save the PELICAN. NEWS OF THE INDIANAPOLIS ZOO by Russell Williams. Senior Keeper of Birds The Indianapolis Zoo has a new head of the animal department. Mr. Tom Livers comes to us from the Louisville, Kentucky Zoo. Since Christmas, we have had the following addition and deletions: Births and Karchings and purchases: 1 pr. Silver-beaked tanagers 1 pr. Flame-faced tanagers 1 thick-kneel plover 1 pr. Violet-backed starlings 1 pr Palm tanagers 2 male Muntjacs 1 bennets Wallaby 1 pr Cara.ce! Cate 2 black Leopards In addtions, I have 1 dozen Bob White quail eggs set and I’ve noticed our black swans pulling nesting materials around, but no eggs yet. This is the first year that they are old enough to breed. We’re hoping! - 5 - Sales and Deaths: 1 male Grants Zebra 1 African Rock Python t pr of Ostrich O/i Reticulated Giraffe (accidental death) In addition , the following were killed by acts of vandalism: 1 pr Wood Ducks, 1 pr Mandarian Ducks, 1 pr, Swinhoe Pheasants, & 4 Coltuinix Quail SM DIEGO ZOO HEWS by Dick Sweeney The most valued species of equine exhibited scores again. A rare Przewalski horse, a female, was bom on March 30. This marks the fourth birth and the third female bom here. A Stallion (Roland) and two mares (Beilina and Bonne tte), acquired from the world famous Catskill Game Farm in New York State, serve as the nucleus of our growing herd. Each mare has had two foals since their arrival in 1966. lSiSa 2 3/^/?^ Bellina ’ Roland B ° n * tte ' Roiand Another young pair, recent acquisitions, Jeanhold (male) and Roxina, both about 1 year old, will b© exhibited at the new San Diego Wild Animal Park. NEWS FROM GREAT PLAINS ZOO t Souix Falls,So.Dakota by MEL ELSING(Head Keeper; The Great Plains Zoo, ten acres in size exhibits 95 species of mammals,birds and reptile.The zoo is located to the west of Souix Falls at 15th and Kiwanls Avenue. Our staff is comprised of the Director,Mr Keith Halverson,myself as Head Keeper, and Keepers; Don Swain,Chuch Haberer,Ed Powderly and Hebbie Aigner.Debbie will be in charge of our Children* s Zoo and school programming. We have hopes of a litter from our Siberian Tiger this year. The following births have been recorded at Great Plains.Bobcat,Canadian Lynx,Puma,African Lions,Bengal Tiger,American Antelope,and many more. We recently transported a male Bison to San Antonio for shipment to India. Enroute myself and Mr Halverosn visited several zoos. We would like to thank the people at San Antonio,Dallas Zoo,World of Animals,Dallas,and Topeka Zoo for their kind receptions. KEEPER*S PARTI AT INDIANAPOLIS ZOO On June 6, 1971, at 7:30, a keeper*s party will be held in the Education Building of the Indianapolis Zoo. All keepers are invited to attend. Please wear uniforms. A door prize will be raffled off. The purpose of the party is to foster closer relations between animal keepers throughout the United States. Admission free. All keepers who desire to attend, please notify the Animal Department of the Indianapolis Zoo by May 20, 1971. (WHY NOT STOP IF YOUR ON VACATION OR JUST WANT TO GET OUT FOR THE DAY!! AAZK note) ATLANTA ZOOLOGICAL PARK NEWS by Jim Snow & Jim Higginbotham There is no doubt that spring has arrived at the Atlanta Zoo. The solariums, at each end of our reptile building are alive with activity. The crowds gather to hear the bellowing of our large gators and the staff members are walking around like a group of proud parents. The Figi Island Inguanas have mated and everyone is excited about this first - 6 - for our soo. Repair has been completed on the elephant house* The three ladies who live there have been in heat and have taken their frustration out on the bars of the building. Everyone walks very lightly by the incubator in the reptile building. The reason.. ... one Aldabran tortoise egg. If anyone has had any experience with the incubation of Aldabran eggs, please drop us a line so that we can compare notes. Willi© B, our 400 lb. gorilla, has had a new front put on his cage. The old glass-frouted exhibit was replaced with bars and the glass was moved out about 4 ft. Willie seems to like the new bars because when he hit® them with his shoulder, they make a high pitched ringing sound. Acquisitions: 2 Northwestern Salamanders 1 Calif. Tiger Salamander 1 Lance-headed Rattlesnake 1 Geoicyda spinosa 1 Atelopus varius 2 Pime Barrens Treefrogs 1 Mitchell’s Rattlesnake 1 Pacific Giant Salamander 3 Pin© Woods Treefrogs 2 Burrowing Treefrogs 1 Dusky Rattlesnake 1 Brizilian Rainbow Boa 1 Strawberry Prog 1 Baja Rattlesnake Births and Hatchings; 1/0 Mandrillua leucophaeus (Drill) 1/1 Papiq Bamadzyas (Hamadiyas) 1/0 Cercopithecus aethiops (Vervet; 2/2 Ervthocebus patas (Patas) 2/3 Cameroon Dwarf Goats 2/0 Cynopitheua niger (Celebes Crested Black Apes) 0/2 Mandrillua sphinx (Mandrill) 2/0 Ceropithecus neglects (Debrazso) l/O Cercocebus albigena (Grey-cheeked Mangabey) l/O Grant’s Zebra (Died at two days—^Malformation of Major Blood Vessels) STORES BECOMING EXTINCT submitted by K.C.Lint. Curator of Birds. San Diego Zoo Once upon a time mothers could bring their children to the window and watch great flocks of storks preparing for the long autumn journey south. Today only a few specimens of Denmark’s national bird are left. Last summer just 70 pairs crossed the border from West Germany and settled down in the old nests, built with straw and other material on old cartwheels, atop houses, farm build¬ ings or spires. Zoological experts predict the birds will die out within the near future and nothing can be done about it. A century ago 10,000 storks arrived each year and were greeted by delighted children’s cries that ’’Father Stork” had returned. Bloody battles often took place among the storks as rivals fought over new nests. In 1939, the figures were down to 1,200 pairs and they dropped to 300 pairs in 1949* In Sweden, the last stork left in 1955 and never came back. No child has ever seen one of the rare black storks that once came to Denmark regularly before World War II. The zoological museum in Copenhagen continues the anmml count, but it was a depressed museum chief Tommy Dybbro who reported on it this year. He gave several reasons for the drastic decline: Marshes and swamps have either dried up or have been cultivated with the result that worms, frogs, insects and other stork goodies have vanished. Cold and wet summers in the 1950s and r 60s took a heavy toll. Mature birds survived with little difficulty, but fledgling storks succumbed from pneumonia in a wet nest. Dangers confronting the birds on their 8,000 mile trip through Europe to Africa include electirc wires, trigger happy farmers and poison put out against the vast flock of grasshoppers that swept across Egypt. - 7 - The trip down south could he taken from one of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales. The graceful birds glide over land on ascending airstreams, but avoid large strips of water where aircurrents dip downward. This is why the Mediterranean cannot be crossed directly and the old, seasoned storks lead the way either by Gibraltar, across the Sahara to Sudan, or along the more popular route by way of the Straits of Bosphorus through the Nile Valley to Natal. HONOLULU CONFERENCE "I’ve been figurin’—If I save my peanuts and sell them, I’ll be able to see some of lay friends at the Honolulu Zoo.” "Sure hope you’ll join me at the National MZK Conference larch 27- 30 , 1972. "We’r© staying at the QUEEN KAPIOUNI HOTEL.’’ ’’You’ll get to see the MZK water hoi©— a hula by a special MZK visitor—*—hear many interesting papers————visit S@a«Lif@ Park— Waikiki Aquarium——-a luau——■ the banquet——and a great cocktail reception. Now’s the chance to visit Hawaii at a big savings. Write for complete details. 9 VOL. 4, Nos. 3 & 4 March-April 1971 INDEX —— Pg. . p~ noisjsibOii ZiOO py nvcs e uaiyx uxsnsr 111 11 1 ■ r id- 06 1A XfEpXX©’X* 1 l|IIH*illl illlll Bill HHH 1 IU f 1 I>IMI J| | IHR II A © * - -Pr 1 . ■* o- ilJSfiXjAXPQirSZ^C ZjOG rlunUHXy IX@]pOXH& Uj E&Jl wXB JCk® MfflUXXII &2 .p» .illfflKBXyt© Ou w &X1QL Xt© XTi&XJUL Djp J30D WwiUL^XwXX ,,,ll, 11 1 11 11 ^ o* X£&@ Jr ©XXOSJJul <& X w uLX V XT © •> DjT XLX VSXXwJLid5Xi\>X i t4^ -,Bl1 11 1 l-r,BI1 111,1-111 . 1 XvwvVSp OX vlX© XXlXXXS&ZXSljpOXXS ZsOO XvtSS@©XX w X XX -Pr P r x o® . p«» —— Pg. 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 6 6 7 JOH THE STAMPEDE I!!!!!!!!!!!!! A.A.Z.E. IS HEADISG FOR THE 10B3BEAST ESJIOIAL GOFflSMCE HE! TOBK COT JUS 24- 27 1971 PLACE: STATLER - HILTOH HOTEL Seraaih km - BUT TORE COT FL&l TO ACTS) ——-— LOTS OP IBTEEE5T3JS PAPERS.FILES ETC. grarrrAT. TOUR OP THE BEtf TORE ZOOLOGICAL PE(HR0XX) BILL H 01 3AT3RDAX, JOSE 26. HOSTS: BBOHX ZOO SEE® William G.Co»m9r»G«a.£ix«etor SEE IOC THERE t!!!!!!!! ZOO DIRECTORS VETERINARIANS PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE MEAT EATERS WITH NEBRASKA HORSE MEAT U.S. Government Inspected — Your assurance of a Quality Product — backed by Products Liability Insurance. WE OFFER A PROGRAM TO HELP ZOOS SECURE THEIR OWN FREEZERS. LET US GIVE YOU THE DETAILS. PAY AS YOU USE. We also offer ground frozen NEBRASKA FELINE FOOD for a prepared mix. For Information and Prices Contact: BUIE A* STROTHER or LOREN' IDBRIS CENTRAL NEBRASKA PACKING CO. P.O. BOX 550 NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA 69101 Phone A/C 308 532 1250 A SUBSIDIARY OF ALLIED MILLS IRC..CHICAGO,ILLINOIS Published by AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS 8024 Tommy Drive San Diego, California 92119 BULK RATE U. S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 344 SAN DIEGO, CALIF.