to save wildlife - minnesota zoomnzoo.org/pdfs/ar16_calendar1617-2.pdf · connect people, animals,...

2016 Report to the Communitywildlifeto save

American Bison — Northern Trail

Connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife.

Connect…People Zoo guests come together as family and friends, watching the antics of the sea otters, the fishing talents of the grizzly

bears, and the playfulness of the snow monkeys and prairie dogs. Guests celebrate birthdays and anniversaries.

Join their classmates on field trips and overnights. And connect with our educators, keepers, and biologists to

learn about animals in our care and those in the wild. These interactions inspire Zoo guests and people we visit

throughout our State to help protect our natural world and take actions that will make a difference for wildlife.

Connect…Animals For children, being in the hospital can be especially rough. It’s unfamiliar. Strangers are everywhere. They miss their family and

friends. They want to be home. And then Zoomobile arrives with an adorable chinchilla with the softest fur imaginable. In that

moment, a child’s worries melt away. It is programs like Zoomobile that provide people of all ages with up-close connections

with animals. It is unique experiences such as these that motivate people to learn, care, and act on behalf of wild animals.

Connect…Natural World Minnesotans love their lakes, rivers, forests, and prairies. We’re anglers and bird watchers, bikers and hikers, boaters and

paddlers. No wonder 1.3 million guests loved coming to the Zoo this past year! They spent time on the Wild Bird Deck on

the Medtronic Minnesota Trail. They climbed, dug, and explored in Hanifl Family Wild Woods. And they joined

the Family Nature Club to safely explore together the wonders of nature. Our Zoo is committed to inspiring all Minnesotans

to get outside and connect with nature. Because we know that to save wildlife, we also must cherish our natural world.

Connect…to Save Wildlife. Three million hours. Since the Minnesota Zoo opened its doors in 1978, Zoo volunteers have spent more than three million hours

engaging, teaching, and inspiring our guests. Thanks to them and so many others, the Minnesota Zoo connects people,

animals, and the natural world to save wildlife. We thank the State of Minnesota and you for making our work possible.

Amur Tiger — Northern Trail

Scientists estimate that fewer than

4,000 tigers remain in the wild. The

Amur tiger subspecies exhibited at

the Minnesota Zoo numbers only

around 500 in the Russian Far East

and neighboring regions of China.

Tigers worldwide are threatened by

poaching, loss of habitat and prey,

tiger-human conflict, and disease.

The Minnesota Zoo is leading efforts

to help secure a future for the Amur

tiger and for all wild tigers. The Tiger

Conservation Campaign, coordinated

by our Vice President for Conservation

Dr. Tara Harris, is a worldwide effort to

raise awareness and dollars for wild

tigers. This past year, the Campaign

raised nearly $200,000 for tiger

conservation and over $650,000

for wild tigers since the Campaign

launched in 2012. Recognizing our

success with tiger conservation,

breeding, management, and research,

the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

(AZA) awarded the Minnesota Zoo the

prestigious Edward H. Bean Award.

As a long-time Board member of both the Minnesota Zoo and Foundation, Jim Mayer has learned about and been involved with just about all areas of our operations – from the management of our 485 acres to the vital work we do to save endangered species. Last year, Jim and his wife Rochelle made a number of gifts to the Zoo, including support for conservation and a matching gift to challenge new donors to give and make a difference.

-Jim Mayer and Rochelle Gunndonor profile

wildlifeto save

january 2017SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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New Year’s Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Adult Night Out

Our World Speaker Series

Asian Wild Horse — Northern Trail

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wildlifeto save

donor profile

February 2017In the late 1960s, the Asian wild

horse disappeared entirely from the

wild. Thankfully, the species survived

in breeding programs, and in recent

decades has been reintroduced

in Mongolia, China, and Ukraine.

Worldwide, the wild population of

Asian wild horses stands at about

500. And at last count, around

80 of those are descendants of

a Minnesota Zoo stallion!

In Mongolia, our Zoo is focusing

conservation efforts in Hustai National

Park where the world’s largest

reintroduced population of 300 horses

continues to face challenges. This

past April, in partnership with the

Smithsonian Conservation Biology

Institute and Hustai National Park,

Zoo staff placed GPS tracking collars

on eight horses to examine their

movements for the next two years. To

support these and other efforts, the Zoo

launched the True Wild Horse Campaign

in 2014 and celebrated the Asian

wild horse at the 2016 annual Beastly

Ball, “Mystical, Magical Mongolia.”

More than 500 guests attended the

event and raised a record-breaking

$595,000 in support of the Zoo’s

conservation and education programs.

Donors John and Suzanne Gappa love the Minnesota Zoo! With their young son, they enjoy exploring the Zoo’s many trails and visiting favorite animals, including the Asian wild horses. As Chair of the 2016 Beastly Ball Committee, Suzanne inspired all of us to put our passion for wildlife into action. The Gappas’ personal support and leadership paved the way for the outstanding success of the 2016 Ball.

-John and Suzanne Gappa

Groundhog Day

Valentine’s Day

Tropical Beach Party Begins

AZUL’s Warm Up in the Wild

Presidents’ Day

African Crested Porcupine — Close Encounters


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Can you imagine? In 2016, the

Minnesota Zoo offered its guests more

than 1,700 different opportunities

to experience wild animals up-close,

thanks to our Close Encounters program.

At Lakeside Terrace and other locations

throughout the Zoo, guests interacted

with zookeepers and observed and

sometimes even touched wild animals.

Our goal is to inspire Zoo guests to

develop a caring attitude and concern

for all animals and the natural world.

It‘s just one way to ensure that we’re all

working together to help save wildlife.

Chimba, an African crested porcupine,

the largest porcupine species in the

world, is one of the stars of the Close

Encounters program. With banded

quills that are white, black and brown,

Chimba is joined by 19 bird, mammal,

reptile, and invertebrate species that

now reside on the second floor of

Discovery Bay. Their new home was

made possible thanks to a more than $1

million gift from a private foundation.

“I love animals and travel,” says Joyce Huff. “I remember coming to the Minnesota Zoo when it opened in 1978, and I have been a member ever since.” Joyce has visited nearly 90 countries around the world and continues to plan new trips in order to view more wild animals in their natural habitats. But she is always happy to come home to Minnesota and see her animal friends such as Chimba at the Minnesota Zoo.

-Joyce Huff

wildlifeto save

march 2017

donor profile

Last Day of Tropical Beach Party

Daylight Saving Time Begins St. Patrick’s Day

First Day of Spring

Adult Night Out


Farm Babies Begins

Piglets — Wells Fargo Family Farm

Minnesota is a leader in farming and

agriculture. Today, Minnesota is fifth

in agricultural production and third in

corn and hog production. And yet, far

too few Minnesotans understand the

role of the family farm or the impact

of agriculture on our State’s economy.

And for some urban dwellers, seeing

a cow or a pig can be just as eye-

opening as seeing a moose or a wolf!

It’s no wonder that the Minnesota

Zoo is committed to the Wells Fargo

Family Farm, a “working” farm that

continues to be one of the most

popular exhibits at the Zoo. In 2016,

more than 750,000 guests visited

the Wells Fargo Family Farm, many of

them in April during the 20th Annual

Farm Babies, which celebrated the

arrival of three calves, 24 goats, 35

piglets, 50 ducklings, and 72 chicks!

When she’s not busy at the Zoo, former Zoo Board Chair Ellie Crosby can usually be found caring for animals on her farm west of the cities. Her interest in the Zoo was sparked by her love of animals, nature, and conservation. As a long-time member of the Board of Trustees, Ellie has been instrumental in transforming the Minnesota Zoo into a conservation leader. Today she serves as a member of the Zoo’s Conservation Committee, helping to shape the Zoo’s future vision for efforts to save wildlife.

-Ellie Crosby

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April 2017

April Fools’ Day

Friends Farm Babies Event

Palm SundayPassover Begins at Sundown Good Friday

Easter

Adult Night Out

Our World Speaker Series Earth Day

Arbor Day29th Annual Beastly Ball

Farm Babies Ends

Sea Turtle — Discovery Bay

All facing potential extinction today

due to poaching and other threats,

sea turtles have been swimming in our

oceans for tens of millions of years.

So the Minnesota Zoo’s own Kemps

Ridley (the most endangered sea turtle)

and green turtles give us a glimpse

of animals whose ancestors swam

the seas at the time of dinosaurs!

In 2016, Zoo guests were transported

back in time at the summer exhibit

Dinosaurs. Featuring 20 life-size,

robotic dinosaurs, the exhibit captivated

Zoo guests by introducing them to such

creatures as the “Horned-faced devil”

(Diabloceratops) and “SuperCroc”

(Sarcosuchus), a giant relative of

crocodiles. While the dinos moved,

hissed and even spit at guests who

visited the exhibit, the dinos also

reminded them of what lived on our

planet some 100 million years ago!

For more than 10 years, employees of The Toro Company have supported the Zoo by volunteering their time to beautify and preserve the many outdoor spaces on the grounds, part of the company’s legacy of giving back to the communities where employees live and work. In 2016, 50 Toro employees helped ready the Zoo for summer, ensuring the grounds and the anticipated Dinosaurs exhibit would open in time for all to enjoy. Thank you, Toro employees!

-the Toro company

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may 2017

Cinco de Mayo

Macy’s Mother’s Day

Adult Night Out


Ramadan Begins at Sundown

Kangaroo Crossing Opens

Memorial Day

Asian Small Clawed Otter — Tropics Trail

Otters are one of the most playful

animals at the Minnesota Zoo. They

love to dig, swim, slide, somersault,

wrestle – in fact, they’re a lot like

the kids who play at Hanifl Family

Wild Woods, the Zoo’s nature-based

play area that encourages kids to

disconnect from technology and

connect with nature instead.

Studies have shown that children spend

as much as seven hours a day with

technology – they’re not getting outside

and discovering nature. At Hanifl Family

Wild Woods, Woodland Adventure, the

Splash Pad, and other places throughout

the Zoo, we encourage children to be

active, explore, and have fun in nature.

That’s just one of the reasons why we

launched Family Nature Club and the

Wild Days of Play, two new Nature

Play programs at the Minnesoa Zoo.

For Chad and Maggie and their two daughters, the Minnesota Zoo is a family affair. Chad serves as a Trustee of the Zoo Foundation Board. Maggie and Chad host cultivation and fund-raising events in their home and this past year at JB Hudson in downtown Minneapolis and the girls have enjoyed Toddler Time, Zoo Camp, and lots of visits to the Minnesota Zoo—sometimes to ride their “very own” wolf on the Conservation Carousel.

-Chad and Maggie Dayton and family

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June 2017

DreamNight AZUL’s Wild Night

Flag Day

Adult Night Out


Butterfly Garden Opens

Cub’s Father’s Day First Day of Summer

Poweshiek Skipperling — Butterfly Conservation, Minnesota Zoo

Most everyone knows the monarch

butterfly, but what about the Dakota

skipper and Poweshiek skipperling?

Once thriving in Minnesota, both

species have nearly disappeared due

to the loss of the tallgrass prairies

and other factors. The Minnesota

Zoo and partners lead efforts to help

save these important pollinators.

Experts recently recommended that

the Zoo launch two “world’s first”

programs: a “headstarting” program

to strengthen Poweshiek skipperling

populations and a “reintroduction”

program to bring Dakota skippers back

to Minnesota prairies. These efforts

have attracted significant support,

receiving awards from Minnesota’s

Environment and Natural Resources

Trust Fund and the Association of Zoos

and Aquariums’ Conservation Grants

Fund. To raise additional funds and

awareness, our young professionals’

organization AZUL partnered with Fair

State Brewing Cooperative to produce

the popular, limited edition Dakota

Skipper Endangered Reserve—a

rare beer to help a rare butterfly!

As a young man in the 1970s, Chuck Koosmann interned with a local architectural firm working to design a new zoo in Apple Valley. How could he have imagined that nearly 40 years later, he would be serving on the Minnesota Zoo Board? After retiring from architecture, Chuck is bringing his career full circle and giving back to an organization he’s loved for years. Chuck and his wife Jill are especially excited to learn about and support conservation efforts, including prairie butterflies, Asian wild horses, and freshwater mussels.

-Chuck and Jill Koosmann

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July 2017Military Family Summer Promotion Begins

Independence Day

Military Family Summer Promotion Ends

Adult Night Out

Trumpeter Swan — Main Lake

The trumpeter swan’s comeback in

Minnesota is a conservation success

story written in part by the Minnesota

Zoo. Once considered extirpated from

the State as a result of over-hunting,

the Zoo worked with the Minnesota

Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

in the early 1980s to help reintroduce

swans back into Minnesota. By 2011,

the Zoo had raised and released 181

swans. Today there are around 17,000

trumpeter swans in Minnesota, including

pairs of birds that return each spring

to nest on the Zoo’s main lake.

On that same lake, Zoo staff and the

Minnesota DNR are working together

to rear and re-populate threatened

and endangered mussels back

into local rivers and streams. Zoo

staff are raising around a thousand

Minnesota-native mussels at the

“mussel conservation cabin” on the

main lake bridge, where guests can

learn how to help save these important

little animals that create healthy and

clean waterways and fish habitats.

Sue and Tom McCarthy have always been “zoo people,” and they have been fortunate enough to visit many zoos around the world. At the Minnesota Zoo, Sue and Tom especially love the Medtronic Minnesota Trail because that’s where they and Zoo guests can learn about the special animals that live nearby. They support the Zoo’s mission to not only provide recreation and education, but to engage in efforts to save wildlife.

-Sue and Tom McCarthy

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august 2017

Brew at the Zoo

Adult Night Out

Tiger Tracks 5k & Kids’ Run

Eid al-Adha Begins at Sundown

White-cheeked Gibbon — Tropics Trail

Long arms, no tails (they’re apes, not

monkeys!), and great calls that make

them distinctly heard along the Tropics

Trail – these are the white-cheeked

gibbons who today are considered

critically-endangered. Their wild

populations may have declined by more

than 80 percent in just 45 years!

At the Minnesota Zoo, we are passionate

about educating people about wild

animals like gibbons and the threats

they face worldwide. And one of the

best ways to do that is through our

education programs that reached

more than 500,000 guests in 2016 on

everything from overnights and school

field trips to courses for adults. One of

our more popular programs is our Zoo

Math and Science (ZOOMS) program

which culminates with the ZOOMS

Design Challenge. Students research,

design, and build prototypes of zoo

exhibits and animal enrichment items,

helping students develop valuable 21st

century skills in science, technology,

engineering, and math (STEM). They

also acquire skills in critical thinking,

collaboration, and communication.

Medtronic Communities Foundation’s support of ZOOMS provides students and teachers with opportunities to apply STEM concepts to real world situations. In 2016, thanks to Medtronic, over 2,000 students and teachers participated in the year-long ZOOMS Design Challenge, culminating in an exhibition for 16 schools and their young designers. Thank you Medtronic Communities Foundation for helping our youth see the Zoo in a whole new way!

-Medtronic Communities Foundation

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september 2017

Labor Day

Butterfly Garden Closes

Grandparent’s Day

Patriot Day/National Day of Service and Remembrance Adult Night Out

Rosh HaShanah Begins at Sundown First Day of Autumn

Yom Kippur Begins at Sundown

Black Rhinos and Rhino Ranger — Namibia, Africa

An estimated three rhinos are killed

each day for their horns. That’s why

the Minnesota Zoo is in Namibia,

working to save the desert black

rhino. In partnership with Save the

Rhino Trust and others, Minnesota

Zoo Conservation Biologist Jeff

Muntifering helps lead one of the most

successful black rhino conservation

efforts in the world at a critical time.

As part of the Rhino Ranger Program that

is coordinated by the Minnesota Zoo,

30–40 rangers from 14 communities

are tracking black rhinos on their

communities’ lands to protect rhinos

from poachers. Over the past year, Rhino

Ranger patrols and rhino sightings have

more than doubled, and rhino poaching

has decreased. In the Kunene Region

where the Zoo works, killing a rhino is

seen as stealing from the community.

We also are helping local communities

develop responsible rhino eco-tourism

enterprises. All these initiatives increase

the value local people place on rhinos

while empowering local communities to

closely track and safeguard their wildlife.

Minnesota Zoo Foundation Trustee, Beastly Ball Chair, wildlife advocate, Zoo traveler, generous donor, and volunteer extraordinaire – this is Sue Johnson who served as a Trustee of the Foundation for eight years. Thanks to friends and donors like Sue and her husband Ray, the Zoo is able to lead and support projects around the world and right here in Minnesota to save endangered wildlife.

-Sue and ray johnson

wildlifeto save

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october 2017

World Animal Day Zoo Crawl

Columbus Day Adult Night Out

Kangaroo Crossing Closes HallZooWeen

HallZooWeen HallZooWeen

HallZooWeen

Halloween

HallZooWeen Members Only

Blue-throated Macaw — Wings Financial World of Birds Show

Soaring hawks, regal bald eagles, and

beautiful macaws are all stars of the

Wings Financial World of Birds Show.

Five critically endangered monk seals

and their trainers greet guests at least

twice a day, helping them learn about

the challenges these seals are facing

in the wild. A wonderland of sharks

and fish enthrall guests in the Tropical

Reef where daily shark feedings and

staff scuba diving remind guests of the

perils facing our world’s coral reefs.

And just where does milk come from? A

favorite for all Zoo guests are the daily

cow milking demonstrations in the dairy

barn at the Wells Fargo Family Farm.

On any given day, activities such as

these are connecting guests to the

animals that reside at the Zoo. We

are sharing stories about where these

animals live in the wild, the foods

they eat, and how zookeepers are

caring for them and ensuring their

welfare. At monthly Animal Play Days,

guests learn from our zookeepers

how they are providing enrichment

activities to keep the animals

mentally and physically strong.

During this past year, Target provided a grant to bring 5,400 third and fifth graders from 79 Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools to the Minnesota Zoo…completely free of charge! On the Zoo Safari program, students receive transportation, lunch, and a hands-on standards-based Zoo Class that aligns with the school curriculum. For many of these students, a Minnesota Zoo Safari field trip is their first and only visit to a zoo! And their 1,080 teachers and chaperones came along too—also courtesy of Target. Thank you Target!

-Target

wildlifeto save

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november 2017

Donor Appreciation Day

Daylight Saving Time Ends Election Day

Veterans Day

Military Family Winter Promotion Begins

Give to the Max Day

Thanksgiving Day

Zoo Closed

Brown Bear — Russia’s Grizzly Coast

Some of our most fun and best

educational experiences are Zoo Camps

for pre-school through adults. In 2016,

nearly 5,400 people participated in

Zoo Camps which included everything

from single-day toddler sessions such

as “Panda Pals” and “Penguin Plunge”

to “BioDiscovery Camp” for 7th to

9th graders to “Animal Training 101”

for adults – just what does it take to

train a 900+ pound bear like Kenai?

Kenai was found in 2006 as an orphan

on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. He was

rescued, and the Alaska Wildlife

Conservation Center took care of him

and two other cubs until Russia’s Grizzly

Coast opened in 2008. Today, Kenai

enjoys a life of good food, special

care, and fun enrichment activities. His

keepers help keep his mind sharp every

day, constantly assessing what Kenai

likes to do most. Balls are one of his

favorites. He loves searching for hidden

treats. And, Kenai is an avid fisher

bear—he loves fishing in his well-stocked

pool. Kenai is also an ambassador for

his species—brown bear populations

are continually threatened by human

encroachment in Alaska and the western

forested regions of the lower 48 states.

Nicknamed “The Bear” in high school by his football teammates, Minnesota Zoo Honorary Trustee Ross Kramer has a special connection with Sadie, Kenai, and Haines. Ross has led efforts to secure State support for the Zoo since the 1980s. Perhaps his biggest achievement for the Zoo was in 2008 when the Zoo received more than $30 million in State funds that helped build our award-winning Russia’s Grizzly Coast.

-Ross Kramer

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December 2017

Hanukkah Begins at Sundown

First Day of Winter

Christmas

Zoo Closed Kwanzaa BeginsNational Visit a Zoo Day

New Year’s Eve


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2016 ANNUAL REPORT PRODUCTION

editorMelissa Parker Lindsay

assistant editorClaire Rossez

graphic designKim Quam

photographersNatalie LeDonnePeter MacMillanJeff MuntiferingCale NordmeyerJohn Oakes

At one time, an estimated 30 to 60 million bison lived in North America, including

throughout Minnesota. But by the late 1800s, only about 1,000 bison remained.

Thankfully, bison have since rebounded but only about 19,000 can be found in

conservation herds—herds with bison that have tested free of cattle genes. To conserve

the American bison, now our country’s national mammal, the Minnesota Zoo teamed

up with Colorado State University to pioneer techniques to safely transplant disease-

free embryos from Yellowstone National Park bison into our herd to strengthen its

genetic diversity. And we are working with the Minnesota DNR to return bison to state

parks. Together, we manage growing conservation herds of bison that reside in two

Minnesota state parks—Blue Mounds and Minneopa—as well as at the Minnesota Zoo.

You help make this happen. You are supporting our conservation work in

Minnesota and around the world. You are helping create life-changing moments

such as when a child touches a snake for the very first time. You are visiting

our Zoo and learning about animals and exploring nature. You are helping

to inspire all Minnesotans to care more and do more on behalf of wildlife.

Thank you for your generous gifts to the Minnesota Zoo. Thank you for helping

us connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife.

wildlifeconnect to save

American Bison — Northern Trail

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