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A Message from...

A Joint Message from the President of the Board and the Executive Director for the Friendsof the Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Not too long ago, while on zoo grounds, we overheard a little girl telling her mother,“This is going to be the best day EVER!”

On behalf of the staff, volunteers, animals and guests, we’d like to thank you for helping us deliver on the expectations of the people – including that little girl – whowalk through our doors every day. The projects and programs you’ll read about in thisreport are the things that make the Rosamond Gifford Zoo one of Central New York’spremier attractions.

As part of the Parks for Tomorrow II initiative, we will soon begin construction onthe Pachyderm Pavilion. This new state-of-the-art facility will be more than just a homefor the elephants – it will offer extraordinary opportunities for learning, and promisesunforgettable memories for everyone, continuing the tradition of excellence our visitorsexpect from our zoo.

Thank you for all you’ve done over the past year. We hope you’ll continue supportingus with your memberships, contributions and visits, helping us make a trip to the zoo “the best day ever.”

Sincerely,

Judy Graham Board President, 2008-2009

Janet AgostiniExecutive Director

New Animals

• Mali, one of the zoo’s two female Asian elephants on loan to the African Lion Safari inCambridge, Ontario, gave birth to a healthy malecalf on July 15. The calf was named “Chuck” bythe staff at the African Lion Safari after thedirector of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

• Chelbi and Kamilah, two female sand cats,became residents of the Zoo in June. Sand catsare among the smallest of all the wild cat speciesand are found in arid desert areas throughout theMiddle East.

• Two African hedgehogs, named Boris andHarrison, are a popular addition to the Zoo toYou program because of their unique appearance.They are covered with short spines and whenthreatened, they tuck their legs and head inwardto resemble a small, spiny ball.

• Born on May 22, Stitch the kookaburra was hand raised by the staff after his parents stoppedtaking care of him. Kookaburras can easily be distinguished by their “laughing” call, one of thebest known calls in the animal world, which isused to communicate between family members.

• Four Vietnamese mossy frogs joined the outreach collection. Because of the color and texture of their skin, mossy frogs have amazing camouflaging abilities, which helps keep them hidden from predators in the wild.

• New to the seahorse tank is a porcupine pufferfish.Named for its ability to inflate its body with airor water until it is almost completely spherical,coupled with the fact that its body is covered insharp spines, the porcupine puffer is very wellprotected against predators.

Sand Cats African Hedgehogs Vietnamese Mossy Frogs

Asian Elephants

Kookaburra

Porcupine Pufferfish

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“Your zoo was probably the most enjoyable of many zoos I've visited inthe last 10 years. You all are doing an excellent job!”

Cindy Best, Newark

Attendance

Event Highlights

• The Snow Leopard Soirée, a new fundraiser in2008, was the place to be “spotted” in January.Guests at this black tie optional event enjoyed a cocktail reception and dinner, followed bydancing and silent auction. More importantly,they raised more than $42,000 in support of the Zoo.

• The Association of Zoos and Aquariums declared 2008 as the Year of the Frog in order to help raise awareness of the extinction crisisfacing amphibians worldwide. Through variousactivities and fundraisers, the Friends of the Zoo raised more than $7,900 to assist in frog and amphibian conservation.

• More than 20 species of animals received pumpkins at the annual Squishing of the Squash.Guests enjoyed watching as the animals enjoyeating and playing with the pumpkins at thisgourd-filled gala of fun.

• The great Zoo Boo is a “kooky not spooky” event that allows children and families to haveHalloween fun without fright. Zoo Boo is one ofthe Zoo’s premier family events with dozens ofcharacters, incredible decorations and lots ofchildren dressed in their costumes.

• New this year, the Zoo was proud to host Dream Night, a special evening at the Zoo forchildren who are chronically ill or have specialneeds and their families. Dream Night is aninternational event held on the first Friday inJune at zoos around the world.

• Historically a June event, Brew at the Zoo washeld in August for the first time ever in 2008.The addition of a wine garden and a Zydecoband made the annual event more festive and a good time was had by all.

“I give your zoo a ‘10’ and hope to visit again next year!!!!”Diane Logiudice

Dream Night

Snow Leopard Soirée

Squishing of the Squash

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Zoo to You is a traveling educational program that involves the use of live animals and biofacts (animal related artifacts). Zoo to You is appropriate for all ages, and visits schools, senior centers/residences,community centers, daycare centers, scouts, and other groups.

Zoo Camp is offered for seven weeks in the summer, as well as during winter and spring school breaks. Zoo Camp is for children between the ages of 5-14, and involves Zoo tours, animal demonstrations, and craftsand activities.

Roars and Snores Overnights are a unique opportunity offered to both private groups and the public.Children and their chaperones go on a tour of the Zoo after dark and early in the morning, receive a visitfrom some of our outreach animals, and engage in games and activities. Participants bring their sleeping bags to “camp out” in the classrooms.

Education

“Our 5-year-old son really had a great experience and is already talkingabout zoo camp for next year! Each day he came home with tons of animalfacts to share with the family and so very proud of all the crafts he made.Your counselors are very professional, knowledgeable and really have a knackfor keeping the kids interested and engaged in learning and having fun.”

Christina & James Fuller, Brewerton

11,507Zoo to You programs, participants.364

657Number of kids attending EdZOOcation:

674Number of kids attending camps:

552Number of kids attending overnights:

EdZOOcation provides monthly classes for 3-9 year olds and their parents that focus on a particular Zoo animal or concept each month, and can include behind the scenes visits, a take-home craft, stories, animal demonstrations,and keeper talks.

Zoo Camp: Onondaga Lake Explorers was a camp funded by a grant from the Onondaga Lake Partnership. In order to reach the target population of this camp (children living within thecity of Syracuse), we partnered with the SyracuseDepartment of Parks and Recreation. Camperswere bused from community centers within the city to the Zoo each day. The camp focused on conservation issues concerning the OnondagaLake watershed, with an emphasis on what thecampers could do within their own families andcommunities to help. This unique camp included a number of field trips to areas around OnondagaLake, including Onondaga Lake Park, the Tullyvalley mudboils, and the Metropolitan SyracuseWastewater Treatment Plant.

Camp for children with special needs was a jointproject between the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, theRonald McDonald House Charities of Central NewYork and Familycapped, Inc. Ronald McDonaldHouse Charities of Central New York providedgrant funding for this unique camp; the Zoo workedclosely with Familycapped to design the campexperience and recruit campers to participate. The camp was a huge success, and everyone had a great time!

28Number of campers:

15Number of campers with special needs:

New

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Capital Improvements

Thanks to the generous support of our Friends, we were able to make a number of improvements at theRosamond Gifford Zoo.

• Raised $26,000 and established the Animal Health Care Fund; the first purchase was a portable ultrasoundmachine for use by the veterinary staff.

• To provide our guests with a beautiful place to relax we invested more than $30,000 to replace the picnictables and install pavers throughout the picnic area.

• For the comfort of our guests and staff we invested more than $51,000 and installed a new HVAC system inthe gift shop.

• Enhanced the beauty of the park with several landscaping and horticulture projects throughout the Zoo.

• Painted/renovated several exhibits including the tropical river exhibit (home to the river turtles, caimans and rhinoceros iguana) and fennec fox exhibit.

• Via a grant provided by the Harder Foundation we installed an interactive primate display near the vervet exhibit.

• Completed Phase I of the lion exhibit renovation by replacing the substrate in the exhibit.

• Corrected the erosion problem in the markhor exhibit and installed new feeding stations, giving guests anopportunity to see these majestic animals closer than before.

• Installed airlocks in the Egyptian fruit bat and Prevost squirrel exhibits to increase animal and keeper safety.

• Purchased a squeeze chute for the fossa exhibit to improve husbandry and management.

• In an effort to educate our guests, we installed a digital display in the social building.

• Replaced a number of signs and graphics throughout the park.

Revenue & Expenses

Statement of Operating Finances

2008 2007$ % $ %

Support & RevenueMembership 480,357 30 467,036 20 Retail Operations 694,351 44 679,883 29 Education Program Fees 244,315 15 225,093 10 Contributions 343,586 22 374,925 16 Grants & Sponsorships 62,825 4 60,878 3 Fundraising & Events 137,204 9 104,617 4 Catering & Rental Income 258,151 16 189,457 8 Net change in market

value of investments -771,175 -49 114,181 5 Interest Income 126,717 8 109,209 5

$1,576,331 100% $2,325,279 100%

ExpensesProgram services

Zoo support 906,725 44 720,428 37 Gift shop 162,465 8 184,408 10 Educational programs 236,849 11 231,702 12 Facility rentals/catering 223,881 11 201,451 10

Total program services $1,529,920 74% $1,337,989 69 Supporting services

Management & general 265,392 13 247,196 13 Fundraising 279,304 13 355,935 18

Total supporting services $544,696 26% $603,131 31$2,074,616 100% $1,941,120 100%

Increase in net assets -498,285 384,159 Net assets at beginning of year 3,016,834 2,632,675 Net assets at end of year $2,518,549 $3,016,834

A full set of financial statements, including a report of independent auditors, is available during normal business hours at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Fennec Fox

Egyptian Fruit Bat

Markhor

2008-2009 Board of DirectorsJudy Graham, PresidentRobert Linn, Vice PresidentJonathan Shaw, Immediate Past PresidentAl Gough, TreasurerPatricia C. Higgins, SecretaryKimberly G. Jeffery, Member at Large

Ex Officio:Janet Agostini, Executive DirectorCharles Doyle, Zoo DirectorRobert Geraci, Commissioner of Parks

and Recreation

StaffJanet Agostini, Executive DirectorRose Belanger, Financial ManagerSharon DeGaramo, Gift Shop ManagerNathan Keefe, Director of EducationJames Mahler, Director of Food & BeverageEllen Vaughn, Volunteer CoordinatorLorrell Walter, Director of Public Relations

VolunteersThe Friends of the Zoo could not support the

Zoo to the extent that is does without the services of the volunteers. Volunteers assist the Zoo in avariety of ways, from interacting with guests and taking care of animals, to painting structures andworking in the gardens.

Volunteers at the zoo come from many differentages and backgrounds. Various corporations in the community have assisted with events and other special projects. Additionally, the new zooambassador program increased the number of familymembers volunteering together.

The Zoo’s 497 volunteers spent 27,725 hours atthe Zoo. Their time is valued at $725,830.

Photo Credits: Kate Woodle, Amelia Beamish, Dante Fenolio /Antheca Images / Photoresearchers, African Lion Safari, Jeanette Liddle, Annette Cerrone, Janet Wisneski, Phil Jefferis, Jim Walter, Liz Schmidt & Nate KeefeDesign: Hopko DesignsPrinting: Action Printwear, Inc.

Joanne M. Mahoney, Onondaga County Executive • Robert Geraci, Commissioner of Parks & Recreation • Charles Doyle, Zoo Director

Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet ParkOne Conservation Place • Syracuse, NY 13204Phone: (315) 435-8511 • Fax: (315) 435-8517

e-mail: info@rosamondgiffordzoo.org • web: www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org

James C. BurnsNalisa ClarkDebra DonlonLorne ElderHenry W. FustMichael HamidiCarolyn HofmannKevin HolmquistPhil JefferisWendy JefferisJames Keib

Ms. Tarrie KissaneEdward KochianPamela J. KopielJack LuchsingerJerry MathewsKenneth L. Pacioni Horace H. Smith, Ph.D.Heather SunserMike YounisGlen Zinszer