The Golden Years Geriatric animals thrive within Lincoln Park Zoo’s culture of care

For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo • A Magazine of Conservation and Education • Fall 2008

The Golden YearsBetter veterinary care has enabled zoo animals to livelonger than ever before. Learn more about the specialsteps Lincoln Park Zoo takes to enrich the lives of itsmost-esteemed inhabitants.

Handle With Care!Whether the trip is across zoo grounds or across thecontinent, keepers and curators carefully plan everyanimal move. Find out the tricks of the trade, fromrhino-capable crates to snake-sized shipping.

Field ReadyThe plains of the Serengeti are now within reach ofresearchers. New surveys developed by EndocrinologistRachel Santymire enable real-time feedback on wildwell-being. African wild dogs and black rhinoceroseswill be the ones that benefit.

Scientists in SandalsLincoln Park Zoo’s Summer Camps let participantsranging from toddlers to teens experience the won-ders of nature. Bugs!, Vets ‘N Pets and AnimalHabitats are all on the exciting—and educational—curriculum.

Conserving the CongoThe Goualougo Triangle is one ofthe last undisturbed landscapes inAfrica, with towering trees andchimpanzees that have nevercome into contact withhumans. As logging begins,zoo scientists work to pre-serve this pristine place.

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3 PerspectivePresident and CEO Kevin J. Bell explores LincolnPark Zoo’s commitment to care.

12 the Back storyBehind the scenes at the Helen Brach PrimateHouse, extremely endangered pied tamarins aretaking a step toward recovery.

14 the Wild FileBees busying the Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented byJohn Deere, bustling birds and egg-laying flamin-gos, a trumpeter swan gets ready for release andpreventing something known as “ski feet.”

18 Amazing AdaptationsFrom stealthy sneaking to camouflaged chomp-ing, amphibians have a number of ways to snaretheir prey.

20 news of the ZooZoo scientists write the book on reproductiveaging, a Chicago landmark gets a new (old) look,researchers test gibbon tool-use and Lincoln ParkZoo mourns a loss.

departments( )

features( )Volume 6 Number 1 • For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo

in this issue

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President and ceoKevin J. Bell

art DirectorPeggy Martin

editor

James SeidlerPhotographerGreg Neise

Staff WriterChris McNamara

LincoLn Park Zoo MagaZine

Cover: A geriatric Afghan leopard is still on the prowl at the Kovler LionHouse. Above: The changing of the seasons brings a new look to zoogrounds. Right: Inca tern.

Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, 312-742-2000, www.lpzoo.org. Lincoln Park Zoo is supported through apublic/private partnership between the Chicago Park District and TheLincoln Park Zoological Society. The only privately managed free zoo inthe country, Lincoln Park Zoo relies on membership, individual, founda-tion and corporate support as well as earned revenue.

QUESTIONS?Contact the Membership

Department. Staff are on hand during normal business

hours—phone 312-742-2322 or visit us online at

www.lpzoo.org.

precis( )Geriatric animals are rarely found in the wild. Life in

nature is simply too harsh. As animals begin to slow down,they become easy targets for predators or disease. Even ani-mals at the top of the food chain are vulnerable, as olderpredators succumb to lameness or the increasing frequencyof ones-that-got-away.In this sense, modern zoos have enabled a new stage in

the animal life cycle. Old age, almost unknown in the wild,has become commonplace in zoos thanks to advancementsin care and husbandry. Animals are living longer than everthought possible—far beyond their companions in thejungles, plains, deserts and mountains.With the richness of longer lives comes challenges as

well. As animals age, they often require special accommoda-tions. Exhibits are altered to account for older bodies. Socialgroups are carefully managed to provide suitable compan-ionship. Veterinarians treat the infirmities of aging, pre-scribing medication to ease sore limbs and older organs. This specialized care lets many animals thrive into their

golden years. It enables visitors to experience an expandedview of nature. And when the time comes, as it must for allof us, this expert care may make it easier to say goodbye tobeloved animals, knowing that each of them received thebest-possible care at every stage of their lives.

DrillMandrillus leucophaeusIt’s easy for visitors to the Helen Brach

Primate House to determine the genders of thetwo drills living there. In a textbook case of sexu-al dimorphism, the male monkey dwarfs hisfemale companion. He weighs in at 96 pounds;she tips the scales at less than a third of that.Size isn’t the only factor that separates the

sexes. Vibrant rump coloration also distinguishesthe genders of these endangered primates, whichare critically endangered in the wild due to hunt-ing for bushmeat. Males showcase a rainbow ofblue, purple and red markings from thigh to tail(although they lack the brightly colored face oftheir better-known cousin, the mandrill). In thewild, male drills use these bright posteriors tokeep visual contact with mates and offspring asthey move through their West African rain foresthabitat. Similarly, the males’ larger bodies protectgroup mates from jungle threats, such as leopards.At the Primate House, the male drill has little

cause to throw his weight around, but he doesdeploy another defensive adaptation: his two-inch-long canine teeth. “He likes to destroythings,” says Keeper Anita Yantz. “It’s a challengefinding enrichment devices that are sturdyenough for him.” Branches, cardboard cutouts and even a hard

plastic “boomer ball” designed for lions andtigers have fallen victim to the male’s teeth. As aresult, enrichment tends toward the shredda-ble—boxes, bags and brown paper—and thedigestible. Keepers enhance the drills’ environ-ment by scattering fruits, vegetables and specialchow throughout the exhibit during mealtimefor the primates to seek out and munch on.While the female lacks the male’s large

canines, her smaller size makes it easier for her toexplore the heights of the exhibit—an impres-sive feat given her geriatric status (the female is28, twice the age of her companion). Despitesome small infirmities that are under the care ofveterinary staff, arthritis and a stiffened spine,the female has required few concessions to herage. “She sleeps in the treetops every night,” saysYantz. “Climbing nine feet up is no challenge.”

field note( )

Thanks to advancements in care, animals in zoos today are liv-ing longer, healthier lives than ever before. Everyone associatedwith Lincoln Park Zoo, from keepers who care for animals to fam-ilies that visit to discover the wonders of wildlife, can be proud ofthe way modern veterinary practices have revolutionized care.

Of course, the greatest beneficiariesof these advancements are the geriatricanimals living at the zoo. Chimpanzees,seals, lions, leopards, oryx and pen-guins are among the many species thathave reached ages that would be impos-sible in the harsh competition of thewild. It would be limiting, however, to

regard the age an animal attains as thebest measure of the care it receives.While improvements in veterinary

care, from cardiac ultrasounds to detect heart disease to nutrition-al supplements that stave off arthritis, have undoubtedly extendedlives, the best benchmark for evaluating care is determiningwhether it expands animal well-being.By this standard, Lincoln Park Zoo’s animals receive exception-

al care. As you’ll see in these pages, keepers, curators and veterinarystaff collaborate to ensure that animals of all ages have naturalbehaviors encouraged and minds and bodies stimulated withenrichment. Alterations to exhibits—lowered perches and specialramps—enable mammals and birds to continue to climb and flyeven as their joints and muscles age. Extra attention—regular vet-erinary exams and keepers’ watchful eyes—helps to head off seri-ous problems before they develop. Dedicated compassion, asdetailed in quality-of-life plans, ensures that each animal’s bestinterest comes first when the challenges of aging intensify.Even after an animal passes away, the cycle of care continues.

Members of the Zoo Pathology Program analyze every animal thatdies, conducting necropsies to gain information to inform futurecare. The mourning that accompanies each loss carries with it thepromise of expanded knowledge for the future.This desire for knowledge extends to the wild as well, where zoo

scientists conduct research projects to increase our ability to con-serve wildlife. Research Associate David Morgan, Ph.D., is current-ly studying one of Africa’s most pristine places, the GoualougoTriangle, which encompasses 95,000 acres of untouched forest. Bychronicling tool-use and social interaction among the hundreds ofchimpanzees and gorillas inhabiting the region, Morgan and his

peers in the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservationof Apes are expanding our knowledge of these amazing animals.Beyond that, by studying the impact of logging on these endan-gered apes, the scientists are ensuring their future preservation.Also in Africa, new field testing kits developed by the Davee

Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology will enableresearchers in the field to receive real-time feedback on conser-vation in progress. These mobile kits, designed byEndocrinologist Rachel Santymire, Ph.D., can measure stressand reproductive hormones under true field conditions, thusproviding instant indications of how animals respond to conser-vation programs such as reintroductions or relocations. Byobtaining clear results on whether animals are breeding in newhomes or experiencing stress, conservation managers can refineefforts to save endangered species such as African wild dogs andblack rhinoceroses.While conservation research takes place a world away, changes

have been underway at Lincoln Park Zoo. Summer breeding seasonhas seen a number of new arrivals, including trumpeter swans,Solomon Island leaf frogs, chinstrap penguins, tufted puffins anddyeing poison-arrow frogs. The delicate act of moving animalsfrom other institutions—explored in this issue—also led to thearrival of three Grevy’s zebras and a female rhino. The results ofcareful planning, each of these new arrivals will enhance the long-term well-being of their zoo populations.They will also provide new opportunities for zoo visitors to

interact with the natural world. Toward this end, Lincoln ParkZoo’s second season of Summer Camps were dedicated to expos-ing participants to the wonders of wildlife. More than 400 chil-dren spent time this summer on zoo grounds exploring the diver-sity of nature. These campers enjoyed immersion in topics rang-ing from the insects beneath our feet to the possibility of careersin conservation.By cultivating children’s love for wildlife, Lincoln Park Zoo

Summer Camps place kids on a path of conservation and commit-ment. This is an important feat, as their enthusiasm, like the enthu-siasm of all those who support Lincoln Park Zoo, is one of ourmost precious resources.

perspective( )Conserving the Future

A Letter From President and CEO Kevin J. Bell

FALL 2008 3

Kevin J. Bell President and CEO

4 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

TheGoldenYears

Geriatric animals

thrive within

Lincoln Park Zoo’s

culture of careBY JAMES SEIDLER

FALL 2008 5

The crowd gathered outside Regenstein Center for AfricanApes had come to Lincoln Park Zoo in late June to wit-ness a milestone. Chimpanzee Keo, one of the zoo’s

most-beloved animals, was turning 50. A celebration had been announced, and adult visitors, summer

campers and kids were arrayed around the outdoor exhibit, wait-ing excitedly for a peek at the ape of the hour. News cameras gath-ered at the glass wall to record the event. Keepers laughed amongthemselves, sharing Keo stories passed down during the chim-panzees’ 49 years at the zoo. Everyone ogled the centerpiece of thecelebration, a 600-pound ice “cake.” Donated by Nadeau’s IceSculpture Inc., it was composed of three frozen tiers stuffed withfresh fruits and berries. Topped with a hand-carved “50,” the “cake”had softened just enough after an hour in the sun for probingchimpanzee fingers to begin to find fruit.When the doors opened, Keo electrified the crowd by dashing

back and forth along the wall of his exhibit. Photographerssnapped pictures. A hand-drawn birthday banner was unfurled.And the “cake” was studiously ignored by Keo, leaving the femalesin his group—June, Vicky and Kibali—to eagerly dig into the coolice and frozen treats, eventually dragging the “50” to a shady nookwhere it could be consumed at leisure.Why such a big deal? The half-century mark reflected Keo’s sta-

tus as the oldest living male chimpanzee in any zoo, a record sharedwith Cobby, a male chimpanzee at San Francisco Zoo. Beyond that,though, Keo’s 50th birthday reflected a zoo success. In the celebra-tion, you could see the decades of care, check-ups and, sure, goodgenes that helped him attain his old age. These kinds of milestones have become almost commonplace at

Lincoln Park Zoo. True, no other animals have received 600-poundblocks of ice. Most aren’t likely to make it to 50 either. After all, lifeexpectancies vary widely among species; an Amur tiger is elderly at15 while dwarf crocodile R1 is still going strong at 68. But more animals are living longer than ever before, thanks to

regular check-ups, scientifically designed diets and top-notch careby keepers and veterinary staff. Aging can bring challenges. But itcan bring wonderful rewards as well, namely the prospect of ani-mals aging gracefully into their golden years, engaging visitors withanother stage of the animal life cycle, one that would be unknownin the harshness of the wild.

Committed to Care

As animals age, many of them begin to experience the sameafflictions that affect older people. Aches and pains set in; jointsdevelop arthritis. Heart disease becomes a concern, as do bumpsand lumps that have the potential of developing into somethingmore serious.These problems receive the attention of Lincoln Park Zoo’s vet-

erinary staff, who display special diligence in monitoring the well-being of the zoo’s geriatric animals. All animals throughout the zooreceive routine physicals where their weight is monitored, theirvital signs checked and body images and blood tests preventivelyprobe for health issues.

Beyond regular check-ups, much of the veterinarians’ workwith geriatric animals is rooted in day-to-day consultations withzookeepers on subtle shifts in an animal’s behavior—a leg that’sbeing favored or signs of a loss of appetite. “We work closely withkeepers, educating them on how to report observations for the ani-mals in their care,” says Kathryn Gamble, D.V.M., director ofVeterinary ServicesKeo’s group is one of many that benefits from this comprehen-

sive care, with the male being joined in his geriatric status by June(42) and Vicky (44). All of the apes are in good shape—they moveactively around their exhibit and have little trouble climbing to thetreetops. Cardiologists from local hospitals perform cardiac ultra-sounds during regular exams to confirm the health of the chim-panzees’ hearts. Regular medication also helps to manage heartdisease. (Much like people, chimpanzees are vulnerable to cardiacproblems as they age.) Beyond medical interventions, keepers have instituted a num-

ber of changes to help the chimpanzees age gracefully. Those tripsto the treetops the chimpanzees embark on? They’re aided by extraropes strung throughout the exhibit to provide easier handholdsfor aging arms. Concerns about aching joints? They’re alleviated bythe building’s mulch substrate, installed to provide additionalcushioning for well-traveled knees.

Opposite: Chimpanzees Keo (foreground) and June stand in front of

the ice “cake” provided for Keo’s 50th birthday celebration. This mile-

stone highlighted the care provided to Keo and other geriatric animals

throughout Lincoln Park Zoo. Above: Fresh fruits embedded within the

cake match the healthful diets that enable geriatric animals to thrive.

Beyond altering exhibits to accommodate animals, keepersalso conduct daily conditioning sessions to encourage animalsto contribute to their own care. By using positive reinforce-ment to spur desired behaviors, keepers have prepped chim-panzees to present arms, legs, fingers and toes for inspection.They’ve trained them to step onto scales for weight monitor-ing or present themselves for an injection of medicine.They’re even working on tooth-brushing sessions to help pro-mote dental health. “These one-on-one sessions give us agreat chance to see how they’re doing,” says RCAA LeadKeeper Dominic Calderisi. “We check out their alertness, howthey’re moving, how they react to social situations. As soon asanything comes up, we’re on the phone with the vets, andthey’ll come over and look at it.”

Adapting to Age

Similar scenarios are in place throughout the zoo to ensurethe comfort and health of geriatric animals. At the KovlerLion House, ramps, logs and lower ledges help the building’sresident servals (19 and 17) and Afghan leopard (19) navigateto the heights of their exhibit, an important concession forthese climbing mammals. Extra ropes and vines help the geri-atric bat colony at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile Housereach the heights of their habitat when they don’t feel likeflapping their wings. The 15-year-old Grant’s gazelle atRegenstein African Journey enjoys the extra warmth of a heatlamp in her stall in winter. And the adult black bears (21) atthe Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo receive regular medicationto help them cope with their aching joints.Arthritis is one of the biggest concerns for aging mam-

mals. “Because we do such a good job with the animals in ourcare, they live a lot longer, and structurally their skeletonsgradually fail,” explains Gamble. As arthritis and related afflic-tions have become more common, treatments have advancedas well. Exhibit adjustments, anti-inflammatories and nutri-tional supplements are common treatments to increase com-fort. “Many of our animals receive nutriceuticals—supple-ments that help joints produce lubricating proteins to main-tain normal joint function. When I started practicing 20 yearsago, nobody used them. Now they’re one of the bigger com-ponents of our arthritis budget. That’s just one example ofhow the care has evolved.”

slowing Down

While the majority of geriatric animals reside in theirexhibits with modifications and changes in care, some find itin their best interest to live behind the scenes as needs evolve.At Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, the residentAsian small-clawed otter pair (16) was moved to an interiorexhibit after the male developed knee issues making it diffi-

Top: Extra vines added to the bat exhibit within Regenstein Small

Mammal-Reptile House (SMRH) provide geriatric straw-colored

fruit bats with sure footing. Bottom: Elderly La Plata three-banded

armadillos living behind the scenes at SMRH benefit from the

steady care and watchful eyes of keepers such as Dan Mondl.

FALL 2008 7

cult for him to navigate his exhibit in the building’s EcosystemArea. “He had to go up and down a ramp to get to his exhibit, butnow he has a nice, level surface with a big pool and lots of enrich-ment and exercise,” says Curator Diane Mulkerin.Down the hall, an elderly golden-headed lion tamarin occupies

another sizable indoor exhibit. This 18-year-old monkey has severeliver disease, but a drug regimen maintains his health. At the sametime, regular enrichment—boxes to climb in, mealworms to digout of dirt basins, scented branches for him to sniff—keeps himactive. “He loves watching everything that goes on around him—including us,” says Keeper Dan Mondl. “He’s really curious.”Like all geriatric animals, the tamarin has quality-of-life parame-

ters in place, guidelines developed by veterinary staff and zookeepersto ensure that animals continue to benefit from the care provided.Quality-of-life plans keep the emotional aspect of caring for ani-mals—the daily interactions, the deep connection that’s formed dur-ing years of care—from interfering with what’s best for them. “No matter how good the care is, animals will continue to age,”

says Gamble. “But these animals would have no chance of livingthis long in the wild, where disease, predators and finding food areall daily obstacles. Here, we provide care, and the main focus is onenhancing their quality of life. That’s always the ultimate goal.”

Above: Operant conditioning sessions, such as this target training con-

ducted by Nancy DeFiesta at the Kovler Sea Lion Pool, prep older ani-

mal to better participate in their care. Conditioning sessions also enable

up-close observations of animal well-being. Right: The geriatric servals

in the Kovler Lion House reach the heights of their exhibit with a boost

from specially designed logs and ramps.

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8 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

transporting Zoo Animals Requires

Planning, Patience and…ice Packs

Handle with Care!

BY CHRIS MCNAMARA

FALL 2008 9

it was a short trip—less than a hundred yards—but special pre-cautions had to be made for the special passenger. First, thevan’s air-conditioning was turned to high. Second, a large

bucket was lined with ice packs. Then the special passenger—a chin-strap penguin—was rounded up for its trip to the C.H. “Doc” Searle,M.D. Animal Hospital, just up the path from the KovlerPenguin/Seabird House. Transporting animals, whether between Lincoln Park Zoo facili-

ties, between domestic zoos or between continents, requires greatplanning, patience and—in the case above—a lot of ice packs. Butzoo staff who are involved in the occasional penguin or Pallas’ catmove go to great lengths to ensure that the traveling animals are ascomfortable as possible. “Every animal move has its own peculiarities,” explains Curator of

Mammal Dave Bernier, who’s played travel agent for a spectrum ofspecies in his 19 years at the zoo. “Generally, larger animals are hard-er to ship than smaller ones.” (Evidence of that edict can be found inthe pocked padded walls of trucks used to transport Grevy’s zebras,whose powerful kicks offer extra encouragement for careful planning.)

Train Before Truck Animal transfers aren’t made lightly. Moves between zoos are

carefully planned to maximize well-being, generally occuring inresponse to breeding recommendations or to upgrade social groupsor surroundings. The first step in most animal transports happens months before

the projected departure date. Animals undergo a long process ofacclimation to crates that will be used to ship them. Since most aren’texcited about stepping into small enclosures (think about car tripsyou took as a kid), incentives are used. Carrots, bones or otherfavorite treats are placed inside crates to draw the animals inside.Over time the animals get used to moving in and out, with the

crate doors opening and closing behind them. On move day, the trav-eler doesn’t realize anything is unusual until their crate begins tomove. To quell fears, handlers stock the shipping containers withfood, line them with hay or soft paper to make lounging comfortable,and—when possible—travel alongside them, providing a reassuringface, voice or smell to the bird or mammal during the trip. “Novice animals, those that have never been transported before,

are usually more willing to enter crates than veterans,” explainsBernier. Some species pose little problem crating. Small felines likeservals and Pallas’ cats enjoy hiding out in small carriers placed intheir exhibits. Most transport is done via truck. When trips are long enough to

warrant flights, handlers must abide by the airlines’ strict regulations.(If you think getting your kids on a plane is a hassle, try boarding aboa constrictor.)The International Airline Transportation Association regulates air

shipment of animals, dictating the size/durability of crates, ventila-tion requirements, labeling and more. Even though all animals areshipped in storage compartments of planes, great precaution is taken,especially in the case of dangerous or venomous critters.Building customized crates is only part of the challenge.

Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House Zoological Manager Dan

Boehm, who often fabricates special containers to ship animals, takesinto consideration both the temperature in Chicago and the receiv-ing city (and any connecting flight) when equipping a lizard contain-er with hot or cold packs. Snakes with nasty bites are placed in pad-locked boxes. “You need to make it difficult for anybody who is notsupposed to open it,” he says.

Birds Lincoln Park Zoo staff oversee about two dozen bird transports

each year. Trumpeter swans go out; storks come in. The latter are particularly tricky to move due to long legs, long

necks and long beaks. Store shelves aren’t exactly teeming with storkcrates, so zoo staff adopt the role of carpenter, constructing custom-made shipping containers. It’s easier when birds are transported atthe egg stage. When the Missouri River flooded in 1995, the zooreceived dozens of piping plover eggs rescued from the ruined banks.Portable brooders (resembling coolers, but with the opposite effect)were used to ship the eggs to Chicago.

Fish Fish pose unique challenges, seeing as how they must be trans-

ported in a foreign environment (literally out of water). Last year,Bernier and Curator of Carnivores Mark Kamhout shipped 100 zebra

Left: Chinstrap penguins require cooled conditions for trips to the C.H.

“Doc” Searle, M.D. Animal Hospital. Above: Preparations for transporting

Pallas’ cats are eased by the species’ proclivity for hiding in small spaces;

they naturally take to crates placed in their exhibits.

10 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

tilapia to San Antonio Zoo. They placed the fish in bags of waterthat were then oxygenated and sealed, creating mini habitats thatwere packed into Styrofoam boxes and loaded onto a plane. All 100fish made it safely to the Lone Star State.

Mammals It requires a little ingenuity and a lot of training to get most

mammals into transport crates. Consider those kick-happy Grevy’szebras; when staff at the Antelope & Zebra Area ship the stripedset—as they will with a male in October—a few handlers hide inthe corners of a holding stall behind baffle boards (8 x 4 foot shieldsof heavy plywood). A shipping trailer is placed at an exit, the doorsare opened, and keepers holding the boards slowly move towardsan animal, guiding it into the truck. This illusion of moving wallsuses a zebra’s dislike of confined spaces to coax it into the trailer.Natural behaviors are thus used to elicit the desired response.“We wouldn’t do this with a carnivore,” adds Bernier. Carnivores

require more care, more training and absolutely no handlers with-in the exhibit.

New Home, Familiar Face HANDLE WITH CARE! You’ll often see that stamp on shipping

boxes, indicating that the contents within are delicate, fragile, to betreated with care. That stamp wasn’t placed on the 3,000-poundcrate used to transport the 2,700-pound black rhinoceros in June.(It would have looked a bit silly.) But the message was on everyone’s

mind throughout the process of transporting the powerful, pre-cious cargo to Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas. Even after an animal has reached its destination, whether here at

Lincoln Park Zoo or another AZA institution, the care continues.Zoo staff on both ends go to great lengths to acclimate animals totheir new surroundings. When Grevy’s zebras are shipped, hay that was used at the orig-

inal zoo is sent with the animals, enabling handlers to mix it withnew hay to ease the transition to a different diet. Pack animals arekept in contact with one another, which eases tensions. Gamble rode in the truck that transported the black rhinoceros

all the way down to the Little Rock Zoo. Having orchestrated thismove, she wanted to see it safely completed. Trailing the truck in acar was Regenstein African Journey Keeper Diana Villafuerte, whostayed a few days in the animal’s new home, pacifying the travelerwith her familiar voice, scent and mannerisms while trainingArkansas keepers on caring for this big female. “It was importantfor us to give her a sense of comfort,” says Villafuerte. “By the timeI left, she was eating and making contact with the other rhino.” As she does with most large-animal transports to or from

Lincoln Park Zoo, Gamble in this case wore the hats of travel agent,veterinarian, chaperone amd personnel manager. Villafuerte playedtour guide. After all, moving is stressful, whether you’re a persontransferred to a new city, a tiny fish finding new waters in Texas ora big rhinoceros acclimating to Little Rock.

Above: Familiar faces, such as Curator Diane Mulkerin, can provide comfort to animals on long journeys between zoos. Animal moves, such as this

2003 rhino arrival, are often the result of breeding recommendations or opportunities for enhanced social groups.

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SPRING 2008 11

Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocomeThe rockhoppers are easy to spot

among the king and chinstrap pen-guins within the Kovler Penguin/Seabird House. They’re the small oneswith the bold yellow eyebrows thatresemble makeup from a sci-fi movie.They’re also the ones that hop rocks,as you might have guessed. The zoo’s 16 adult rockhopper

penguins average about nine years ofage (near the life expectancy in thewild). The years aren’t slowing themdown, though. They still swim in the18,000-galloon pool, a natural behav-ior for this species native to rockyshores of South America, Australiaand New Zealand. They still buildnests out of rocks and plants, defend-ing them from one another with high-pitched brays. In fact, no accommoda-tions have been made for thesebirds—they still hop across the samelandscape of rocks they did in theiryounger days. And they continue to reproduce.

This spring they welcomed two newchicks. These are the golden years for the

adult rockhoppers. Of course, nopredators creep up on them here. Nordo gray feathers, for that matter.Really, the only problem is keepingoffspring out of the nest once thechicks have grown enough to hoparound on their own.

field note( )

BY MEG RITTER

12 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

While new on-exhibit residents garner most of thegushing, off-exhibit births are equally crucial. Aprime example can be found at the Helen Brach

Primate House, where two pied tamarin twins—born in May—now scamper through an off-exhibit habitat. The carefree behav-ior of the little ones contrasts the work that went into their arrival.The adults that produced these offspring were transported to

Chicago from England’s Jersey Zoo in January 2007, two of 10tamarins shipped stateside in an effort to disperse genes across thepond. These 10 individuals bolstered the American pied tamarinpopulation by 50 percent. All five pairs have reproduced, to thedelight of keepers, curators, scientists and population biologists.As pied tamarins are among the most endangered Amazonian pri-mates due to habitat loss, these births reinforce a small NorthAmerican zoo population of about three dozen animals.“New World primates, such as pied tamarins, can procreate

immediately upon introduction,” explains Curator of PrimatesSue Margulis, Ph.D. “These two didn’t breed right away, but theyweren’t aggressive toward each other either, which was a goodsign. Obviously, we now know that they’ve bred.” That breeding, like the births and some of the logistical

work that preceded them, took place off exhibit within the

Primate House, where large enclosures comfortably house allmanner of primates, specially designed areas enable keepersto prepare and provide enrichment for the animals and facili-ties are in place for veterinarians to perform medical checksand keepers to prepare meals.On the north end of the facility, accessible only by zoo

employees, the little family of pied tamarins has the PrimateBreeding Center all to themselves. This center is a room contain-ing a network of tree-filled enclosures. This family of fourtamarins has access to three of them, enabling the squirrel-sizedmonkeys to romp through some 1,000 square feet of space.Were human fathers allowed to explore the behind-the-

scenes Primate Breeding Center, they’d sympathize with the piedtamarin dad. The sire began caring for the wee ones on their sec-ond day out of the womb, often lugging both at the same timewhile mom—who nursed them—rested and ate. “It’s comical tosee dad carrying these two around on his back,” said Margulis inearly July, when the offspring were growing to the point that dadwas visibly uncomfortable hauling them around. The Primate Breeding Center, like other off-exhibit spaces

within the Primate House and throughout Lincoln Park Zoo,enables staff to manage multiple groups of species, giving eachthe space and comforts they require to thrive.

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back story( ) Planning Parenthood at the Primate Breeding Center

While the arrival of new animals on display is an exciting experience, the gushing crowds that gath-er around cute newborns likely don’t appreciate the effort that goes into each animal birth atLincoln Park Zoo. When, for instance, a primate is born, it represents the work of scientists fromaround the globe, months of planning on the part of zoo curators and—let’s not overlook—thecourtship and breeding process of the parents.

One of the pied tamarin twins perches on its father’s back. Male pied

tamarins contribute to care by carrying their offspring through their rain

forest home. The birth of two pied tamarins at Lincoln Park Zoo pro-

vided a needed boost for this endangered population.

FALL 2008 13

14 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Using Every Space Curators look at exhibits in three dimensions, considering that

some species live their lives among the branches (arboreal ani-mals), others never leave the ground (terrestrial animals), whilesome are aquatic or semi-aquatic. Nowhere is this more prevalentthan at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House (SMRH).

In June, two male sugar gliders, marsupials native to Australia,were added to an exhibit occupied by brush-tailed bettongs. Thesugar gliders, similar to flying squirrels, spend all their time in thetrees; the bettongs hop along the ground. When the new residentswere added, they temporarily left their leafy turf to inspect themother-daughter bettongs, a nose-to-nose how-do-you-do. Afterthat greeting, the two species have stayed in their territories—friendly neighbors sharing a two-flat.

Nearby, caiman lizards were recently added to an exhibit hous-ing cotton-top tamarins within SMRH’s Ecosystem Area. Thescaly pair hangs out in and around the pond, while their hairyroommates bound through the trees above.

“Just as they do in the wild, species inhabit every part of everyhabitat,” explains Curator Diane Mulkerin. “Housing animals inthis way at the zoo not only educates the audience but also enrichesthe animals.”

Double Buzz The Main Barn at the Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented By John

Deere got a little louder in June with the addition of two beehives.Each colony is composed of about 3,000 bees; by the end of thesummer those numbers should reach 5,000.

While wild bees will hibernate, beekeeper John Hansen plans tokeep these colonies buzzing over the winter by providing themwarmth (inside the barn) and food (in the absence of flowers outside).

The zoo’s breed are Italian honeybees, a hybrid species bred fora gentle nature and cleanliness. (Some bees maintain hives betterthan others; clean homes make for healthy bees.) As these aresmall colonies, the Farm’s bees’ honey is not collected.

Bees from each colony can access the outdoors via tubes con-nected to the roof. Forager bees roam Lincoln Park in search offlowers bearing nectar (which provides the insects carbohydrates)and pollen (which supplies them protein). The bees also drinkwater on their foraging missions.

“When you think of bees, think of the number 21,” says theLaGrange Park-based beekeeper—veteran of 1,000 stings—whodonated and helps maintain the colonies. Eggs take 21 days tohatch; the young bees spend 21 days inside the hive. “They dohousekeeping and care for the eggs.” Finally, the fully mature beesspend 21 days as foragers, collecting food for the hive. They thendie—a 42-day life that is, per the cliché, busy.

Above, left-to-right: Sugar gliders swept into Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, where they share an exhibit with the brush-tailed bet-

tongs. A bee gathers nectar to bring back to its hive within the Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented by John Deere. Below: A trumpeter swan beak-to-beak

with its cygnet. Right: Chilean flamingos on the nest at the Waterfowl Lagoon—a first for this species at Lincoln Park Zoo.

wild file( )

FALL 2008 15

Shell Game They’re all brownish-green. They all have thick, muted shells.

None are going to win the 100-yard dash. But keen eyes will detectthree species of turtles within the aquarium at the Pritzker FamilyChildren’s Zoo. In August, wood turtles began complementing theBlanding’s turtles and spotted turtles. More terrestrial than theircounterparts, wood turtles will use the dry areas of the exhibit whilethe others swim, mimicking life in and around a pond in the wild.

Hoofcare Farriers (professional hoof-trimmers) call the condition “ski

feet”—when a horse’s, zebra’s or antelope’s hooves have grown solong they look like they could navigate moguls. While the namemight be funny, the condition can result in damaged joints, sokeepers and veterinarians at the zoo’s Antelope & Zebra Area trimhooves regularly.

Takin, zebras and alpacas are trained to present their feet,enabling handlers to clip with hoof-nippers (imagine your finger-nail clippers on steroids) and smooth them with coarse, metal files.

The hoof material—known as keratin—is similar to our finger-nails. Clipping and filing is painless, pleasurable even. Nobodywants ski feet, especially in summer months.

Bustling Birds Birds are building nests, chicks are hatching, youngsters are fledg-

ing. The cycle of life is on display within the bird exhibits at LincolnPark Zoo, where spring and summer proved fruitful seasons.

Two Guam Micronesian kingfisher chicks hatched this spring at theMcCormick Bird House. The building’s lesser green broadbills closedout breeding season with three new arrivals, the second consecutivesummer in which the breeding pair bore chicks.

At the Kovler Penguin/Seabird House, a common murre chickthat hatched June 4 had a peculiar problem—a gaggle of potentialcaretakers. When the little one left the nest it was pestered by sixadults eager to help feed it smelt.

Just down the path, in the Penguin Area, a pair of rockhopperpenguin chicks hatched in mid-July. Both eggs belonged to onebreeding pair, but one was planted with a foster couple, whichincubated the egg until hatching. Both sets of parents (biologicaland foster) reared the little birds wonderfully.

Thankfully Routine In what has become wonderfully pre-

dictable, the trumpeter swan pair at the HopeB. McCormick Swan Pond produced anotherchick this spring. After reaching maturity,

the chick will be released to itsnative lands in Iowa, making

it the 32nd trumpeterswan chick returned to

the wild through a rein-troduction program super-

vised by the Iowa Departmentof Natural Resources.

In The Pink Regular visitors to the Flamingo Habitat might have noticed

something unusual in early July—five of the big, pink birds, whichnormally scamper through their muddy yard and scour the poolsfor food, were sitting still. Sitting pretty, you might say. Keepers andcurators, meanwhile, could hardly contain themselves.

The reason? Eggs. The first appearance of flamingo eggs in thehistory of Lincoln Park Zoo. The initial egg was laid in late June. Itcracked soon after—a common occurrence with these birds. But inthe following weeks, a dozen more eggs appeared.

“Flamingos do everything together, from courtship to egg-lay-ing,” explains Zoological Manager Elizabeth Bruccoleri, who addsthat recent renovations to the habitat have made the exhibit smaller(making the birds feel more secure) and muddier (making it easi-er to build nest mounds), thus more conducive to reproduction.

16 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

ReadyField BY JAMES SEIDLER

New Tools for Wild ResearchIn Africa, there’s no shortage of plans to conserve the conti-

nent’s wildlife. Park managers, field researchers and governmentcommittees are all adept at developing ideas to save African wilddogs or encourage the growth of the black rhinoceros population.

But while coming up with conservation ideas is easy, determin-ing whether these ideas work is much more difficult. Evaluatingthe outcome of a reintroduction or translocation program cantake years. Time is rarely a luxury for endangered species.

New field tests developed by Lincoln Park ZooEndocrinologist Rachel Santymire, Ph.D., hold the promise ofproviding real-time feedback on efforts to preserve populations inperil. By enabling easy, field-ready analyses of stress and repro-ductive hormones, Santymire and her colleagues at the DaveeCenter for Epidemiology and Endocrinology are providing aneffective way to evaluate conservation efforts. By evaluating ani-mals at Lincoln Park Zoo to validate her tests, the scientist isproviding an important link between zoo populations and theirendangered cousins, one that will help both to thrive.

Science, Hold the IceThe boundaries of Serengeti National Park are fluid ones,

with wild animals, domestic cattle and local villages overlap-ping. This can lead to conflict, such as when African wild dogs—severely endangered predators—attack cattle that local herdersrely on for their livelihood. To reduce the risk of reprisal, conser-vationists in the area seek to relocate wild dog packs that areharassing cattle to within Serengeti National Park.

It sounds like a win-win situation—the dogs find new prey,and the cattle are safer—but researchers want to ensure that theprocess of moving the wild dogs into the park doesn’t overlystress the dogs. One way to test this is to monitor the carnivores’stress hormones before, during and after the translocation. Ifthey return to their pre-move stress levels with no long-termeffects, that’s a positive sign for the conservation plan.

There’s one issue with the idea, though. You can find manythings on the plains of the Serengeti—lions, wildebeest, ele-phants—but freezers typically aren’t one of them.

Right: Endangered species such as African wild dogs (top) and black rhi-

nos (bottom) will receive a boost from the field endocrinology kits devel-

oped by Endocrinologist Rachel Santymire, Ph.D. By enabling real-time

results in the field, the kits will improve efforts to conserve these species.

FALL 2008 17

Why’s that a problem? Well, hormones are typical-ly extracted from feces, and feces need to be put on icewithin 12 hours to provide usable data. Since field sci-entists often spend days at a time traveling throughthe bush, sans icebox, it’s easy to see how samplesmight be lacking.

To make the project work, Santymire knew shehad to find a way to take ice out of the equation.And so, using feces collected from the African wilddogs at Regenstein African Journey as a startingpoint, she did just that.

“We wanted to get rid of the ice, and we also want-ed a long shelf life so researchers could mail samplesto us from Africa,” says the scientist. With some trialand error (and a few contributions from the zoo’swild dogs), Santymire came up with a process suitedto life in the wild.

Here’s how it works: researchers collect feces,measure out a small amount and mix them in an ethanol solution.The liquid is then poured through filter paper, straining out leftoverwaste and allowing the hormones to pass into a test tube. After theethanol evaporates, the tubes are capped and shipped to Santymire’slab, where dried hormones clinging to the test tube walls can be resus-pended and analyzed. No liquid, no ice, no problem.

By enabling analyses of samples collected in the wild, Santymirecan help quantify the conservation impact of transporting the dogs.At the same time, Santymire’s method also gives researchers anoth-er tool for studying African wild dogs’ famously complex socialgroups. Wild dogs observe a strict hierarchy. The leaders—an alphamale and alpha female—don’t allow other group members to pro-duce pups. Instead, lower-ranking dogs help feed, care for and pro-tect the dominant animals’ offspring.

By monitoring reproductive hormones in the field, Santymireand collaborators can learn how breeding cycles might impactgroup dynamics. They can also study how stress levels relate to anindividual’s position within the group hierarchy. Do alpha dogsexperience more stress? Does anxiety increase as dogs try to worktheir way up within the structure? Hormonal analysis could shedlight on these questions, aiding conservation decisions in the wildand improving zoo efforts to enhance animal well-being.

“These surveys offer an unprecedented look into what’s going onin the wild,” says Vice President of Conservation & Science DominicTravis, D.V.M. “Before, there was no way to get this kind of data in atimely manner. By enabling easy analysis of field samples, Rachel isexpanding opportunities to study wildlife.”

Reviewing the Rhino RecoveryAnother site where endocrinology is aiding conservation is South

Africa’s Addo National Elephant Park, where Santymire and colleaguesare collaborating with local researchers to study the black rhinocerospopulation. Black rhinos are endangered; their population plummet-ed from 65,000 individuals in 1970 to only 2,000 in 1995. Intensivehusbandry efforts have raised that number to approximately 4,000 rhi-nos today, but the species’ status remains precarious.

To boost the recovery, researchers want to learn more about thefactors influencing rhino reproduction. Addo National ElephantPark provides an ideal learning laboratory. Rhinos there populatethree distinct sections in the park—Addo, Nyathi and Darlington—covering more than 80,000 acres.

Each of the sites varies in factors that might impact breeding:human presence, competition with elephants for resources and thepredation of calves by lions and hyenas. The Darlington site, whichhas the shortest interval between births, also has the fewest touristsand no elephants, lions or hyenas—all potential stressors. By study-ing stress and reproductive hormones, Santymire hopes to deter-mine how all of these factors are linked. “Rhinos are very shy—zoostudies have shown that breeding can easily be disturbed,” says thescientist. “By monitoring hormones, we hope to break down howthese environmental factors influence reproduction, thus aidingconservation management.”

To look at the link between stress and reproduction, Santymire isdeveloping a field-testing kit that will enable researchers to conductanalyses on the spot. Again a zoo animal—this time the black rhi-noceros at Regenstein African Journey—is playing a crucial role inhelping his counterparts in the wild. By surveying his hormones,Santymire can validate her procedure before sending it to the field.

Once the test is ready for the wild, Santymire’s collaborators willevaluate male rhinos’ testosterone levels to see if they vary seasonally—valuable information for breeding. They will also determine basicbreeding information for the species, such as the age at whichfemales become reproductively active and the duration of infertilityfollowing a pregnancy.

“These answers were made possible by research conducted atzoos,” says Santymire. “By using the zoo’s animal collection to designtools for the field, we’re able to really evaluate the impact of our con-servation efforts.” <<

Above: Sanytmire’s field methods will enable snapshots of animal well-being

in locales as remote as South Africa’s Addo National Elephant Park (top) and

Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.

18 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Amphibian EatsIt’s an archetypal image of frogs, common in time-lapse pho-

tography and children’s cartoons: the mouth opens, the tongueshoots out and an insect snared at the sticky end is dragged in fora meal.

The truth at Lincoln Park Zoo isn’t quite so picturesque. Thefrogs and other amphibians that live here don’t rely solely onextendable taste buds to snare their meals. Instead, amphibians atRegenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House (SMRH) and thePritzker Family Children’s Zoo focus on getting close enough toprey to grab it with their mouths (a sticky tongue helps secure themeal, but it serves as more of a scoop than a lasso).

There are some differences in approach. The emperor newts atSMRH prefer to stalk their meals, slowly approaching their mainprey—crickets—before grabbing them. The neighboring SolomonIsland leaf frogs use their camouflaged coloration to stage anambush, burying themselves in the substrate of their exhibit andgobbling up any insect unlucky enough to walk by.

While these species pounce on their food, many of the zoo’samphibians are hand-fed to ensure a nutritious diet. “Lots of ourfrogs live in large groups, so we feed them individually to makesure dominant individuals don’t take more than their share,” saysZoological Manager Dan Boehm. The gray tree frogs at theChildren’s Zoo enjoy top-notch service: their daily diet of one–twocrickets is deposited directly into their mouths.

Even hand-fed amphibians need extra attention to make sure theyget all of their nutrients. Frogs, newts and other slick species are vul-nerable to calcium deficiencies, which can lead to problems withbone development. To ensure these animals have strong legs to hopon, keepers feed them crickets that have received a specially supple-mented diet. Phoenix worms, an invertebrate naturally high in calci-um, have also been added to the menu. Refined care such as this iscrucial to zoo efforts to help endangered amphibians rebound duringthe Association of Zoos and Aquariums Year of the Frog.

Whatever the amphibians eat, their diets share one commoncharacteristic. “The prey items need to be moving,” says Boehm. “Ifit’s not moving, they don’t recognize it as food.”

amazing adaptations( )

The gray tree frogs at the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo (left) are hand-fed their daily diet while Solomon Island leaf frogs (top) and emperor newts

(bottom) at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House use camouflage and sneakiness to snare prey.

FALL 2008 19

Arabian oryxOryx leucoryx

The favored activities for the zoo’s Arabianoryx can be summed up as follows: chew (as ingrass or hay) or charge. Not that there’s anyaggression shown by the geriatric antelope livingin adjacent exhibits in the Antelope & Zebra Area.The two graybeards have mellowed with age,becoming much more tolerant of keepers andneighboring animals.

Hang an enrichment barrel or ball from one ofthe trees in their exhibit, though, as keepers do topromote physical activity, and you’ll see a differentside of the endangered desert dwellers. Loweringtheir heads to brandish long, thin horns, the oryxcharge the offending object again and again, notstopping until it’s thoroughly battered.

What makes the animals’ energetic displayseven more impressive is their age. The hoofedpair are more than 15 years old—geriatric for thisspecies. To help these aged animals retain theirhigh activity levels, keepers provide a lot of extraattention. “Older animals are more sensitive, sowe really monitor them to ensure their comfort,”says Keeper Angie Adkin.

Other accommodations to age include jointsupplements to stave off arthritis, a commonaffliction for hoofed animals (which spend mostof their lives on four feet). Large straw bedsenable the animals to opt for extra cushioningwhile supplemental heat lamps and heat pads givethem something warm to cozy up to in their cli-mate-controlled stalls during winter months.Specially designed diets help them keep onweight, with extra fat and calories supplementingthe typical grazer grub of alfalfa hay.

“Everyone collaborates in caring for them,from keepers to curators, veterinary staff and thenutritionist,” says Adkin. “It takes a patient eyeand a little more time, but it’s worth it.”

field note( )

20 LINCOLN PARK ZOO20 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Writing the Book on AgingWhile keepers and veterinarians adjust care to accommodate

animals as they age, scientists at Lincoln Park Zoo are conductingresearch to better understand how animals age. At the forefront ofthese efforts are studies by Curator of Primates Sue Margulis,Ph.D., and Research Associate Sylvia Atsalis, Ph.D.

By examining hormone levels and reproductive histories forgorillas in zoos throughout the Association of Zoos andAquariums, Margulis and Atsalis have previously demonstratedthat these great apes can experience menopause, a developmentonce thought to be limited to humans. The scientists hope toextend their studies to encompass reproductive aging in primatesranging from titi monkeys to chimpanzees.

As part of these efforts, Atsalis, with assistance from Margulis andPatrick Hof from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, organized andedited a book compiling reproductive research for a range of simianspecies. “Primate Reproductive Aging: Cross-taxon Perspectives”gathers knowledge from scientists investigating reproductive aging inlemurs, marmosets, tamarins, squirrel monkeys, macaques, langurs,leaf monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans and more.

“Our goal was to have information for a range of primatespecies gathered in one place,” says Atsalis. “We can see how repro-ductive aging changes as you progress from lemurs to humans. Byinvestigating the differences and similarities, we can begin toapproach this from an evolutionary perspective.”

While many primate species show a reproductive decline asthey age, the scientists found the tendency was more pronouncedas they moved from prosimians to apes. Indeed, select species of

Old World monkeys, as well as chimpanzees, orangutans and goril-las, showed signs of a post-reproductive period. More research isneeded to determine whether these animals undergo menopause,but by gathering the current state-of-knowledge in one place,Atsalis and Margulis hope to inspire other researchers to investi-gate questions of age and reproduction.

“A lot of this data may already exist,” says Margulis. “There arescientists studying hormones and reproductive patterns, but theymay not have applied their data in the context of aging. We hopethe book will spur them to begin considering these questions.”

A New Look for a Chicago LandmarkIt may look new, but Carlson Cottage has stood between Café

Brauer and the Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented by John Deere since1888, making it one of the oldest buildings in Lincoln Park.Designed by noted architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee, a mentor toFrank Lloyd Wright, the structure originally served as the park’sMen’s and Ladies’ Comfort Station. Over the years, the buildingcame to host Lincoln Park Zoo’s Volunteer Gardening Program,providing a storage space for rakes, shovels and hoes and a restingplace for people volunteering their time to beautify zoo grounds.

The building showed its age over time, with small changesdiluting the impact of the original Victorian design. Windows wereblocked off with interior walls, the cedar roof was replaced withasphalt shingles and more than a century of use had begun toundermine the structure. “It was in danger of becoming an eye-sore,” says Vice President of Facilities Neal David.

Even as it showed wear, the historic merit of the building was

Above, left-to-right: Expanding their studies to include species such as grey titi monkeys is the next step for zoo scientists Sylvia Atsalis, Ph.D., andSue Margulis, Ph.D., after writing the book on primate reproductive aging. An extensive rehabilitation project helped Carlson Cottage recapture itsoriginal landmark look.

news of the zoo( )

FALL 2008 21

widely recognized. Carlson Cottage had played a role in LincolnPark’s 1994 designation as a Landmark District by the NationalRegister of Historic Places. The building itself was designated aChicago landmark by the city council in 2003. Finally, in 2006, thezoo was awarded a $250,000 grant from the federal “Save America’sTreasures” program to assist the building’s historic renovation.

With additional funding from the Illinois Department ofCommerce and Economic Opportunity, State Representative SaraFeigenholtz, Tawani Foundation and the Richard E. DriehausFoundation, the historic restoration, led by architect PaulSteinbrecher of InterActive Design Inc., was completed in spring2008. The restoration completely renovated the building’s interior,replacing the plumbing, wiring and ventilation.

Outside, the exterior was carefully restored in a manner appro-priate to the original design. Leaving original materials in placewhenever possible, builders installed replica doors, windows, roofornaments and drain spouts and re-created the cedar-shingled roofbased on fragmants of the original found in the attic.

Interestingly, the work revealed that the north end of the build-ing, thought to be part of the original construction, was actuallyadded on 20 years later. As the north end held the original men’sroom, this means the building served solely as a Ladies’ ComfortStation for its first two decades of operation.

For its diligence in restoring the building, Lincoln Park Zoo wasawarded a 2008 Chicago Landmark Award for PreservationExcellence by the City of Chicago. “Carlson Cottage reflects LincolnPark’s long and prestigious history,” says David. “We’re proud tohave organized its rehabilitation.”

Trying Out ToolsOnce thought to be limited to humans, tool use has been

observed throughout the animal kingdom, most notably among ourprimate cousins. Chimpanzees use sticks to “fish” termites out ofmounds and leaves to soak up drinking water from tree holes.Gorillas have been observed using branches to probe the depths ofswamps, and members of the New and Old World monkey familieshave shown evidence of tool use as well.

With this manipulation in mind, University of Chicago master’sstudent Kirk Manson thought it might be a good idea to test thetool-use ability of the zoo’s white-cheeked gibbons. After enlistingCurator of Primates Sue Margulis, Ph.D., as a collaborator, he devel-oped an experiment in which the gibbons would insert a stick into acylinder to extract food—much like chimpanzee termite fishing.The response was underwhelming. “They absolutely, positivelycould not do it,” says Margulis.

Reasoning that gibbons wouldn’t need to extract food from tightspots in the wild—they feed on fruits and leaves in their native Laosand Vietnam—Manson and Margulis devised another experiment.Working with high school student Claire Weichselbaum, from theUniversity of Chicago Laboratory School, Margulis presented theapes with another food-bearing device. The tip of a T-shaped appa-ratus was placed through the mesh of their exhibit, with raisins andapples placed on the other end. By pulling on the bottom of theobject, the gibbons could bring the food within reach.

And they did—most of the time. In the four-member group,the youngest gibbon was most adept, but his father and olderbrother showed some success as well. Even when presented withtwo devices—one with food and one without—the youngest gib-bon was able to select the right one much of the time.

While the experiment doesn’t show definitive tool-use ability,Margulis may follow up with explorations of other residents ofthe Helen Brach Primate House. “These are exciting results,” saysthe scientist. “It’ll be interesting to explore the possibilities.”

A Zoo LossLincoln Park Zoo mourns the loss of Regenstein Small

Mammal-Reptile House Keeper Ken Terrill, who passedaway in June. An 18-year veteran of the zoo—and a life-long lover of animals—Terrill was known for his wide-ranging interests and dedication to wildlife. His skill atnatural-exhibit design enlivened habitats throughoutRegenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House and was evenput to use by zoo scientists in the Republic of Congo tocamouflage poacher-detection devices.

Outside the zoo, Terrill raised and judged koi as amember of the American Goldfish Association, where hisefforts won a number of major awards. He enjoyed grow-ing grapes to make his own wine, creating art and tellingstories about his travels.

“Ken was one of those rare individuals who not onlysaw what was wrong with things around him—he also hadan amazing ability to come up with ways to make themright. He will be missed,” says Curator Diane Mulkerin.

22 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

If you stuck around long enough, you’d have noticed how the 6-year-olds attending the Animal Habitats camp could determinewhich primates are Old World (from Africa) or New World (fromSouth America). You’d have seen the 8-year-olds creating bargraphs based on data they’d collected while studying gibbons.You’d have observed 4-year-olds displaying an articulate under-standing of worm physiology.

Minds were illuminated at Lincoln Park Zoo’s Summer Camp,where some 420 little scientists split time between laughing andlearning.

“We host Summer Camps to get kids excited about conserva-tion,” says Jenni Quick, coordinator of the camps that ran fromJune through August. “Kids often hear about global climate change,animals going extinct, species being saved, but they want to knowwhat they can do about it. We want them to see that, even thoughthey’re young, kids can make a difference, too.”

Launched in the summer of 2007, Lincoln Park Zoo’s conserva-tion-themed Summer Camp was such a hit that the 2008 version

offered even more experiences for attendees ages 2–16. EducationDepartment staffers and Chicago Public School teachers led eachcamp, assisted by college and grad students pursuing degrees ineducation and science, along with high school interns recruitedfrom Chicago’s After School Matters program.

All Ages, All Interests The older kids kicked off camp in late June with Conservation

Careers, two weeklong programs where teens (13–15) met animalkeepers, veterinarians and researchers and worked with staff mem-bers from the Jane Goodall Institute to discover ways to implementconservation initiatives in their own communities. “This programappeals to kids who are considering a future in animal husbandryor wildlife conservation,” explains Quick. “It’s a little moreadvanced than the programs for the younger campers.”

In July, the younger set took over Summer Camp. Here’s a lookat three groups during a typical (wild) afternoon.

Summer Campers Learn While LaughingThere was serious science education taking place at Lincoln Park Zoo’s Summer Camp, though you had to

look past the giggles and songs, the snacks and somersaults, the fact that the scientists-in-training were wear-

ing pink sandals and green T-shirts, pigtails and Cubs caps.

Scientists in SandalsBY CHRIS MCNAMARA

Animal Habitats Jim Ford calls his two-dozen students “habitat heroes.” He

admits that the short attention spans of the 6- and 7-year-olds cansometimes be challenging. But their enthusiasm is infectious asthey scamper from the howler monkey exhibit within the HelenBrach Primate House to the drill exhibit, pausing to inspect thepenny-imprinting machine and the photo booth.

At each exhibit, Ford, who teaches high school biology, wouldprompt his campers to observe how the animals related to lessonsthey’d learned in the classroom that morning. Most of the kidsresponded correctly to questions about animal physiology and behav-ior. A few were too busy singing songs or impersonating monkeys.

“Leah attended Conservation Camp last year and enjoyed itvery much. She loves animals,” says Julia Antonatos, mother of oneof the 6-year-olds. “We play a game where we try to guess whichhabitat she’ll be studying each day. Each night she shows us thecrafts she made that day.”

Vets-N-Pets Within the Judy Keller Education Center, instructor Susan

Holly is at a dry-erase board showing the 8- and 9-year-oldcampers how to create bar graphs. They use colored pencils andpaper to create their own. The data was culled during a tour of theHelen Brach Primate House that morning and is now being transformed into a usable chart. Parents could check on their chil-dren’s progress at vetsandpetslpz.blogspot.com, which was filledwith text and photos from each day.

Jennie Florness didn’t need to check it, since her son David, 9,recounted all of the day’s activities as soon as she picked him up.Veterans of zoo camps in their native Minnesota, the Florness clanspent two weeks in a rented condo in Chicago so David and Peter(10) could attend camp. “Our kids are obsessed with animals,” says

mom. “David has the scientific mind—he wants to know every-thing about them. Peter will be a veterinarian or zookeeper.”

Bugs!During the first hour of Bugs!, the 4-year-olds venture out into

the zoo to unearth worms while a docent details the unique physiol-ogy of the slimy invertebrates. As with the other animals they meet,most campers touch the pink wigglers and giggle. Ainsley King is thelone holdout. “I’m going to observe from afar,” she declares.

She’s much more involved during “circle time,” when EarlyChildhood Program Coordinator Irene Martinez asks her charges(she calls them “bug kids”) to describe worms. They shout “Wormsdon’t have eyes!” “Worms don’t have arms!”

Next the 4-year-olds make bug hats with pipe-cleaner antennae.Then it’s snack time, when the knee-high campers chat about bugswith one another. When it’s time to say goodbye, the kids do so bymaking antennae with their hands and wiggling them.

“This program gives children hands-on experiences withwildlife, which they link with their observations and lessons,” saysMartinez. “They learn that these types of things are right in theirbackyard, too.”

“She is very excited about camp,” says Amy Hamilton, mother oflittle Ainsley. “She comes home beaming with what she’s learned.”

A Laughing LabAnimal observations are complemented by giggles and games

of tag. Data aggregation comes after snack time. Play is a learningtool.

This isn’t a science lab, but something much more fitting forpint-sized conservationists. Frankly, it’s much more fun. LincolnPark Zoo Summer Camp is a living lab of lions and gibbons andgorillas, operated by hundreds of wee, wild scientists. <<

Opposite: With fellow campers around her, 6-year-old Leah Antonatos (center) listens carefully as a docent explains the intricacies of animal habi-

tats at the zoo. Below: Campers set off to explore the habitats of the Kovler Lion House, from high to low.

CONSERVING the CongoGetting to the Goualougo Triangle, the isolated field-research site of Lincoln Park Zoo Research Fellow David Morgan, Ph.D., involves the kind of journey thatwould be at home in an old adventure serial. From Chicago, you fly over the Atlantic to Paris; the next day features a jaunt to Brazzaville, capital of the Republicof the Congo. From there, you fly to Ouesso, where you embark upon a boat trip to Nouabale-Ndoki National Park headquarters (picture a red line snaking itsway across the map). You transfer to a smaller canoe, paddle further into the jungle and finally step onto the shore at the park’s Mbeli Bai camp, where a six-hour hike into the protected wilderness area of the Goualougo Triangle awaits.

FALL 2008 25

The very isolation of the Triangle is what makes it so interest-ing. The 95,000-acre region, which came to prominence duringbiologist Mike Fay’s 1999 Megatransect across Africa, is largelyuntouched, holding elephants, western lowland gorillas and chim-panzees, many of whom have never come into contact withhumans. It may be the most intact landscape in Africa. By studyingthis pristine place, scientists can gain a baseline for guiding conser-vation decisions across Africa.

The same old-growth forest that inspires scientists is alsoextremely valuable to loggers, however. While the GoualougoTriangle and Nouabale-Ndoki National Park are protected lands,nearby forests that provide resources to wildlife are being felled.The tension between research and resource extraction hasincreased the urgency of studying the region’s diversity.

As the first logging commenced in 1999, Morgan, now co-director of the Goualougo Triangle Chimpanzee Research Projectthrough the zoo’s Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study andConservation of Apes, began conducting a survey of the region’smammals. Chimpanzees, western lowland gorillas and forest elephants were the primary focus, although the wildlife

observed included leopards, buffalo, sitatunga, crocodiles andeven electric fish.

All of these species were on the minds of Lincoln Park Zooresearchers Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D., and Dominic Travis,D.V.M., as they traveled to the field site in April. “The area is hometo some amazing wildlife,” says Travis, the zoo’s vice president ofConservation & Science. “You can’t help but see some pretty spec-tacular species.”

Travis and Lonsdorf, the director of the Lester E. Fisher Centerfor the Study and Conservation of Apes, had traveled to theGoualougo Triangle to assess Morgan’s research firsthand. LincolnPark Zoo has supported research in the area since giving the proj-ect a small field conservation grant in 2003. When the FisherCenter sought to expand its conservation programs to includegorillas, the Goualougo Triangle immediately came to mind. “Wealready had a connection with this exciting conservation projectimpacting chimpanzees and gorillas, so it made sense to expandthe relationship,” says Lonsdorf.

As Lonsdorf and Travis discovered, Morgan’s well-equippedfield headquarters maintains a low impact on the pristine land-

scape surrounding it. Living quarters, labs, offices and a kitchenand dining area are constructed from tents, tarps, branches andmud bases. Solar panels power laptops and equipment, and all foodand supplies are brought in via the same tortuous path traveled byLonsdorf and Travis (garbage is trekked out on the return voyage).

Morgan shares the camp with field researcher Crickette Sanz,Ph.D., of the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology; thepair are engaged. There’s also an impressive staff of Congoleseresearchers and assistants, including a team of 30 Biaka pygmies whouse their knowledge of nature to guide researchers through the forest.

Clockwise from upper left: The Goualougo Triangle’s pristine forest is

home to a wide variety of wildlife. Getting there involves an arduous

journey, including paddles by canoe and a six-hour hike, much of which

is through water. Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D., director of the Lester E.

Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes and Dominic

Travis, D.V.M., vice president of Conservation & Science, with the Biaka

pygmies who help guide researchers through the forest. The research

camp of Lincoln Park Zoo Research Fellow David Morgan, Ph.D., has a

low impact on its surroundings, with plank walkways and mud-based

tents. Travis, project collaborator Tom Gillespie, Ph.D., Lonsdorf and

Morgan set out to survey the region’s chimpanzees and gorillas.

These resources are dedicated to a broad array of projects. Theforemost question the researchers are trying to answer is whetherapes are impacted by logging taking place in non-protected areassurrounding the park. From a conservation standpoint, the loggingisn’t a total negative. Loggers have been convinced to eschewdestructive clear-cutting for a less-invasive selective-logging process.Scouting teams enter the forest and mark a few select trees forremoval; these trees are then cut down and sold for timber.

By monitoring chimpanzee movement, Morgan and his crewcan evaluate the ultimate impact of selective logging. The scien-tists’ long-term presence at the site will enable them to comparedata collected before, during and after logging—a rare resource forresearchers. Behavioral data from nearby protected areas will offera control against which to measure the impact of logging on apes.The early results show that increased human presence leads todecreased ape distribution—chimpanzees and gorillas range lesswidely, moving away from the human disturbance—but furtherresearch is needed to fully evaluate the impact of the logging.

Luckily, Morgan, Sanz and their collaborators are in place to

gather exactly the data that’s needed. The results will help conserva-tion planners better evaluate, and hopefully mitigate, human impacton fragile ecosystems. By compiling a comprehensive view of alogged landscape, Morgan can strengthen the case of every conser-vationist seeking concessions to protect nature. “This area, one of themost pristine in all of Africa, was almost lost to timber exploitation,”says Morgan. “Now, it can be used to protect other animals thatmight not be as fortunate as to live in a protected area.”

Beyond examining the impact of logging, Morgan and his col-leagues are also surveying the behavior and tool-use of theGoualougo Triangle’s gorillas and chimpanzees. By following apegroups as they move through the wilds of the region and observ-ing how group members interact, manipulate tools and forage forfood, Morgan and his collaborators can increase our understand-ing of these endangered species.

Observations in the Goualougo Triangle complement the zoo’swork with chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park, the siteof Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking research. “It’s exciting, because thesites are so different,” says Lonsdorf. “In Gombe, the chimpanzees

Above, left-to-right: A field station overlooking Mbeli Bai, a research site located en route to the Goualougo Triangle, helps researchers chronicle

the diversity of the wildlife living there. A chimpanzee and her offspring sit in the branches. Below, left-to-right: Lincoln Park Zoo Research Fellow

David Morgan, Ph.D., sketches chimpanzees to help him track and identify them. Jean Robert Ononanga, Vice President of Conservation & Science

Dominic Travis, D.V.M., Director of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D., Morgan and

Crickette Sanz, Ph.D., take a breather at Mbeli Bai.

Monitoring by MachineWhen you’re trying to monitor hundreds of chimpanzees in 95,000

acres of remote rain forest, it’s difficult to be everywhere at once.Luckily, Lincoln Park Zoo Research Fellow David Morgan, Ph.D., andcollaborator Crickette Sanz, Ph.D., have developed tools to help themextend their presence. An array of video cameras distributed through-out the Goualougo Triangle helps them keep tabs on chimpanzees outof eyesight.

There are 18 cameras operating in the massive study area. Eachuses a laser to detect motion; when the projected beam is broken, thecameras begin recording, transmitting the scene back to the scientistsfor review. The footage gathered helps researchers identify individu-als, track associations between chimpanzees and observe tool use—all valuable for mapping chimpanzee cultures.

Another remote-monitoring tool in development is metal-detectorsthat will be installed throughout the Goualougo Triangle and neighbor-ing Nouabale-Ndoki National Park. These devices will help the park’ssmall group of guards monitor for poachers. Due to the area’s isolation,nearly all metal in the park is associated with guards and researchers.When metal from unknown sources is detected, the new devices willautomatically e-mail guards, enabling them to stay a step ahead ofpoachers.

To keep the metal detectors in one piece, it’s important to camouflagethem from prying eyes (both animal and human). Toward this end,Supervisor of Behavioral and Cognitive Research Steve Ross andRegenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House Keeper Ken Terrill collaborat-ed on designing an artificial termite mound to house the metal detectors.The keeper was excited to apply his expertise in naturalistic exhibitdesign to the project, which is now undergoing testing in the field. Sadly,Terrill passed away in June 2008. “Without Ken, we wouldn’t have beenable to help Dave and Crickette with the very important job of camouflag-ing these detection devices,” says Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D., director ofthe Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes. “His contribu-tion will always be appreciated.”

there have been studied since 1960. Their population issmall—only 100 animals—and they’ve had a stronghuman influence. The chimpanzees in Goualougo arealmost entirely naïve to humans, which gives us a newlook into their behaviors.”

The landscapes vary between the sites: Gombe fea-tures punishing hills and patches of grassland and for-est while the Goualougo Triangle features dense foreston flat land, making chimpanzees in the treetopstougher to spot. Perhaps the most interesting difference,however, is that the chimpanzees in the GoualougoTriangle share space with western lowland gorillas (thesame arrangement seen at the zoo’s Regenstein Centerfor African Apes). “This could be another huge influ-ence on their behavior,” says Lonsdorf. “It’s not some-thing we see at Gombe.”

Through their observations, Morgan and his collab-orators have seen some novel behaviors. The chim-panzees in the Goualougo Triangle “fish” termites fromtheir mounds using a two-tool process: a sharp, thinstick is used to punch holes in the termite mound beforefishing begins. (Gombe chimpanzees use their hands forthis task.) Afterwards, much like at Gombe, a long, fineblade of grass is used to probe the termite nest andremove its six-legged inhabitants.

These findings, together with data collected on theimpact of logging, showcase the Goualougo Triangle’svalue as a research site. Back at Lincoln Park Zoo, thevisiting scientists expressed enthusiasm about the workbeing done by Morgan and his colleagues. “The resultsthey’re producing are essential for conservation andresearch,” says Travis. “In an incredibly difficult place,they’re doing amazing conservation work.” <<

Below: Keeper Ken Terrill and Supervisor of Behavioral and Cognitive Research

Steve Ross helped camouflage field cameras used by Morgan to remotely track

chimpanzees. The uncamouflaged camera (left) has been housed within an arti-

ficial termite mound (right, on tree), making it unobtrusive to animals.

28 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

African LionPanthera leo krugeri

In the wild, the aging male Africanlion faces a tough reality—sooner orlater, younger, stronger, more aggressivemales will challenge him. He will ulti-mately succumb to one of these upstartsand be cast out of his own pride, weak-ened, wounded and left to scrape by onhis own until death finds him.

Here at Lincoln Park Zoo, Adelor’sslide into the golden years is much morepleasant. At 15, his body is holding upnicely thanks to good genes, a scientifi-cally balanced diet and expert veterinarycare. His pride of two females is healthy(and mounted frequently, thank youvery much). And crowds still gasp whenthe king of this urban jungle belts outhis echoing roars.

“Wild male lions generally liveabout 12–15 years, at which time com-petition from other adult male lionscan get too tough,” explains ZoologicalManager of Carnivores Mark Kamhout.“At zoos, a male lion may reach 20years.”

Based on appearances, Adelor isdoing fine. His mane is still thick, as itwill remain. (Lions don’t bald.) Thosefear-inspiring teeth are still strong. His370-pound body remains powerful. “Hespends a little more time sleeping thesedays,” says Kamhout. “But he still hangsout with his females, who are a few yearsyounger than him.”

A few gray hairs are creeping acrossAdelor’s muzzle. But that’s natural,inspiring actually—signs of a kingaging into his crown.

PHOTO BY JOEL POND

field note( )

Give the Gift that Gives Twice—Holiday ADOPTs

This holiday season, present your lovedones with a Holiday ADOPT featuring afennec fox, gorilla, camel or king pen-guin. ADOPTs make great gifts becausethey give twice—once to the recipient

and once to the care and feeding of zooanimals.

Each package is $40 (plus $5 S&H) andincludes a fennec fox, gorilla, camel or kingpenguin plush, personalized ADOPT cer-tificate, animal fact sheet and officialADOPT magnet.

ADOPT packages can be purchased atwww.lpzoo.org, by calling 312-742-2322 oron zoo grounds.

NOVEMBER4, 18 & 25 Tiny Tykes: Ears to Hear9:30 and 11 a.m.Hear that? It’s a lesson on the cool waysbats, Patagonian cavies and klipspringerslisten to their world. (2-year-olds)

5, 12 & 19 Tiny Tykes: Ears to Hear9:30 and 11 a.m.Hear that? It’s a lesson on the cool waysbats, Patagonian cavies and klipspringerslisten to their world. (2-year-olds)

6, 13 & 20 Tiny Tykes: Stock Up Nuts & Build Blubber9:30 and 11 a.m.Learn how black bears, polar bears andbeavers handle harsh winters. (3-year-olds)

15 Bug Club, 9:30 a.m.Discover the wonders of bugs. (Ages 4–6)

28ZooLights Begins, 5–9 p.m. Marvel at more than 1 millionlights, gaze at the laser-lightshow, visit with Santa andwatch ice carvers during thisfree annual event. Membersand their guests are invited to theMembers Lounge inside the Tadpoleroom located on the lower level of ParkPlace Café. ZooLights glows Nov. 28–30;Dec. 5–7, 12–31; Jan. 1–4

DECEMBER2, 9 & 16

Tiny Tykes: Wonderful Wings9:30 and 11 a.m.Learn about some of the zoo’s coolest flyers—laughing kookaburras, snowy owlsand eagles. (2-year-olds)

3, 10 & 17 Tiny Tykes: Wonderful Wings9:30 and 11 a.m.Learn about some of the zoo’s coolest flyers—laughing kookaburras, snowy owlsand eagles. (2-year-olds)

4, 11 & 18 Tiny Tykes: Desert Delights9:30 and 11 a.m.Learn about rattlesnakes, sand cats andsand boas. (3-year-olds)

13 Bug Club, 9:30 a.m.Discover the wonders of bugs. (Ages 4–6)

calendarPrograms and Special Events

)(OCTOBER7, 14 & 21 Tiny Tykes: Comfortable Coverings9:30 and 11 a.m.Uncover the unique coverings of snakes, turtles and fish. (2-year-olds)

8, 15 & 22 Tiny Tykes: Comfortable Coverings9:30 and 11 a.m.Uncover the unique coverings of snakes, turtles and fish. (2-year-olds)

9, 16 & 23 Tiny Tykes: Backyard Buddies9:30 and 11 a.m.They may not be in your backyard, but insome parts of the world skinks, alpacas andwhite-lipped deer roam just outside the window. (3-year-olds)

10 & 17Mis Tres Amigos10 a.m.Learn about the animals that live in PritzkerFamily Children’s Zoo in both English andSpanish. (Ages 2–4 with adult)

18 Bug Club9:30 a.m.Creepy, crawly and cool.Discover the wonders ofbugs. (Ages 4–6)

One Big Family in Nature12:30 p.m.Explore nature with your family. (Ages 4–5)

20 & 27 Sibling Safari9:30 a.m.Calling all brothers and sisters to learn aboutthe amazing animals at the zoo. (9–24 monthswith an adult)

25Spooky Zoo Spectacular 11 a.m.–2 p.m.Hosted by the Auxiliary Board, Spooky ZooSpectacular is an opportunity for children to celebrate Halloween in a free, safe and family-friendly environment. Learn fun facts about the animals in the Spooky ZooEducation Zone, create crafts, collect treatsand party throughout the zoo while donningyour best costume.

The South Pond CampaignMore than $6 million has been raised to

transform the South Pond into an urbanoasis. But additional funds are needed to addnatural shorelines, restore water quality andlandscape the pond’s surroundings with nat-ural prairie plants. This $12 million renova-tion project will provide a refuge for localwildlife and a soothing green space in theheart of the city. Find out how you can helpmake this landscape a reality by contactingthe Development Office at 312-742-2332.

Youare

invited!

Zoo membersreceive a discount on

registration. To register for programs, call

312-742-2053 or visitwww.lpzoo.org.

PO Box 14903Chicago, IL 60614www.lpzoo.org

Non-profitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDLincoln Park Zoo

Your membership supports everything we

do, from animal care to publishing Lincoln

Park Zoo magazine. Thank you.

November Open House at RegensteinSmall Mammal-Reptile House

You’re invited to exclusively experience the most diverse

house at the zoo. Join us for the members-only open house

at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House on Nov. 1, 2, 8

or 9. The facility is open to Household-level members and

above from 10 a.m.–noon. Enjoy special animal encounters,

cool crafts for the kids and learn the inside scoop on the

varied residents of Small Mammal-Reptile House. Call the

Membership Hotline at 312-742-2322 to register for this spe-

cial event. Tickets are $8 for adults and children over 5; kids

5 and younger are free.

membership matters)(