AAZK newsletter

#

VOL. 1 NO. 1

San Di ego? Califs

Published by

.XV

Anerican Association of Zoo
2,681 Tern Drive 9 San Diego 9 Calif

keepers

09

Telephone A/C 714-298-4980

• -ycl.23
or 279-536?

May 1,1368

AAZK MEMBERSHIP

A ff iIIat e M embership

San Diego GHapter~n..I™ -—§2.00 annually

(Includes Subscription of Newsletter)

Associate Emblem

Shoulder Patch l^see cover)--—-—-$1*00 each
Editor-Kenneth Willingham
Cover by Jim Tillitson and Michael Klepper
Subscription Rates 100 per copy or $1*00 per yean to non members

0EE1CERS

President-Richard G-* Sweeney
1st V 9 P*-Gerald Thomas
2nd V*P©-0arl pvle
3rd V*P.-Kenneth Willingham
Seeretary-Dennis MeIvin
Treasurer- W.a 11 e r Br o m 1 e y
Sgto at Arms -Conrad Grayson

ABOUT THE A*A.Z,K.

The Zoological garden, of today bears little re-
aomblanco to the menagerie® of year® gone b j & As the business,
of exhibiting and maintaining wild animals and marine life
has become, more complex, the responsibilities of the zoo
keeper also increased* He is. no longer limited to the tasks
of common labor« His. job is- demanding, and as his education
iso gained primarily from, practical experience, his beat source
of information comes from others in his field* This is what
the American Association of Zoo Keepers, is all aboutk

It*s an organization comprised of individuals in
the same profession, sharing the same interests and mutually
willing to assist one another by exchanging information per¬
tinent to their particular field*

Por many years the keeper has denied himself the
opportunity to publicize his particular contribution to the
successful, operation of the Zoological Park or Aquarium* The
AoA.Z.K* will afford this opportunity*

APRIL MEETING- A. SUCCESS

The San Diego A # A.ZJ{ 0 played host to the los
Angelos Chapter of the A*A*Z*K* at the April 1st mooting*

Dr* Robert Cooper, Director of the San Diego Zoo ! s N*I.H*
research project gave an interesting address and_showed color
slidosi of his trip to Africa* The mooting was a tremendous
success*

Topeka. Zoo,Topeka., Kansas.

Cat skill Game Faria., Oatskill, New York
Knowland. Park Zoo, Oakland, California
Lincoln. Park Zoo, Chicago, Ill*
Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, Ill*

PROM READERS DIGEST

H Researchers trying to authenticate their facts
sometimes fail***.Recently a. very curious author wanted the
exact chest measurements of Guy, a gorilla living at the
London Zoo* The zoo officials were curious of the same fact
and offered the attractive lady access to the grotto* To date
the article is unpublished and zoo officials arc.still just
as curious.* *• Any takers? n

THE KEEPERS CORNER

"Bill" Kingcry, the dean of deer mesa, came to
the zoo in 1955.

His experience with hoofed stock goes back to 1925
when he served with the 2nd Cavalry, Veterinarian Corps.
After his discharge in 1928, he returned to his native
Kansas City, Mo. to farm. Since coming to California, Bill
has., been a. rancher and owner of the Antler lodge near Pino
Valley in. cast Sen Diego County. He sold the lodge in 1955
to return to animal work, end many specimens on deer mesa
have experienced hi® ruling, hand.

Bill’s knowledge of handling hoofed animals has..
earned him great respect.

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP AWARDED

AX Hinkle of Alpine,Californio.. Ornamental and game bird
breeder.

Bob Da3.c, Host of The Bob Dale Show and Zoorama

Vic Pierce, member of the Security Porcc here at the San

Diego- Zoo.

LETTER PROM THE PRESIDENT

r *v>

TO ALL MEMBERS,

The voice of our ASSOCIATION is now recorded fo:
all to rend, and I'm confident the.t through the maze of
typographical jitters there will emerge the pride wo take
in our profession.

This is your publication and its,, circulation can
increase with continued support.

I would like to express my personal thanks to
everyone who assisted Ken Willingham, in lais; efforts, to
bring our publication into being. I predict that this news¬
letter will, enlist great support for our organization's
prospective goals.

IT EM OF INTEREST

Sincerely,

Scheduled for publication in the May issue of
Readers. Digest is an. article entitled "There's No Business
Like Zoo Business" by James. Stcwart-Gordom.

- 2 -

THE DEER FAMILY
by

Dennis.. W. Melvin-Mammal Keeper
San. Diego Zoo

The deer family (Corvidae) belongsto a large order
of even-toed hoofed mammalss called the Artiodactyla. Included
also in this order one pigs* peccaries, hippos, camels,
giraffe, wild cattle, antelope, goats, and sheep*

The most striking characteristic of the deer is
the antlers worn by the male of the species* The magnificence
of this animal when he has a full-grown set of antlers makes
him an impressive sight. These antlers are shed in early
spring and reach a new growth by fall.

In. the reindeer and caribou, females as well as
males have antlers. The growth of the antler begins with

a single spike at th

e

a

ge

of

one year until the antler roaohosb

its. full size at about 10 years of age. Several branches
form the antler from the original spike. It provides the
animal with a defensive weapon during the breeding season,
end also serves as a means, to root out food, etc. The size
of the antler recedes, with ago after rc-aching its. full growth.
Dor this, very reason.it is. difficult to judge, an animal 1 s
true ago. by the size of its antlers.

Not all males, of the deer family have antlersy
the Chinese water deer, musk, deer arc examples. Instead of
antlers, these deer develop large canine teeth.

Variations in size among the members, of the Corvidae

are great, ranging from the tiny pudu of Chile, who stands
13 inches at the shoulder and weighs about 24 lbs., to tho
groat Alaskan moose, who stands over 7 foot at the shoulder
and weighs an average of 1800 lbs.

The mating season for the deer is usually in Oct¬
ober and November with variations depending upon the range.
This is. the time of year the keeper has to be alert. He has
to know the habits of his individual animals.

During rut, some animals can be worked, while others
will not tolerate your presence. I have found that reindeer,
axis deer, Roe deer, Wapiti and noose com never be worked,
safely, unless removed from tho exhibit area, while it is being
cleaned#

Door in the wild often live in large herds that
break into smaller groups or harems during the mating season.
Some, such as the noos.c, arc solitary, coning together only
during the period of rut.

Very fcw zoos, maintain extensive groups of deer
because of the spa.ee needed. It is very difficult to maintain
then in small areas because the bucks arc likely to injure
or kill the docs if closely confined during the rutting season

The majority of our hoofed animals are fed in the
exhibit areas, and for the most part the deer are social
animals. However, when the breeding, season hits, I am extra
alert to the males of any species.

-3

Continued

I have* found the easiest species to maintain in
captivity at the San Diego Zoo is the Scandanavian reindeer.
Since they arc a domestic member of the deer family, they
arc. very gentle and a pleasant species to work with.

Largo or small, the deer is an interesting mammal
and a constant teacher in the habits of wild Gervadae.

by Lee S*

Refcrcncc^Thc Management of Wild Manuals
Crandall.^

in Captivity”

-/LA.Z.K. THANKS YOU

The entire membership of the San Diego Chapter of
the A.m.Z.K. would like to thank the many people who have
helped us. in our efforts to form our organization.

Without your support and words of encouragement*
our successful beginning would have been much more difficult.
Special thanks, to Dr. Charles R<> Sclirocdcr * Dr * Janes Dolan*
Clyde A. Hill* Dr. George H. Pourncllc* K.C. Lint* and the
many others.

A very special thanks to Miss Edna Hcubleim for
her kind assistance.

BE ST WISHES for an enjoyable retirement go to Dr. Woslcy A,
Young*""Director* Los Angeles.. Zoo,

T TE IIGEE AT THE CRANDON PARK ZOO

A female white Bengal tiger was received by Grander
Park Zoo in Miami* plorida* on January 15. The 22 month old
tigress was purchased for the zoo by Ralph Scott of Bal Harbor
from the Maharaja of Rcwa for a reported f/Jo>000* Mr. Seott
ah so was co-donor of the white tiger at tho BfationsJ Zoo 9
Washington, D.C# This is the only other white Bengal tiger
in the Western Hemisphere. (AAZPA Newsletter)

NOTICE

Articles of interest to keepers arc needed for
our publication. If you have any items that would be of
interest to our field* please submit them for consideration
Contact Kenneth Willingham, A,.A.«Z«K, address,
asked to contribute®

All members

axe

A. GOOD EXAMPLE

John Tee-Van who began his career as a keeper
and ended as. General Director of the Bronx Zoo bequeathed
to all keepers a motto that was his guidepost to success,.
"If ft is., to be* it is up to mo to do it.”

4 -

PUB LICATION OP I NTEREST TO KEEPERS

n The Management of Wild Animals in Captivity” by
Log 8* Crandall, tho University of Chicago Press* 1964?
pp761 with black and white photographs* 10$ discount if
purchased through A*A.Z*K.

ABOUT THE AUTH OR-Oencral curator emeritus of the New
York Zoological Park* Hr. Crandall worked for over fifty
years, with one of the world f s largest captive collections
of wild naunals.* Here, now, in a book that should become
part of the equipment of everyone concerned with the care
of wild mammals, from zoo managers to zoo keepers.

He describes the easily recognizable features
of each order, species, and subspecies of mammals kept in
zoos. Care and feeding are discussed in the widest context
of zoologies,! garden experience.

A.A.ZoK. San Die g o, include s affi liate members*

The sin Diego Zoo Chapter of the A..A.Z.K* welcomes
affiliate members to dates

Mr. Charlea MacGowan (Oakland Zoo)-reptile keeper

Mr* Val Be Leon. Sr

Hr. John V/ortman (Topeka, Kansas.)^ T -'

Oakland Zoo)-Senior Keeper
, Kansaa)-Senior Keeper

-^ -- . ■ — -- \ — s. ^ j - -/ —

Hr. Edward Schneider (Brookfield)-Gail Schneider (Brookfield)
The latter is* a: husband said wife team, of keepers.

ADVERTISE IN TH E NEWS LETTER

Members. Seven Lines---■— -*——650 issue

Non-Members Seven Lines--——-$1.00 issue

Contact Secretary at 279-5367

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