JUNE 2010 The Journal of the American Association of Zoo If ANIMAl KEEPERS’ F O R U ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM. 3601 S.W. 29th St., Suite 133, Topeka, KS 66614-2054 Phone: (785) 273-9149 FAX (785) 273-1980 June 2010 Vol. 37, No. 6 AKF Managing Editor: Susan D. Chan • Associate Editors: Becky Richendollar, North Carolina Zoo • Mark de Denus, Winnipeg, MB • Enrichment Options Column Coordinator: Julie Hartell-DeNardo, Oakland Zoo and Ric Kotarsky, Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum • Legislative/Conservation Outlook Column Co-Coordinators: Becky Richendollar, North Carolina Zoo and Greg McKinney, Philadelphia, PA • Reactions Column Coordinator: William K. Baker, Jr., Rockwall, TX • ATC Column Co-Cordinators: Angela Binney, Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Kim Kezer, Zoo New England; Jay Pratte, Zoo Atlanta • Conservation Station Coordinator: Amanda Kamradt, New England AAZK Chapter • Proofreader: Barbara Manspeaker, AAZK Administrative Office. Animal Keepers’ Forum is published monthly by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc., 3601 S.W. 29th Street, Suite 133, Topeka, KS 66614-2054. Ten dollars of each membership fee goes toward the annual publica- tion costs of Animal Keepers’ Forum . Postage paid at Topeka, KS. AAZK Executive Director; Ed Hansen, AAZK, Inc., Topeka KS also serves as AAZK Liaison to the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA) AAZK Administrative Secretary.; Barbara Manspeaker, AAZK, Inc., Topeka, KS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Shane Good, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, OH 44109 Bob Cisneros, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 92112-055 1 Tammy Root, Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis, IN 46222 Gisela Wiggins, North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, NC 27205-1425 Penny Jolly, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000 COMMITTEES/CQORDINATQRS/PRQJKCIMANAGJERS. By-laws Chair - Gisela A. Wiggins, North Carolina Zoo Grants Committee Chair - Shelly Roach, Columbus Zoo Behavioral Husbandry Committee Chair - Deana Walz, The Living Planet Aquarium Conservation Committee Chair Amanda Kamradt, New England AA2TC Chapter Bowling for Rhinos - Coordinator - Patty Pearthree, Cary, NC MediaAVebsite Denise Wagner, The Phoenix Zoo, Project Manager Conferences Pat Owen. Woodland Park Zoo. Project Manager MEMBERSHIP SERVICES Data Transfer Forms Available for download at www.aazk.org AAZK Publicatiions/Logo Products AAZK Administrative Office/Topeka Ethics Chair - Bob Cisneros, San Diego Zoo Awards Chair - Janet McCoy, The Oregon Zoo Professional Development Melaina Wallace, Disney’s Animal Kingdom ICZ Coordinators Shane Good, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Norah Famham, Woodland Park Zoo Products and Membership Jacque Blessington, K.C. Zoo, Project Manager President Vice President printed on Recycled Paper Table of Contents About the Cover/Information for Scoops & From the President........................................................................................................................... 252 Coming Conference 2010 =■ Updates/Reminders........................................................................................... 256 AAZK Announces New Members....................,..........................,..........................................257 - 258 “Trees for You and Me” AAZK Chapter Challenge................................................,..............259 - 260 People Skills for Animal People: Keeper Communication, Part IV.......,...............................261 - 262 Female Reproductive Parameters and Calf Development in Captive Klipspringers.............263 - 265 Enrichment Options {Bah Bah Black Sheep!)..... ...................................................... ............266 ~ 270 Conditioning 0. 1 Eastern Black Rhinoceros for Behavioral Restraint in Diagnosis and Treatment of Vitiligo...........,...........,........,.....,..,.........................272 - 277 Book Reviews {The Intimate Ape: Orangutans and the Secret Life of a Vanishing Species and ‘Spot the Difference' - are cheetahs really just big cats?)...... .......... .21H - 279 Training Tales {Training Bears for Voluntary Blood Collecttions)........................................lM - 287 Conservation/Legislative Update............................................................................................ 288 - 292 36th Anniversary - 1974 - 2010 MISSION STATEMENT (Revised April 2009) American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. The mission of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. is to advance excellence in the animal keeping profession, foster effective communcation beneficial to animal care, support deserving conservation projects, and promote the preservation of our natural resources and animal life. This month ’s cover features a drawing of a Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus) by Elena V Chelysheva, PhD, from Moscow, Russia. Elena is currently involved in two independent research projects on cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Bactrian camels have two humps rather than the single hump of their Arabian relatives. The humps function the same way — storing fat that can be converted to water and energy when food is not available. These humps give camels their legendary ability to endure long periods of travel without water, even in harsh desert conditions. As their fat is depleted, the humps become floppy and flabby. Bactrian camels live not in shifting Sahara sands but in Central and East Asia ’s rocky deserts. Temperatures in these locales can become searingly hot — over 100°F (38°C) in summer. Yet they can also drop to -20°F (-29°C) in winter. Bactrian camels have developed special adaptations to allow them to survive in such a brutal environment including a thick, shaggy coat that protects them in winter and falls away as seasons change and temperatures rise. Like Arabian camels, Bactrians rarely sweat, helping them conserve fluids for long periods of time. In winter, plants may yield enough moisture to sustain a camel without water for several weeks. When camels do refill, however, they soak up water like a sponge. A very thirsty animal can drink 30 gallons (135 liters) of water in only 13 minutes. Like Arabian camels, Bactrians’ nostrils close to keep sand out, and their bushy eyebrows and two rows of long eyelashes protect their eyes. Big, flat footpads help them navigate the rough rocky terrain and shifting desert sands without sinking under their own massive bulk or the weight of heavy packs. After a gestation of 12-14 months, females give birth to one (rarely two) young. Calves are weaned at 1-2 years. The birthing season peaks in March-April. Bactrian Camels can live to 40 years. The only truly wild camels that still exist are Bactrian camels. These herds survive in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and China but number less than 1,000. Thanks, Elena! Articles sent to Animal Keepers ’Forum will be reviewed by the editorial staff for publication. Articles of a research or technical nature will be submitted to one or more of the zoo professionals who serve as referees for AKF. No eommitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Lengthy artieles may be separated into monthly installments at the diseretion of the editor. The editor reserves the right to edit material without consultation unless approval is requested in writing by the author. Materials submitted will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed, appropriately-sized envelope. Telephone, fax or email contributions of late-breaking news or last-minute insertions are accepted as space allows. Phone 785-273-9149; FAX (785) 273-1980; email is akfeditor@ zk.kscoxmail.com< If you have questions about submission guidelines, please eontact the Editor. Deadline for each regular issue is the 10th of the preceding month. Dedicated issues may have separate deadline dates and will be noted by the editor. Articles printed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the AKF staff or the Ameriean Association of Zoo Keepers, Ine. Publieation does not indieate endorsement by the Association. Items in this publication may be reprinted providing credit to this publication is given and a copy of the reprinted material is forwarded to the editor. If an article is shown to be separately copyrighted by the author(s), then permission must be sought from the author(s). Reprints of material appearing in this journal may be ordered from the editor. Regular baek issues are available for $4.00 each. Special issues may cost more. E-Mail Addresses: You may reach Barbara Manspeaker at AAZK Administrative Offices at: aazkoffice@zk.kscoxmail.com< You may reaeh Susan Chan and Animal Keepers ’Forum at: akfeditor@zk.kseoxmail.com< Mailing Address: AAZK, Inc., 3601 SW29th St., Suite 133 Topeka, KS 66614-2054 AAZK website Address: www.aazk.org BFR Website: http://aazkbfr.org 250 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 Scoops & Scuttlebutt AAZK Awards Committee Seeking Members The Awards Committee is accepting nominations for an opening on the committee. Committee members are responsible for reviewing award nominations and selecting award recipients for the eight awards that can be given at the National Conference. If you are interested, please send your reasons why you would like to serve on the committee to: Janet McCoy, Awards Chair, at janet.mccoy@aazk.org. Donation to Lutz Ruhe Educational Turst The AAZK Board of Director would like to thank Gary K. Clarke, Director Emeritus of the Topeka Zoological Park, for his generous donation to the Lutz Ruhe Education Turst. This Trust was endowed by Mr. Ruhe to recognize and support professionalism within the zookeeping community and provide travel assistance to attend national conferences. The Lutz Ruhe Meritorious Achievement - AAZK Professional of the Year Award is given as warranted to a zoo keeper who demonstrates their professionalism and commitment to their career in the zoological field. Mr. Ruhe died at his home in Sanibel, FL in December 2009 and the family designated memorial contributions be made to the Trust he established. Ti^er Survey Participation Request Hello AAZK Members. I am a graduate student in the Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture at the University of Delaware. Due to a very fiilfilling work experience at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina, I decided to focus my thesis research on the role that horticulture plays at zoos. Through an online administered survey and case studies, I hope to determine how zoos are effectively promoting their horticulture to their visitors. With the help of my thesis committee, I have decided to invite all levels of zoo professionals (eg. directors, keepers, horticulturists) to participate in my survey. Your participation is essential to this research. My main goal with this thesis is to have it relevant and usefirl to all zoo employees-with your assistance I think I can make this possible! The final version of the survey is near completion, but a link could not be finalized by the newsletter’s publication deadline. However if you are willing to participate in this 15 minute survey please send an email to me at katebalt@udeLedu and I will be more than happy to notify you when the link to the online survey is finalized. Also, if you are able to disperse the survey link to other employees at your zoo I would greatly appreciate the help. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions, katebait@udeLedu< Thanks for your support and cooperation, Kate Baltzell National Zoo Keeper Week is quickly approaching. Have you made plans for your Chapter and/or zoo to commemorate the event? If you need help, check out the AAZK website [www. aazk.org] under About Us/National Zoo Keeper Week. There you will find downloadable logos, a copy of the proclamation, a sample press release along with ideas and suggested activities for the event. .ft NATIONAL ZOO KEEPER 2^ • WEEK Celebrate the ProfessloiA.! Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 251 F pom tiiG President Shane Good, AAZK President Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Unfortunately, it is a relatively rare occurrence that we hear from the membership outside of conference week. We all have busy schedules, but sometimes the silence reminds me of the Springsteen song “Radio Nowhere” when the Boss cries “Is there any life out there?” So when the occasion arises that I do hear questions, comments, or concerns from our members, I feel it is important to share it. Recently, I have received inquiries on AAZK’s position with non-accredited institutions. There is a negative stigma in our industry associated with facilities that are not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The image that first comes to mind of a non-accredited facility is a dusty roadside zoo operated by Billy Bob and his band of misfits, overseeing malnourished animals under appalling conditions. That image is unfair, and often far from the truth. There are many reasons a facility may not be accredited. They may not be able to afford the associated membership fee, do not see the value in the fee, perhaps disagree with some element of the parent organization, or maybe they are so specialized in one particular area they have no need for membership. Some of the non-accredited facilities that exist are fine organizations that for one reason or another, choose not to pursue accreditation. That said, there are numerous non-accredited institutions in need of improvement that are not eligible for accreditation based on their business practices, facilities, or animal welfare. I am asked on a regular basis why AAZK allows non-accredited facilities to become Institutional Members of AAZK. First, let me state that an Institutional Membership with AAZK is not necessarily an endorsement of a facility. Each application is reviewed by the Executive Director and Board of Directors, and multiple factors are used to determine if the facility is eligible for an Institutional Membership. However, accreditation of facilities is not part of AAZK’s mission. What is part of our mission is the sharing of infomiation, and establishment of best practice and standardization of animal husbandry for the benefit of the entire animal care profession. So let’s assume for a minute that non-accredited zoos are substandard, which 1 believe is often not the case. Would there be any organizations more in need of AAZK’s educational services and products, conferences, and subject- matter expertise in animal care? Therefore it has been AAZK’s stance to draw the line in the sand of where best practice in animal care exists, but to also do our best to promote best practice in all facilities, both accredited and non-accredited. Similar to non-accredited institutions, circuses share a negative stigma. I was reminded of this fact when a famous circus posted job openings on the AAZK website. I quickly received complaints from both AAZK members and non-members. In particular, they cited the elephant management practices of the circus. My personal impression, based on years in the industry and numerous conversations with colleagues possessing expertise in elephant management, was that the charges were unfounded. However, I chose to do some fact-checking with more of those experts in elephant management who confirmed my initial belief As one elephant manager explained to me, “Today, no organization is doing more positive things for elephant management and conservation than (famous circus).” But what if that were not the case? Would banning the circus from AAZK be the proper solution? Would it not be preferable to expose the circus’ employees to AAZK’s educational services and products? Is it not evident that the facilities which place advertisements of job vacancies on aazk.org recognize the value of AAZK and the quality of our membership? If indeed AAZK members represent the best and the brightest of our profession, than doesn’t that say something positive about the organization trying to recruit them? I strongly encourage all organizations, zoos, aquariums and circuses, accredited or not, to pursue an Institutional Membership with AAZK. All applications are subject to final approval by the AAZK Board of Directors and Executive Director. Our annual fee of $150 is a bargain, especially considering what a membership fee costs for other organizations in the industry. AAZK is Dedicated to Professional Animal Care, and together our committees, individual members, and institutional members can make the positive changes that benefit our industry, our institutions, animal care professionals, and most importantly, the animals under our care. ASSOCIATION of ZOO KEEPERS 252 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 51 9 V D 0 i d We're evolving the new generation of exotic animal nutrition. Today, Mazuri offers food products for more animal species than any other company in the world. For over 20 years, we've worked in collaboration with world-class zoos, aquariums, owners Ft breeders around the globe to develop the highest quality product for your animals. Trust in the security of Mazuri for the health and longevity of your exotic animal. Ma ri The Exotic Animal heeding Resource WWW.MAZURI.COM Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 253 Coming Events Post Your Coming Events Here email to: akfeditor@zk.kscoxmail.com July 3-7, 2010 - 24th International Congress for Conservation Biology. Symposium on Grizzly Bear Research and Management. To be held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. See http://www. conbio.org/2010 for more information. August 22-26, 2010 - AAZK National Conference. Hosted by the Philadelphia AAZK Chapter and the Philadelphia Zoo. Conference information, program schedule, online registration and hotel info available at www.philadelphiaaazk.org. A reminder that a $50 late fee is applied to registrations after 22 June 2010. August 30 - September 3, 2010 - 7th International Penguin Conference - in Boston, MA. Hosted by The New England Aquarium. For info email ipcboston@neaq.org September 1 - 5, 2010 - lUCN Xlth International Otter Colloquium. Held in Pavia, Italy. For further info: http://www.internationalottercolloquium2010. eu/ September 11-16, 2010 - AZA 2010 Annual Conference. Hosted by the Houston Zoo, Houston, TX. See http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index. html for further information. September 7-12, 2010 - National AZAD Conference Hosted by Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL USA. Call for Papers— Share your ideas by presenting a paper addressing ways people can work to conserve our Earth and all the gifts it gives us. For further information see http://www.azadocents.org/ September 27-30, 2010 - AZA Orangutan SSP® Workshop - To be held at the Denver Zoo, Denver, CO. Theme: “Conservation & Husbandry Innovations for the New Decade” Climb Up to a Higher Branch at the 4th Annual Orangutan SSP® Husbandry Workshop! - Focused on the care and management of orangutans, the workshop will bring together orangutan caregivers and managers, researchers, and field biologists to share the most current information on husbandry, conservation, and emergent issues pertaining to captive and wild populations of orangutans. Workshop registration fee is $125. The workshop will be held in conjunction with the Orangutan SSP® Masterplan meetings which will take place on Sunday, September 26, 2010. For additional information contact Ronda Schwetz at rschwetz® denverzoo.org. Online registration will be available soon at www.denverzoo.org. Pre-Conference Trip to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Sunday, September 26— more details soon! September 28-October 2, 2010 - 20th International Zoo Educators^ (IZE) Biennial Conference - at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Orlando, FL. For more information, please visit http://www.izea.net October 14-15, 2010 - Passerine Workshop Hosted by Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA. The intent of this workshop is to increase knowledge for keepers/ newer managers on basic husbandry, breeding, and daily management of various passerine species and sharing of information between institutions. Please contact Sprina Liu, sliu@zooatlanta.org, for more information. October 17-21, 2010- 65th Annual Conference of WAZA. To beheld in Cologne, Germany. See http://www.waza.org/en/site/home for further information. March 2-4, 2011 - Association of Professional Wildlife Educators. To beheld at the Frank Buck Zoo Gainesville, Texas. Watch http://www.apwe. org/ for details as they become available. May 15th-18th, 2011 - 2011 Rhino Keeper Workshop. To be held at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose, texas. For further info contact: adam .felts @ columbuszoo .org Upcoming AAZK National Conferences 2010 - Philadelphia, PA - August 22-26 www.philadelphiaaazk.org 201 1 - San Diego, CA - August 24-28 2012 - Syracuse, NY - September 23-27 For information on upcoming AAZK conferences, watch the AAZK website at www.aazk.org Uebsite SALE!!! Be sure and check out the AAZK website every month for special sale prices on AAZK logo products, publications, clothing items and more. A new sale every month! See: www.aazk/org/shop for special sale items each month throughout the remainder of 2010. $5.00 minimum purchase 254 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 The most complete nutritional component system for over 140 common & exotic species. Meet the nutritional needs of nnany different wild animals with Milk Matrix, a line of five milk replacers from Zoologic® Nutritional Components. Blended or alone, Milk Matrix closely simulates the fat, protein and carbohydrate content of mother’s milk. Bene-Bac™ powder and gel are excellent sources of live naturally-occurring microorganisms effective in animals subject to changing environments or conditions. Together, they supply everything an animal needs for optimal health. Electronic formulation guidelines, nutritional analyses, species-specific data sheets and exact mixing instructions are available. / ■ To learn more, call ; J 1-800-323-0877 / An integrated system of milk raplacars deiigne to let you v/if'tuaily match any man«T>a!’s milk. mmrmiS. N® pn o? norm »«y hb rs^!cdtt6« ot srs m' wfteR pRttmibion af WWW. petag.com Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 255 Conference 201 0 Philadelphia, PA August 22-26, 2010 The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of AAZK is proud to be hosting the 2010 National Conference to be held August 22-26, 2010! Please visit our website www.philadelphiaaazk.org and click on “2010 National Conference” to register for this year’s conference. Don’t forget - after June 22, 2010, there will be a $50 late fee applied to all full-week registrations. Conference delegates will be staying at the beautiful Westin in Philadelphia. The conference room rate is $189 per night. The hotel has a limited number of double rooms available; if you need two double beds in your room, please book early and let the hotel know you’d like a double room. All other rooms have a single king-sized bed. More information about the hotel is available on our website. This year’s conference will kick off with our Icebreaker to be held at The College of Physicians’ Mutter Museum. Attendees will have the chance to explore the museum of medical oddities, observe the many skulls, preserved specimens, and wax models while enjoying food and drinks. Check out the venue at www.collphvphil.org. We are excited to announce that our keynote speaker will be Dr, Jonathan Reyman from the Feather Distribution Project. Since its creation in 1982, the project has distributed more than 8,500,000 parrot and turkey feathers free of charge to all of the Pueblos in the southwest. The Philadelphia Zoo has been a project participant for several years. This project is an easy, free way for zoos and visitors to get involved in parrot conservation. For more information on the project, please visit www.wingwise.com. Be sure to join us for our pre-conference trip to the Bronx Zoo in New York City, and our post- conference trip to the Cape May County Zoo and a whale and dolphin watching tour! For our trip to the Bronx, we will leave from the hotel at 7:00 a.m. on August 22nd and will return in time for the Icebreaker. Price is $40 and includes transportation and admission to the zoo. For the Cape May trip we will leave from the hotel at 7:00 a.m. on August 27th, spend a few hours at the zoo, eat lunch in the park, then go on a three-hour whale and dolphin boat tour. The bus will arrive back to the hotel at approximately 7:00 p.m. Price is $40 and includes transportation, admission to the zoo, lunch, and a ticket for the whale and dolphin watching trip. Please see our website for any other questions or information you might need! We are looking forward to seeing you all in August! ! www.philadelphiaaazk.org 256 Animal Keepers ’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 AAZK Announces New Members New Professional Members Lisa Hartman, Lioeshare Education Organization (CT); Brandi Baitchman, Zoo New England (MA); Sarah Guaracini, Jenkinson’s Aquarium (NJ); Courtney Macklin, Buffalo Zoo (NY); Veronica Smith, Wildlife Conservation Society (NY); Stacey Tabellario and Tallie Walker, Smithsonian ^s National Zoological Park (DC); Sarah Shannon, National Aviary (PA); Claire MacNamara, Laura Koniorx, Carly Barron and Lacey Byrnes, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore (MD); Liz Evans, National Aquarium in Baltimore (MD); Brittany Nelson, Natural Bridge Zoo (VA); Dana High, North Carolina Zoo (NC); Rebecca Kreh, Zoo Atlanta (GA); Katherine Byrnes, Hattiesburg Zoo (MS); Kimberly Thompson, Miami Metrozoo (FL); Jessica Devonport and Jodi Brandon, Lion Country Safari (FL); Jonathan Hankins and Tara Lee, Disney^s Animal Kingdom (FL); Sasha Tetzlafif, Mark Mullen and Kristin Szwajkowski, Naples Zoo (FL); Tiffany Laracuente, Louisville Zoo (KY); Lisa Gehlhausen, Ft. Wayne ChOdren’s Zoo (IN); Joseph M. Carroscia, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (OH); Kelly Cook, Charlie Ramsey, Sarah Morrow and Diana Tutro, Detroit Zoo (MI); Tina Vega, Brookfield Zoo m; Genna Kain, Phillips Park Zoo (IL); Sara Rekart and Mylisa Whipple, St.. Louis Zoo (MO); Jamie Schmitt and Katie A.Schalk, Dickerson Park Zoo (MO); Erin Black, Kansas City Zoo (MO); Jenna Kocourek and Kristen Otterson, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (NE); Wrylie Guffey, Topeka Zoo (KS); Carrie Trudeau, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (AR); Lindsay Eades, Kathryn Sawyer, Christina Johnson and Melinda Ruhnke, Lake Superior Zoo (MN); Deirdre Murphy, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas (LA); Jamie Orth, Audubon Nature Institute (LA); Mathew Oldenburg, Zoo of Acadiana (LA); Robyn Evans, Candice Davis and Doug Snyder, Dallas Zoo (TX); Russell Raab, EUen Trout Zoo (TX); Ben LaBelle, Moody Gardens (TX); Cassandra Hernandez, Texas State Aquarium (TX); Amanda Faliano, Erin Schaefer and Laura Morrell, Denver Zoo (CO); Melissa Eschenbrenner, Zoo Boise (ID); Emily Lutz and Connie Stanger, Tautphaus Park Zoo (ID); Maureen O. Duryee, Nathaniel Schierman, Mike Crue and Alexis Schierman, San Diego Zoo (CA); Melodi Tayles, San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park (CA); Elizabeth Wilson, Santa Barbara Zoo (CA); Kate Gore, Sacramento Zoo (CA); Diane Koskie, Los Angeles Zoo (CA); Gregory M. Ortis, Santa Ana Zoo (CA); Jeennifer Ziegelmeyer, Happy HoUow Zoo (CA); Kaitlyn Keys, The Living Desert (CA); Amy Hash and Matthew Crouse, Oregon Zoo (OR); Beth Foglesong, The Alaska Zoo (AK); Peter Bibeault, Keauhou Bird Conservation Center (HI); Libby Eyre, Sydney Aquarium (Australia). We do not publish the names of new and/or renewing members who do not list their facility on their membership application/renewal There were 14 in April and May. New Institutional Members Gulf Breeze Zoo, Gulf Breeze, FL Danyelle Lant, Director Bearizona Wildlife Park, Williams, AZ Vanessa Stoffel, Chief Operating Officer Binghamtom Zoo at Ross Park Binghamton, NY Sheila Green, Executive Director North Carolina Museum of Life & Science Durham, NC Sherry Samuels, Director McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc. West Palm Beach, FL Mark McCarthy, Director In-Sync Exotics, Wylie, TX Vicky Keahey, President THE GOURMET RODENT, INC.”* ..A RATS AND MICE Bill & Marcia Brant 12921 SWlstRd.,Ste 107, PBM #434 Jonesville, FL 32669 (352) 472-9189 ¥axi (352) 472-9192 e-maik GrmtRodent@aol.com Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 257 New Contributing Members Donna M. Graham Club K-9 Doggy Daycare, Dayton, OH Renewing Contributing Members Bonnie Jacobs, Lead Keeper Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL Hiroko Yoshida, Ph.D. Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Japan Thomas C. Roy, Southfield, MI Ron Manseau, Detroit, MI James R. Williams, Esq., Pound Ridge, NY Kevin R. Shelton, Tampa, FL John Jinks, Locust Grove, OK Laurie McGivem, Houston, TX Renewing Institutional Members Utica Zoo, Utica, NY Elizabeth G. Irons, Executive Director Animal Junction, Inc., Warminster, PA Joseph Fortunato, President Tregembo Animal Park, Wilmington, NC Sherry Tregembo, Owner/Operator Lion Country Safari Inc., Loxahatchee, FL Terry Wolf, Wildlife Director Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis, IN Mike Crowther, President Exotic Feline Rescue Center, Center Point, IN Joe Taft, Founder/Director The Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, UT Roger Sweeney, Curator Moonridge Animal Park, Big Bear Lake, CA Debbie Richardson, Curator Cougar Mountain Zoo, Issaquah, WA Robyn Barfoot, General Curator Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, Jacksonvile, FL Delfi Messinger, Director of Animal Programs Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI Ron Kagan, Director Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison, WI Jim Hubing, Zoo Director Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, IL Dr. Stuart D. Strahl, President & CEO St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO Jeffrey P. Bonner, President Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City, MO Randy Wistoff, Director Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE Dr. Lee Simmons, Director Denver Zoo, Denver, CO Craig D. Piper, President/CEO Wildlife World Zoo, Litchfield, AZ Mickey Ollson, Director International Exotic Feline Sanctuary, Boyd, TX Richard Gilbreth, Director California Science Center, Los Angeles, CA Jeffrey N. Rudolph, President and CEO Wild Things, Salinas, CA Charlie Sammut, Owner Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, CA Mary Healy, Director Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, WA Gary Geddes, Director Calgary Zoo Library Calgary, Alberta, Canada Alex Graham, President/CEO Greater Vancouver Zoo Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada Jamie Dorgan, General Manager Renewing Commercial Members Mazuri Diets/Purina Mills, St. Louis, MO Dr. Mark Griflin Nebraska Brand, North Platte, NE Lloyd Woodward, General Manager The Gourmet Rodent, Jonesville, FL William E. and Marcia Brant, Owners Pet-Ag, Inc., Hampshire, IL Debra Hofiman 258 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 “Trees for You and Me” AAZK Chapter Challenge By Christy Mazrimas-Ott, Senior Keeper BrooJ^eld Zoo/Chicago Zoological Society Brool^eld, IL First of all, I wanted to thank all the AAZK Chapters that participated in the first “Trees for You and Me” AAZK Chapter Challenge that ran 1 October 2009-1 March 2010. Over $10,000 was raised, including the donations that were received after 1 March 2010, adding the American Association of Zoo Keepers to the list of corporate sponsors on The Arbor Day Foundation website. Here is the break down of donations by the AAZK Chapters: as of 23 April 2010: as of 1 March 2010 Brookfield 3,210.00 3,135.00 Wildlife World Zoo 2,000.00 2000.00 Tucson 725.00 625.00 San Antonio 549.00 549.00 Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo 525.00 0 Ozarks 500.00 500.00 Seneca Park 500.00 500.00 Pittsburgh (youth volunteers) 477.00 477.00 Milwaukee 405.00 405.00 Rocky Mountain 326.00 310.00 Detroit 240.00 240.00 Indianapolis 200.00 200.00 Minnesota 150.00 150.00 Lion Country Safari 120.00 120.00 Scovill Zoo 100.00 0 Greater Baltimore 100.00 100.00 Greater Houston 92.00 92.00 National Chapter 50.00 50.00 St. Louis 50.00 50.00 Lincoln Park 50.00 50.00 Greater Cleveland 50.00 50.00 Cheyenne 25.00 25.00 New England 25.00 25.00 Phoenix 25.00 25.00 Jacksonville 25.00 0 San Francisco Bay 10.00 10.00 $10,529.00 $9139.00 The Brookfield AAZK Chapter won the competition with a total of $3 135.00 donated to plant trees, reduce CO2, and save polar bears by midnight of 1 March 2010. The donations went directly to The Arbor Day Foundation where trees are planted in over 70 forests, but the trees donated by AAZK Chapters will mainly go into three separate forests: Boys Colony State Forest in Alabama, Okaloacoochee State Forest in Florida, and Mackinaw State Forest in Michigan. Here are links to the reforestation project in Michigan - http://www.arbordav.org/replanting/stories. cfm?forest=46 and in Florida - http://www.arbordav.org/replanting/stories.cfm?forest=49 .The Boys Colony Forest planting was completed in mid-January which was an ideal month temperature-wise for planting more than 100 acres and 71,530 Loblolly pine trees. The trees were planted on this tract to prevent erosion of soils into Lake Tuscaloosa and the surrounding watershed. Lake Tuscaloosa is the Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 259 primary water source for the City of Tuscaloosa. If the land was not reforested, the drainage and erosion problems would be significant within a very short period of time. Thanks to The Arbor Day Foundation partners and the Alabama Forestry Commission, this area is on its way to becoming green space again and the surrounding wildlife and watershed will benefit for years to come. The Brookfield AAZK Chapter planted a Redbud that was donated by The Arbor Day Foundation for winning the AAZK Chapter challenge on Arbor Day with the help of Brookfield Zoo’s Grounds department. The tree was planted across from one of the new bear exhibits at “Great Bear Wilderness”. Keepers from the Brookfield Zoo plant a tree on the zoo grounds as part of the “Trees for You and Me Program”. The Brookfield AAZK Chapter raised the most money during the program’s initial event. I would like to thank the following for all their support with the “Trees for You and Me” AAZK Chapter Challenge and helping make it be such a great success for a first time project: The Arbor Day Foundation, especially Kevin Sander and Kathy Wheeler; the AAZK Board of Directors, especially AAZK President Shane Good; Polar Bears International; and last but not least all the AAZK Chapters that participated and the folks who donated $l/tree. There will be another “Trees for You and Me/Polar Bear Forest” AAZK Chapter challenge this year thanks to the AAZK Board of Directors’ approval, and all the support that was given by the AAZK Chapters. The details are still being worked out, but will be announced during the AAZK National Conference in August. The challenge will run 1 September 2010 - 1 March 2011. I MOVING? I If you are changing your mailing address, please let us know ASAP. Be aware that since Animal Keepers' Forum is sent under a nonprofit, bulk rate postal permit, it is NOT automatically forwarded to your new address. So, if you don't want to miss any issues of AKF, inform us as soon as you have a new mailing address. Call the Administrative Office at 785-273-9149 or you can email change of address/email information to: aazkoffice@zk.kscoxmail.com Please put "Address/Email Change" in the subject line. 260 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 People Skills For Animal People KEEPERS AND COMMUNICATION, Part IV ByJudie Steenberg (12/09) Retired Zoo Keeper Maplewood, Minnesota The Written Word Isn’t there something you should be writing about? Either recording in complete form for future reference or to be communicated to others so they too may share in your ideas and benefit from your experiences? You may want to write to inquire, to inform or to persuade. These are three basic forms of written communication that easily apply to Keepers. Writing is really not all that difficult, especially in this day and age, with computers and spell checking. With a few basic guidelines, you too can be using this medium to express yourself. To be effective, written communications require organization and planning. You must have an explicit meaning to begin with, a justification or reason for your communication. With that as your starting point, develop your message. Think about your readers and how they will react to what you are saying. Talk their language. Use clear and simple English and keep in mind the basic principles of writing: unit, coherence and emphasis. Who is your reader? Why are you writing? To inquire, inform, persuade or perhaps entertain? Think before you write. Select a topic, list its possibilities and select the most interesting. Organize around a single subject and in a logical manner. Write in a way that you would enjoy reading. For unity, be careful of sentence fragmentation, loose hook-ups, word omission and comma splices of main ideas. Coherence is the tying together of main ideas and topics. Link works, phrases and sentences so their intended meaning is clear. Emphasis gives power to the statement of key ideas. Also, strive for accuracy. Check facts, spelling and statistics, verify the validity of your references (especially information from the Internet) and look at the overall appearance of your copy. Be yourself throughout your writing. An important part of writing is rewriting. There are very few people who can sit down and write an article, report or technical paper without editing and rewriting it, often several times. The more important your message, the more care you should take to get it across in the best way. Some of the great dangers of writing are wordiness (empty words and expletives), meaningless repetition and clumsy overloading. It helps to develop research skills and you will need to spend some time developing your ability to write. Remember to read your work several times. Did you enjoy it? Why or why not? These are important questions to ask of yourself The written word is a permanent, long-term method of communication. It is a most valuable way to convey your ideas and share your knowledge. Computers and cell phones - a bane and a boon.... on the job Computers in the zoo have been described as “More dangerous than a loose gorilla”. Another comment heard from a supervisor was that Keepers spend more time at the computer than caring for and, especially, observing the animals. Yet still another reported that she received emails from co-workers just down the hall...... within earshot; she receives many, many questionable emails a day from zoo staff Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 37 No. 6 261 Without a doubt computers have been a great help in record keeping and preparing daily reports. Yet, Keepers have expressed concern that they are required to spend too mueh time at computers due to receiving too many emails. Information overload ean beeome a serious problem in zoos with every department sending everything to everybody! Perhaps the most difficult problem with computers and getting information from the Internet is that there is no eontrol over the aecuracy, or validity, of the information that’s out there. You really do need to know the souree, and if it’s reliable. Once ineorreet data is out there on the information highway it’s hardly ever eorreeted. When someone says.... “I found it on the Internet”.... it immediately becomes suspieious and can be a matter of opinion rather than faet. While computers have unquestionably been a major means of faeilitating reeord keeping, maintaining animal inventories, documenting behavior and health information and have helped share information during the shipment of animals. . ..to name a few uses. . ..they are easily misused. Personal use such as surfing the Internet and game playing are the two most reported abuses of computers during the work day. Some zoos have policies that are enforeed regarding the use of computers and eell phones for personal use during working hours. These range from complete restrictions on computer use - no personal use at any time, ineluding off the elock; the rationale is that the eomputers are owned by the zoo and it ties up the broadband. One zoo reported that the staff aceepts a user agreement when they become employed but are allowed the use of personal phones and use of the computers with restrieted sites such as Facebook®, chat rooms, etc. Personal computer use is allowed on breaks. At some zoos hourly staff carries zoo-issued cell phones for emergeney purposes only. Another zoo reported that incidental and infrequent personal use of cell phones is permissible but it is preferable that they be kept in the mute or off position while on duty. One zoo reported using personal eell phones instead of having lengthy conversations over the radio. Several zoos reported cell phones were not to be used while operating vehicles or hazardous equipment. It seems unfortunate that there even need to be policies, and in some eases they are in place but not “polieed”; cases of misuse are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Ask yourself, as a Keeper, do you really have time to be spending on the eomputer for personal use, or on eell phones instead of observing, researehing or otherwise earing for your animals? Common sense should prevail. Also, remember, new teehnology allows you to “eonnect” with others but you are not always “eommunicating”. In faet, be eareful, misinterpretations oceur quite easily. In this series I have attempted to identify and eomment on: - What communieation is - Why it needs eareful attention - When and where Keepers are involved with communication - How to accomplish it This series was intended to help you develop eommunication skills on the job, but is not the end all answer to communieation. As stated in the beginning of this series, basic personal communication skills are timeless. It takes effort to develop good eommunieation skills but it’s really worth it. Volumes have been written on the subjeet of communieation. It is a complex and vital part of all we do, espeeially to communicate the needs of the animals in our eare. ....... .and, it begins with YOU. At the recent ICZ/AAZK Conference in Seattle, WA, Rosalie Rust, St. Louis Zoo, presented a paper on Keeper Communication Skills that included topics such as informal visitor communication, tours and professional presentations in addition to Keeper to Keeper communication. Rosalie ’s paper will appear in next month s People Skills for Animal People. In August, this column will begin some discussion on Conflict Resolution in the workplace. 262 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 57 No. 6 Female Reproductive Parameters and Calf Development in Captive Klipspringers (Oreotragus oreotragus) By Roger Reason, Senior Keeper Brool^eld Zoo, Broo]" *occ£2: z Tit o*^ - it to ~z ie na.i-io