spring 2013 zooexplorer

No Excuses! A Non-Coastal Institution’s Approach to Sea Turtle Conservation

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3

Love is in the AirThe Magic of SSP Pairings

A DIGITAL PUBLICATION FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PITTSBURGH ZOO & PPG AQUARIUM

For nearly 130 years, PPG has been bringing great things to the Pittsburgh region, such as funding to help sustain our world-class zoo and aquarium. In fact, this year we’re celebrating more than 10 years

of making a splash together and we’re looking forward to many more! To learn more wild stuff about our company, visit ppg.com.

WILD IMAGINATION.

PAINTS - COATINGS - OPTICAL PRODUCTS - SILICAS - GLASS - FIBER GLASS

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For nearly 130 years, PPG has been bringing great things to the Pittsburgh region, such as funding to help sustain our world-class zoo and aquarium. In fact, this year we’re celebrating more than 10 years

of making a splash together and we’re looking forward to many more! To learn more wild stuff about our company, visit ppg.com.

WILD IMAGINATION.

PAINTS - COATINGS - OPTICAL PRODUCTS - SILICAS - GLASS - FIBER GLASS

Operated by theZoological Society of PittsburghDr. Barbara Baker, President & CEO

Board of DirectorsRichard Kalson, Chair

Edward Goncz, Vice ChairWilliam Fallon, Treasurer

Jill Sandilla, Secretary

Leonard F. BachDeborah Bergren

Courtney BorntraegerGlenn E. Bost, IIDorothy BoyerLouise Brown

Howard BruschiTacy M. Byham, Ph.D.

Carol B. CaroselliGary Claus

G. Henry CookJack Demos

Patrick Dowd, Ph.D.Colette Dugan

Joan EllenbogenBeverlynn ElliottJack Friedman

Karen Roche Galey, M.D.Andrew HasleyFrank HorriganLorna H. Irvin

Julius JonesJustin Kaufman

Rebecca KeevicanThomas KublackMichael LaRocco

Susan Pressly Lephart, Ph.D.Patrick LoughneyKenneth McCroryKristine McGinleyPeggy McKnight

Leslie MerrillJohn Miclot

Henry MordohMelissa Murphy

David NewellJohn Payne, DVM, MS

Rita RandallMayor Luke Ravenstahl

J. Eric RennerDonald Rhoten

F. Brooks Robinson, Jr.Cynthia Dear Russell

Sara ScaifeJames C. StalderGeoffrey StillsonDouglas Stirling

Susette StoneBecky Torbin

Gregory WeingartSally WigginStuart Wise

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Caribbean flamingo

Baby ring-tailed lemurs are born with the same colorations as adults.

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T

With spring on our doorstep, people and animals alike are welcoming the

warm weather and all of the wonderful and exciting things that come

along with it. In this edition of ZooExplorer, we’ll take a look at new

beginnings, budding romances, new residents at the Zoo, and much more.

In our feature story, No Excuses! A Non-Coastal Institution’s Approach to Sea Turtle

Conservation, dive into the world of saving endangered sea turtles who are in need of

rehabilitation. As one of the largest inland sea turtle conservation programs, our Sea

Turtle Second Chance Program is blazing new ground in this field, and saving some

very special animals along the way.

Explore the meticulous process of matching up dynamic

duos in Love is in the Air: The Magic of SSP Pairings. The

Species Survival Plan programs play matchmaker to a

variety of endangered species, and from their ongoing

breeding initiatives to the successful birth of a valuable

offspring, the results of SSP’s efforts for continuing some of

the world’s most endangered species are vitally important.

Some new members just joined our Zoo family and they have us singing the blues.

Well, not literally, but they are blue monkeys and gorgeous animals. With only eleven

blue monkeys in zoos in the United States and three of them being right here at our

Zoo, this story takes an intriguing look at these incredible primates.

From eye-popping cuttlefish to awe-inspiring events, there’s much, much more to

read about in this first edition of 2013. As the weather heats up, so does the action at

our Zoo, so break out your tennis shoes, check out the articles in the following pages,

and get ready to visit your zoo. We hope to see you around the park soon!

Dr. Barbara Baker

President & CEO

Zoo Explorer Spring 2013 | 05

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An accredited institution of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

The Pittsburgh Zoo is supported in part through funding from the Allegheny Regional Asset District and PPG Industries.

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

One Wild Place

Pittsburgh, PA 15206

pittsburghzoo.org

Dr. Barbara Baker, President & CEO

Published by the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Editor: Laura Gething

Creative Director: Paul A. Selvaggio

Design & Production: Lauren Armstrong

Contributing Photographer: Paul A. Selvaggio

ZOO EXPLORER Review Committee

Raymond E Bamrick, Lead Keeper

Lori Elder, Membership Services Manager

Michelle Farmerie, Keeper

Tricia Hartnett, Keeper

Henry Kacprzyk, Curator, Reptiles & Kids Kingdom

Rich Terrell, Amazon Forest Aquarist

Sarah Poweska, Asst. Director of Development

Mark Reardon, Asst. Curator of Conservation Education

Kathy Suthard, Lead Keeper

Jaime Szoszorek, Director of Marketing & PR

Karen Vacco, Asst. Curator of Mammals

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Docent Council

President: Deneen Beatty

Vice President: Karen Tritten

Secretary: Marlene Goldstein

Treasurer: Louis Bruno

Memberships and Subscriptions:

Subscription to ZooExplorer is included in every

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Membership.

Memberships begin at $60.

A copy of the official registration and financial information

may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State

by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999.

Registration does not imply endorsement.

ZooExplorer is the online magazine of the Pittsburgh Zoo

& PPG Aquarium, published biannually for Members

free of charge.

ZooExplorer

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

One Wild Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

© 2013 Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Contents Volume 16 Number 1 pittsburghzoo.org

COVER STORY

08 No Excuses! A Non-Coastal Institution’s Approach to Sea Turtle Conservation

FEATURED ARTICLE

26 Love is in the Air The Magic of SSP Pairings

ARTICLES

14 Awe-Inspiring Events

22 UFOs on Exhibit?

32 Rhapsody in Blue

FEATURED DEPARTMENTS

05 From the President

12 News & Views

19 Calendar of Events

20 Kid’s Page Fun & Games Hey Henry!

WEB FEATURE

Apple a Day Click here to read this online-only bonus article.

06 | Zoo Explorer Spring 2013

Icon Guide

Embedded caption or additional information

Bonus media feature, such as a photo slideshow or video

Interactive opportunity

pg. 08

pg. 32

pg. 22

pg. 26

pg. 14Zoo Explorer Spring 2013 | 07

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG

Aquarium has not had sea turtles

on the premises since the early

1990s; that is until we decided to bring

them back in a big way! After visiting with

several coastal institutions to evaluate how

they manage their sea turtle collections,

our mission was seemingly written in the

sand: we wanted to show our visitors

“conservation in motion,” giving the public

a behind-the-scenes look into sea turtle

rehabilitation while releasing as many sea

turtles back into the wild as possible.

In the summer of 2009, the Pittsburgh

Zoo & PPG Aquarium's Sea Turtle Second

Chance Program (STSCP) was established

with one overarching goal in mind: to rescue

those sea turtles who otherwise would have

been left for dead, giving them a second

chance to survive.

Hatchling Rescue ProjectTo begin this new initiative, the Pittsburgh

Zoo & PPG Aquarium developed the

“Hatchling Rescue Project” partnership with

the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll

Shores (NCA), where we are now assisting

in Atlantic loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea

turtle hatchling rescue efforts. As delicate

little hatchlings, sea turtles are challenged by

land predators, climate change, and habitat

destruction. Sea turtle nesting season runs

May through October, which marks the only

time of the year mature females will haul out

onto the beach to lay their eggs. Nests that

have been located will be staked and roped

off to warn beachcombers that they are not

to tamper with that area. The NCA works

with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources

Commission, volunteers, and other agencies

Story By Josie RomascoMarine Aquarist

Photography by Paul A. Selvaggio

A NON-COASTAL INSTITUTION’S APPROACH TO SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION


to monitor turtle nests, excavate nests when necessary, and rescue

imperiled hatchlings. Once our institution is notified of these rescued

hatchlings, a transport trip is arranged to bring the North Carolina

turtles to the PPG Aquarium where they may stay for up to three

years until they are ready to be released into the warm waters of the

Gulf Stream, off the shores of the North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

The Hatchling Rescue Project partnership has been a

tremendous success since its inception in 2009; to date, the

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has rehabilitated eight loggerhead

sea turtle hatchlings and

released five back into

the ocean—two of whom

were outfitted with satellite

transmitters.

Furthermore, we’ve been

able to generate a lot of

anticipation and excitement

around our sea turtle releases because we are now outfitting at

least one turtle each year with a satellite transmitter, or platform

terminal transmitter (PTT) prior to their release in the Gulf Stream.

This years’ turtle to wear the PTT was named Ghostbuster, and

anyone interested in following Ghostbuster’s turtle tracks can go to

seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?tag_id=122027. Not only does

tracking sea turtles provide an engaging educational opportunity for

the public, but the data also help husbandry teams understand how

these turtles are moving within their habitats following rehabilitation.

Our Resident Sea Turtle: Look who just moved in!

The STSCP continues to evolve in its multifaceted approach to

the conservation of marine turtles—which always keeps things

interesting! While there are countless sea turtles who can be

rescued and released back into the wild, there remains a large

number of sea turtles who have sustained injuries so significant

that they may never thrive in their natural habitat, and thus, need

a place to “reside” where they can be safe and happy, often for

several decades. Last June, this exact need is what prompted the

PPG Aquarium to open its doors (and tanks) to welcome Sunburst,

our new resident green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) into our

animal collection.

Sunburst was rescued in the summer of 2010 from Fort George

River Inlet, Florida after being hit by a boat. Immediately after she

was rescued, Sunburst was transported to the Georgia Sea Turtle

Center on Jekyll Island, GA where she underwent the majority of

her rehabilitation until the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium received

her last summer. The boat propeller left significant damage to her

carapace (top part of shell). There is actually a large shell fracture

that runs parallel to her spine that has required bone cement for

repair and has healed nicely, although still ongoing. In addition

to the shell fracture, she sustained a fracture to one of her front

flippers which, in turn, developed into a secondary bone infection

which was successfully treated during her stay at the Georgia

Sea Turtle Center. So while her shell fracture is the injury that

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immediately catches one’s eye and looks

worse in appearance, the reason Sunburst

is considered to be “non-releasable” is

actually because she has very limited

range of mobility in her front two flippers.

This is where a sea turtle’s propulsion

strength originates, so officials believe

that she would not fare well in the wild if

she needed to scurry to protect herself.

While we do have to monitor her shell for

continued healing, the vast majority of her

rehabilitation with us is to try to get her to

regain strength in her front flippers—and

to continually challenge her with greater

depths and distances to see what her

physical limitations are. She has only been

in about three feet of water since she was

rescued so we are anxious to move her

into our Little Ocean exhibit this spring to

see how she handles new challenges and

to watch how Sunburst explores her new

home. Because she was rescued from

the wild, we do not know her exact age.

However, based on her measurements,

we can approximate her to be between

5-10 years old. Green sea turtles typically

have a life span of nearly 80 years, so we’re

preparing to have Sunburst for many years

to come.

Improvements in sea turtle care

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

opened its 20,000-square-foot Animal

Health and Education Center this spring,

which vastly improves the type of care we

can offer incoming sea turtle patients. While

we continue to conduct weekly weight

and measurement monitoring for each of

our sea turtles, just having the ability to

utilize new technology, such as the digital

radiology, expedites the diagnosis and

treatment process.

In 2012 we also shifted our focus to

establishing “best husbandry practices”

by investigating the ways we can improve

sea turtle care through daily enrichment

activities. By beginning to offer a consistent

schedule of enrichment, we are attempting

to either elicit natural behaviors that

some of our turtles have never had the

opportunity to express in the wild, or hone

the behaviors a rescued sea turtle has

become accustomed to using while in

the wild. Examples of current enrichment

include, but are not limited to, ice treats,

mirrors, hide-n-seek tubes, various bottom

feeders, live feeds, puzzle feeders, and sea

grass beds.

It’s great to be in the ‘BurghThere have been many positive

outcomes from bringing a program of this

nature to our facility. First and foremost, we

are doing our part to help re-establish wild

populations of sea turtles over the long term

by providing excellent rehabilitative care.

Next, we are partnering with institutions

outside of our area, while striving for the

same conservation goal.

And finally, there are the added benefits

of spreading awareness to large numbers

of people, and the expansion of our

own educational and in-house research

programs. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG

Aquarium has set out to do exactly that,

with the installments of new sea turtle

overnights, educational programming, and

the new Wild Encounters guest experience.

It is important to remember that what we

are doing is not unique; it’s where we are

doing it. Sea turtles are being rehabilitated

all over the world, but the Pittsburgh

Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s Sea Turtle

Second Chance Program is committed

to demonstrating that even non-coastal,

inland institutions can play a significant role

in protecting our ocean’s marine turtles.

Whether rescuing hatchlings, rehabilitating

injured turtles, or just giving them a safe

place to grow old, we will ensure their

species’ survival for generations to come.

Welcoming CandyIn October of 2012 we were fortunate to acquire

a new 9-year-old Amur leopard from the El Paso Zoo in Texas. This petite female named Candy is a member of a critically endangered species of leopard found in far eastern Asia. Their current population in the wild is around 30-40 individuals which makes our Zoo pair very valuable.

With a range that is similar to that of the Amur tiger, this cat thrives in cold temperate climates. Since Candy was born and raised in the hot climate of Texas, she will need some time to acclimate to Pittsburgh’s frosty winters. She is being gradually introduced to the outdoor exhibit on days when the temperature is not too frigid.

You can differentiate her from Dima, our 8-year-old male, by her slender build and long neck. She has a secretive personality and you may have to observe the exhibit carefully before you will spot her camouflaged in the wheat colored grasses or peering out from beneath the basking log. As she gets more comfortable with her new surroundings she will venture out and do more exploring.

It has been 13 years since we have had leopard cubs born here. Ultimately, it is our hope that she and Dima will be introduced for mating and that we can look forward to future generations of Amur leopards.

- Kathy Suthard, Lead Mammal Keeper

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Donkey WalksIt isn’t every day that you come across two

donkeys strolling along a pathway! Then again, when you visit the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium,

you never know what fun enrichment you may encounter. Mario and Luigi, our 4-year-old miniature Mediterranean donkeys, are exercising. Keepers walk the donkeys throughout the Kids Kingdom area dependent on staffing and weather. It is not just great enrichment for the pair as they explore and exhibit natural behaviors but the visitors love it as well. Guests join in the parade stopping to take pictures, asking questions, and getting to know the donkeys.

Enrichment is an important tool in the care the Zoo provides for our animals. Introducing animals to a new toy, smell, or food; changing their routine, or even taking them for a walk enhances and encourages their natural instincts. Plus, it's a great way for keepers to interact with their animals. There isn’t a set schedule for the donkey walks at this time; this adventure will be announced over the Zoo’s public address system so visitors can join in the fun. Stop by Kids Kingdom and meet Mario and Luigi.

- Tracy Gray, Public & Media Relations Manager

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

PPG Conservation & Sustainability Grants

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has announced 16 awardees in the PPG Industries Sustainability & Conservation Fund.

This year, 75 projects were submitted for consideration by the 15-member committee. “We use a template to evaluate each proposal,” says Margie Marks, Curator of Conservation Education. “The proposal should show us the nature of the project, what results are anticipated or expected, if the project will advance the care and conservation

of the animal in the wild or in zoos, and if the project is short or long term. We also look at projects that involve animals who are represented here at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. For instance, this year, we are supporting a red panda project in Nepal.” The 2013 awards total $44,000.

The PPG Industries Conservation & Sustainability Fund was established as part of a long-term partnership between the Zoo, PPG Industries, and the PPG Foundation. The fund awards grants to help support a variety of field studies and projects with a multidisciplinary approach to conservation. These projects enable the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium to support research and conservation work around the world. In the past ten years, more than 100 projects in 40 countries and across two oceans have received grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.

- Tracy Gray, Public & Media Relations Manager

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Amazon Leaffish Monocirrhus polyacanthus

Amazon leaffish reside throughout the Amazon River basin, including Peru, Columbia, Brazil and Venezuela – and now we welcome them to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Their shape, coloration, and movement mimic fallen leaves in the water. They even have a small projection on their lower lip that looks like a small leaf stalk. They move through the water like a dead leaf, drifting in the current using small movements of their clear fins.

Leaffish are voracious ambush predators who feed on smaller fish by extending their protrusible mouth with lightning speed. They can consume their body weight in food daily. At the PPG Aquarium, we feed them frozen brine shrimp, frozen mysid shrimp, and bloodworms, along with live brine shrimp and live mysid shrimp. We are now exhibiting these fascinating camouflage artists in the “Freshwater Fortune” gallery next to the electric eel exhibit. You’ll have to take a minute to hunt for them in their exhibit because of their amazing ability to blend in, but seeing them will be worth the effort!

- Rich Terrell, Amazon Forest Aquarist


News & Views

Leaffish are camouflaged to look like fallen leaves floating in the water.

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Awe-Inspiring Events:

Transforming the Zoo for Private Parties and Happenings

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Story By Gabriele BoldizarGroup Sales & Rentals Manager

Have you ever daydreamed of

your first dance as a married

couple being surrounded by

tropical fish while the glow of soft moonlight

illuminates the dance floor? Intrigued by

the menacing looks the sand tiger sharks

could give guests as they fill up at the

candy bar at your daughter’s bat mitzvah?

How about the thought of throwing your

dedicated employees and their families a

delicious barbeque to celebrate all of their

hard work, but not having to worry about

the responsibility of the preparation

and planning?

Although many think of the Pittsburgh

Zoo & PPG Aquarium as a place to visit

with family and friends, it is also one of

Pittsburgh’s most popular destinations for

private parties, including picnics, weddings,

birthdays, bar and bat mitzvahs,

anniversaries, family reunions, and corporate

events. Rated as one of Pittsburgh’s

premier venues, the Zoo has 12 versatile

facilities available to accommodate a

variety of parties and events as diverse as

our collection of wildlife. With year round

capability, indoor and outdoor spaces, and

exotic animals at every turn, the sky is truly

the limit when designing a memorable event

at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

We have staff on hand year-round in

our Group Sales & Rentals department as

well as our catering department who work

hard to ensure every event has the right

character, every request is addressed,

and every expectation is exceeded. One

of the challenges that our team embraces

is transforming spaces to fit the needs of a

party or event. One space that might hold a

public children’s event can be reinvented to

host a private picnic where guests can enjoy

each other’s company and great food in the

middle of the Zoo. Other entire portions of

the Zoo can be reserved, so where families

and friends walked through as part of

their casual daytime visit can quickly and

elegantly become stunning formal settings

for weddings or black tie events.

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Taste of the Wild Catering, the exclusive

caterer of the Zoo, assists guests in creating

a menu that can satiate any appetite, big or

small. Our executive chef can wow any palate

with a miso arctic char in carrot ginger sauce

and sake reduction, or a delicious grilled NY

strip au poivre. For more classic fare, our

American picnic packages are very appealing

with freshly grilled quarter pound hamburgers

and jumbo hot dogs complimented by potato

salad, flame roasted corn, cookies, and

chips. Add-ons like the ice cream sundae bar,

popcorn cart, or Dippin’ Dots are always a real

treat for guests.

To give your guests an even wilder

experience, we offer docent appearances

featuring one of our trained volunteers. These

skilled individuals bring small animals to events

and entertain with fun facts about a ball python

snake, chinchilla, blue tongue skink, or one

of the other animals available for visits. Pre-

purchased train and carousel tickets complete

the excitement of a Zoo visit.

Black-tie or dress-down, birthday or

retirement, the Zoo is a one-stop-shop for the

wildest events around. Don’t take our word

for it, though – give it a try for yourself and

consider the Zoo for your next special event!


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Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Summer Zoo Camp for ages 2–13 entertains with live animals while educating about wildlife conservation. Programs start the week of June 3.

Register Online:pittsburghzoo.org/Education/SummerPrograms

ZOO CAMPSummer

A l l e g h e n y R e g i o n a l A s s e t D i s t r i c t

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The royal azalea blooms in the spring and has large, fragrant flowers.

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April 20Saturday, 11am – 3 pm

PPG Party for the PlanetCelebrate Earth Day with recycling games, eco-crafts, and other fun activities. Meet with local organizations that will show you ways that you can help protect the environment.

May 5Sunday, 11am – 3 pm

Cinco de RhinoCelebrate Cinco de Mayo with our Rhinos! Make a craft, watch our baby rhino play with a piñata, and enjoy live music.

May 11Saturday, 11 am – 1pm

Brunch with MomEnjoy a beautiful Mother’s Day brunch filled with great food, calypso music, face painting, and an animal presentation with the Zoo’s own Henry Kacprzyk. Each family will receive a special Adopt-An-Animal package. Register now at pittsburghzoo.org.

May 12Sunday

Mother’s Day CelebrationAll moms get in free when accompanied by their children, and enjoy free chair massages and healthy living information.

May 23Thursday, 6 – 9 pm

Facebook Fan NightAfter closing for the day, the Zoo will reopen in the evening exclusively for our social media followers to allow them to enjoy the Zoo and the animals all to themselves.

June 15 & 16Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 3 pm

Dragon Renaissance FestivalGo back in time to experience the Renaissance era alongside a real inland bearded dragon and Komodo dragons. Enjoy fire-breathers, jousting demonstrations, and period music with authentic Renaissance characters.

June 16Sunday

Father’s Day CelebrationBring Dad to the Zoo for a wild Father's Day! All dads receive free admission when accompanied by a child.

June 25Tuesday

Member’s NightMembers enjoy an exclusive evening with $1 food specials, free train rides, and additional discounts at the Zoo's gift shops.

June 29 - July 7Friday – Sunday, 11am – 3 pm

Eat’n Park Family WeekEnjoy some family time at Eat'n Park Family Week. Each day will feature a new theme with lots of fun activities, special animal encounters, mascot appearances, live entertainment, and more.

For event updates and information, visit our website at pittsburghzoo.org, check out our Facebook page at facebook.com/pghzoo, or call the Special Events Hotline at 412-665-3640, and press 4.


Calendarof Events

start

finish

sea turtle maze

sea turtle maze

Be sure to ask an adult for permission and help before starting!

Materials: 1 rock, paintbrush/sponge, any color paints,crayons/colored pencils, scissors, glue/tape

1. Take a trip outside and find a rock that reminds you of a turtle’s shell. It should be about 4–6 inches in diameter.

2. Wash the rock and dry well

3. Use a sponge or brush to paint the rock as a shell

4. Color and cut the head and four flippers on this page.

5. Glue, or tape, head and flippers to the underside of the rock where the tabs are.

CREATED BY THE

CONSERVATION EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

glue/tapehere

glue/tapehere

glue/tapehere

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glue

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here

start

finish

sea turtle maze

sea turtle maze

Be sure to ask an adult for permission and help before starting!

Materials: 1 rock, paintbrush/sponge, any color paints,crayons/colored pencils, scissors, glue/tape

1. Take a trip outside and find a rock that reminds you of a turtle’s shell. It should be about 4–6 inches in diameter.

2. Wash the rock and dry well

3. Use a sponge or brush to paint the rock as a shell

4. Color and cut the head and four flippers on this page.

5. Glue, or tape, head and flippers to the underside of the rock where the tabs are.

CREATED BY THE

CONSERVATION EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

glue/tapehere

glue/tapehere

glue/tapehere

glue/tapehere

glue

/tape

here


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Dear Christian,

As snakes grow, their skin does not grow along with them. When they’re young they grow very quickly so they shed their skin to make room for new, larger skin very frequently. As they get older, they shed a few times a year to keep themselves healthy and to prevent the skin from getting old, damaged, or worn out.

Henry

Hey Henry,Why do snakes shed their skin?

-Christian Hicks

Got a question? E-mail it to: Hey, Henry!

[email protected]

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UFO’s on Exhibit?Story By Eric KellarMarine Aquarist

Dwarf Cuttlefish


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They have been here since July of

2012 but some guests still do a

double take when walking past

the dwarf cuttlefish tank. “They look like

submarines” one guest says. “No, they

look like little UFO’s” says another. “UFO’s?

I think they look like aliens” says the last in

the group.

The engaging nature of these animals

is one of the reasons that I love displaying

them. Guests stop to watch them interact

with each other as they flash their color

changing cells called chromataphores.

Some of the most dramatic color changes

occur while pursuing prey or when they

are old enough to breed. The cuttlefish

also interact with people, much to the

delight of our guests. During feeding time,

two feeding tentacles fire out from the

middle of their eight arms as they grab

their prey, sometimes catching our guests

by surprise.

Dwarf cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis) are

cephalopods. They are in the same class

(Cephalopoda) as octopus, squid, and

chambered nautilus. While these creatures

lack backbones, they are some of the

most advanced animals on Earth in that

they have highly developed brains, nervous

systems, and eyes. Unfortunately they

share another characteristic, a short life

span. The life span of the dwarf cuttlefish

is a short eight months to one year. In that

time they grow from the size of a grain of

rice to three to four inches. Females can

lay up to 50 eggs at a time in a clutch. The

eggs resemble small purple grapes in a

cluster because the female adds a drop

of ink to each one to camouflage it. Dwarf

cuttlefish have only been bred in captivity

since 2009 and we are still learning about

their behavior. It can take up to four weeks

for the baby cuttlefish to emerge as exact

replicas of the adults except for their size.

When the offer came from Mote Marine

Laboratory in Sarasota to send us twelve,

I knew that we had the perfect exhibit in

which to display them. The exhibit that

previously housed our venomous fish

closely resembled the underwater habitat

of the islands around the Philippines where

the dwarf cuttlefish are naturally found.

Unlike larger species of cuttlefish, dwarf

cuttlefish can be kept in groups without

showing aggression toward each other.

After a month of living in their new home

I came in to find a cluster of eggs. Over

the next month I removed over 100 eggs.

Not all were viable but we were able to

raise fourteen to juvenile size and moved

them onto exhibit after our first group of

adults came to the end of their life cycle.

The juveniles are doing great and will

be greeting our guests throughout the

summer, so please stop by and see one of

the most unusual underwater creatures on

display in the PPG Aquarium.

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Love is inthe Air: The Magic of SSP Pairings

Story By Laura Gething Communications Manager



These are the stories of Szenja, the

18-year-old female polar bear and

Candy, the 9-year-old female Amur

leopard who both came to the Pittsburgh

Zoo & PPG Aquarium in late 2012. They

arrived here as a result of the matchmaking

wisdom of the animal world’s version of

eHarmony - the Species Survival Plan,

commonly referred to as the SSP. The SSP

works with zoos around the country to

determine which animals would make the

best genetic matches to mate in order to

strengthen animal populations. Records

and studbooks are kept about all animals

in AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums,

certified related facilities like conservation

centers, and approved non-member

participants which include places like

wildlife refuges, rehabilitation centers, and

sanctuaries. The SSP analyzes all of the

potential matches and makes suggestions

to facilities about which animals would

make the best matches. The organizations

then transport (when necessary), introduce,

and mate the animals specifically outlined

by the SSP. Breeding done in accredited

facilities is done through the SSP, as this

takes into consideration the best possible

health, welfare, and genetics for the animals

to ensure all participants can be happy and

healthy while boosting animal populations

in the best way possible.

When it comes to endangered species,

SSP plays a critical role. There are many

species that are struggling in the wild but

are doing well in zoos and aquariums.

The SSP makes suggestions for ways

that animals should be paired up based

on their bloodlines to result in strong and

genetically-diverse offspring, making

the continuation of each species more

probable. Amur leopards are a prime

example of the importance of the SSP.

There are currently only around 40 Amur

Meanwhile, Candy, a quiet and reserved lady, was getting ready to head

out on her own. She had always lived with her parents in El Paso, Texas and she

enjoyed the tranquility that came along with staying in her comfort zone. However,

she couldn’t live like this forever. She knew she should make the most of her life and

start a family of her own. It was also hard to find to find the right one for her. There

was a handsome male named Dima in Pittsburgh who, with some time and effort,

could make her dreams come true. It would be quite the adjustment, but it would

certainly be worth the effort. For the first time, Candy went out on her own all the

way to Pittsburgh in search of love.

Szenja was a spunky and beautiful California girl based out of San Diego.

In her younger days she didn’t care much for long and involved courtship with those

of the opposite sex. Much more excited about having fun and enjoying the finer things

in life, she was now more mature and ready to take on the responsibility of raising a

little one of her own. After all, there weren’t many others out there like her these days

and she needed to focus her energy on future generations instead of filling her days

with playing, swimming, and trivial fun. She hadn’t found the right suitor for her yet, that

special someone with whom she would want to have a baby. However, there was a

promising individual awaiting her in Pittsburgh who just might have what she desired.

With that, Szenja hopped on board a plane and headed east in search of the strong,

burly male known as Koda.

leopards left in the wild and when left to

themselves, they face a very high likelihood

of extinction. However, there are several

hundred Amur leopards in zoos and with

the help of the SSP those numbers

are growing.

SSP pairing recommendations can

involve temporary relocation of an animal,

a permanent move to another location,

or they can involve animals who are

already living together. There is an Amur

tiger pair, Toma and Taiga, who have

been together at the Pittsburgh Zoo &

PPG Aquarium for years now. They have

previously had a successful litter of cubs,

but they are both still young, vibrant, and

biologically underrepresented in the Amur

tiger population. In recent months the

SSP contacted the Pittsburgh Zoo and

suggested that they should be paired

up again in the hopes that they will have

another litter of cubs. This has been

deemed by the SSP to be an appropriate

amount of representation of these tigers

into the population. Our teams are keeping

their fingers crossed that this dynamic duo

will again be successful in their efforts and

welcome another litter later this year.

The SSP even takes into consideration

an organization’s capacity to appropriately

host a breeding program. The Pittsburgh

Zoo & PPG Aquarium recently welcomed

a female red panda from Fargo, North

Dakota. She is the first red panda to ever

call the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

home. Once she is established in her

new exhibit, the SSP has suggested that

other red pandas come to the Zoo and

our facility could become a leader in red

panda breeding. Similarly, this was the case

with our sea lions. With the large exhibit

in Kids Kingdom and capacity to house

several sea lions, we were able to accept

Seahawk, our make sea lion. Seahawk,

often known as “Hawk”, was a wild sea lion

in the Pacific Ocean. He beached himself

three times in Sausalito, California and after

being rescued and released the first two

times, he was deemed to be unreleasable

again because he was a danger to himself

and others. Being a brand new bloodline

in the captive population, he was a

perfect participant for the SSP and he has

successfully fathered several sea lions over

the years, making the sea lion breeding

program at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG

Aquarium one of the most successful inland

sea lion breeding initiatives.

As of right now, the SSP has

recommended that our Zoo pair up

our polar bears, Amur tigers, Amur

leopards, bigtooth river stingrays, and

western lowland gorillas in 2013. As

the year progresses it is possible more

recommendations could be made. With so

much love in the air, everyone is hopeful to

soon hear the pitter-patter of little paws,

claws, hooves, flippers, and feet on Zoo

grounds. These little ones might not know

it, but they and their parents are playing a

very important role in the survival of their

species and thanks to the SSP, they have a

great shot a bright future.


African elephantsUse these keeper notes as

a guide for your trip to the

zoo. Become an expert in

telling our animals apart.

K E E P E R N O T E S

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Natasha “Tash" is the

largest of the elephants

at the Zoo and has tusks

that are very short and

not visible.

Savannah “Nan” is the only elephant in the herd who has one tusk.

Moja prefers to stay

by herself away

from the other

elephants. She is the

only adult who has

two visible tusks.

Angeline is one of the two smallest, youngest elephants but she is slightly bigger than her sister, Zuri.

Zuri is the smallest elephant. Her ears curl forward and there is a recognizable fold on the outside of both ears.

Celebrate your child’sspecial day with a

Birthdayparty atthe Zoo!

Birthdayparty atthe Zoo!

roaringroaringThis good time includes:

• Admission and parking for the day for all guests• A reserved area to host your party• Lunch, snacks, and beverages• Paperware, condiments, cups, tablecloths, and utensils• Zoo-themed cake and vanilla ice-cream• A favor bag and safari hat for each child• A special gift for the birthday child• Staff to set up and serve your party

Birthday party packages are availableyear-round. Go to pittsburghzoo.org/planaparty/birthdayparties or call412-365-6006 for more information.

pittsburghzoo.org


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Victoria is larger than the younger elephants, but is not yet as big as the adults. She has long legs, a flat head, and thin tusks.

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Rhapsody in Blue

P ittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium visitors will get a rare

opportunity to visit one of the new additions to the Tropical

Forest Complex. A lively trio of Blue monkeys arrived from

Omaha in October and has settled in nicely to their new home in

the mandrill habitat. Blue monkeys are considered to be rare, but

not because their numbers are vastly dwindling in the wild. They are

unusual because of their numbers in zoos. In the wild, they are not

endangered, but the destruction of tropical rainforests continues to

threaten their habitat. They are native to south, east and

central Africa.

To date, there are only 11 blue monkeys at four different zoos with

three of them residing here at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

Blue monkeys used to be common in zoos but over the years many

facilities stopped taking them in to make room for endangered

primates. Zoos tend to focus their efforts on housing, breeding,

and preserving species that are more threatened in the wild than

the blue monkey. Because there are so few of them in zoological

facilities, the captive population has become too small to sustain

itself. Therefore, these blue monkeys will live out their natural lives

without future generations being born at our Zoo.

Blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) are not actually blue—they

are more gray-colored, or olive. The blue in their name might

come from the slight blue hue in the hair of their faces. They are

considered a medium size monkey, weighing up to 18 pounds

and living 20 years in the wild. Blue monkeys live in the tree tops

of evergreen forests and bamboo forests, rarely coming down to

the ground. They can be found cohabitating with other species of

monkeys. These “alliances” are added protection against predators

like leopards and birds of prey. Because of their ability to play well

with others, it is our hopes to create a mixed species exhibit with

a more endangered primate. This will allow the Pittsburgh Zoo the

ability to continue their commitment to endangered species while

giving visitors a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit these

beautiful primates.

Alicia Rich, a former intern of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG

Aquarium, was fortunate enough to spend six months in

the forests of western Kenya studying blue monkeys in the

wild. She reported that they are very curious, vocal, active,

and have a lot of facial expressions. Much of what Alicia

observed in the wild holds true for our trio of blues. The

next time you visit the zoo, take some time to visit the blue

monkeys in the Tropical Forest. It may be the only chance

you will get to see these fascinating, lively animals.

Story By Karen Vacco Assistant Mammal Curator The Zoo Welcomes Blue Monkeys


O N E W I L D P L A C E | P I T T S B U R G H , P A 1 5 2 0 6 | P I T T S B U R G H Z O O . O R G

Be sure to look for our next edition of ZooExplorer where you will get an inside look at the

lives of our flamingos. Learn about their new adventures and how they’re settling in for

their first full summer in their new home.

spring 2013 zooexplorer

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