For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo • A Magazine of Conservation and Education • Fall 2009

Making a Modern ZooThe Legacy of the LincolnPark Zoological Society

Continue Your Visit OnlineVisit www.lpzoo.org for LincolnPark Zoo photos, videos andup-to-date info on eventsand animals. You can alsofind us on Facebook!

Volume 7 Number 3 • For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo

IN THIS ISSUE

LINCOLN PARK ZOO MAGAZINE

Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, 312-742-2000,www.lpzoo.org. Lincoln Park Zoo is supported through a public/private partnershipbetween the Chicago Park District and The Lincoln Park Zoological Society. The onlyprivately managed free zoo in the country, Lincoln Park Zoo relies on membership,individual, foundation and corporate support as well as earned revenue.

QUESTIONS?Contact the

Membership Department.Staff are on hand duringnormal business hours—phone 312-742-2322or visit us online atwww.lpzoo.org.

The Start of Something BigLincoln Park Zoo wouldn’t be what it is todaywithout The Lincoln Park Zoological Society.Learn how this group of dedicated supportersprovided the vision for a world-class zoo.

Committing to ConservationZoo field work has evolved far beyond MarlinPerkins’ search for the yeti 50 years ago.Today’s scientists lead global conservation pro-grams, helping to save endangered animals andecosystems.

Mapping the ChangesThe impact of The Lincoln Park ZoologicalSociety can be seen in the changes that have takenplace on zoo grounds over the past 50 years.

Arranging New ArrivalsWhile 50 years ago zoos used to build their collec-tions by removing animals from the wild, todaythey maintain their populations with scientificbreeding plans and collaborative management.

Laying the FoundationThe opening of the Children’s Zoo in 1959 pro-vided kids with a place of their own to experiencewildlife. It also sparked a building boom thattransformed the zoo into today’s state-of-the-artinstitution.

The Evolution of CareVeterinary education, technology and medicinehas evolved over the past 50 years, ensuring bet-ter care for the species that make their home atLincoln Park Zoo.

PerspectivePresident and CEOKevin J. Bell notes howthe success of The Lincoln ParkZoological Society reflects Lincoln ParkZoo’s connection to the community.

The Wild FileThe McCormick Bird House resembles anursery, a young rhino explores her newyard and crops come to harvest at the Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented by John Deere.

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President and CEOKevin J. Bell

Art DirectorPeggy Martin

EditorJames Seidler

PhotographyGreg Neise

Staff WriterChris McNamara

Bringing Education intothe CommunityWhile 1959’s Traveling Zoo brought the zoo intothe city, today’s education programs transportvisitors into a world of wildlife.

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News of the ZooLincoln Park Zoo President and CEOKevinJ. Bell is named chair of the Association ofZoos and Aquariums, the zoo celebratesAZA honors and research in Gombe uncov-ers a new understanding of SIV.

From the ArchivesExperience Lincoln Park Zoo as it was in1959 through the newspaper headlines ofthe era.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Lincoln Park ZoologicalSociety, we’re looking back to 1959 to see how the efforts of thesededicated individuals created the zoo you visit today.

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

We’d Like to Hear fromYou!Send your feedback on this issue of Lincoln Park Zoomagazine to magazine@lpzoo.org.

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perspective A Letter From President and CEO Kevin J. Bell

Even as Lincoln Park Zoo has become a world-class institution, itremains rooted in the community.As zoo scientists travel to SerengetiNational Park to conserve African wildlife, local families come to

enjoy their first encounter with anAfrican lion. As animal care staff adoptthe latest advancements in nutrition andveterinary care, hundreds of Chicago-area students arrive on free field trips tolearn in the city’s living classroom.This connection with the communi-

ty has sustained the zoo throughout itshistory. While countless donors, mem-bers and visitors have helped make thezoo what it is today, this relationship isbest embodied in the legacy of TheLincoln Park Zoological Society.

Founded 50 years ago with the goal of expanding and modern-izing the zoo, the Zoological Society has accomplished much morethan the transformation of zoo grounds. With dedication andvision, this group of advocates has also transformed our concept ofthe zoo, changing it from a park facility that housed animals to aworldwide leader in conservation, education and care.The legacy of the Zoological Society, led for many years by

executive director BarbaraWhitney Carr, is evident in the zoo you

visit today, visible in world-class buildings such as RegensteinCenter for African Apes. The society’s vision sparked the creationof one of the largest zoo-based conservation and science pro-grams in the country. Its dedication to excellence is marked in thezoo’s state-of-the-art animal care and professional educators,keepers and curators.Today, the Zoological Society operates Lincoln Park Zoo, hav-

ing merged with the zoo after leading the institution on the path toprivatization. Simply put, the Society’s inspiration and supportinforms everything that we do.A small group of supporters—people who cared about the zoo

and wanted to see it improve—helped create today’s Lincoln ParkZoo. Their outsized impact underscores how the zoo’s strengthemerges from the community we serve.As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Lincoln Park

Zoological Society, we look back to mark what their vision hasmade possible. At the same time, as we look to the future, we lookto you. It is your support that will ensure our future legacy, help-ing Lincoln Park Zoo as it continues to grow, change and improve.

The Legacy of The Lincoln Park Zoological Society

Kevin J. BellPresident and CEO

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When asked what propelled the transformation of LincolnPark Zoo from a collection of animals to the scientific institu-tion it is today, Barbara Whitney Carr’s response is simple.“Chicago deserved to have a zoo that was a leader in its field,”

says the woman who served as executive director of The LincolnPark Zoological Society for 20 years. “We had to be an oasis offine architecture, beautiful gardens, an exemplary animal collec-tion that was well cared for and taught people to take care ofanimals. This had to be one of the finest zoos in America.”That vision, that mandate, has come to fruition in this ark in

the park. And at this 50th anniversary of the founding of theZoological Society, we can look back with clarity at a collectionof concerned individuals—and one woman in particular—whoformed an alliance with Dr. Fisher to spur and guide the evolu-tion of Lincoln Park Zoo.

Raising Funds, Elevating ExpectationsSince its inception in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo had been man-

aged by the Chicago Park District, but in 1959, a group of about300 local zoo lovers decided that a formal organization wasneeded to raise funds for the zoo, to sharpen the focus on con-servation, to elevate the concept of what a zoo could be. So theyfounded The Lincoln Park Zoological Society to act as an ancil-lary body to the zoo.“There was no organized fundraising prior to the formation

of the Zoological Society,” explains Troy Baresel, senior vicepresident of operations and chief financial officer of LincolnPark Zoo. “In terms of finances, the Park District treated the zoojust like another department.”That changed in a hurry. In 1962, the Zoological Society

launched its first fundraising campaign, coinciding with theappointment of Dr. Lester E. Fisher as Zoo Director. Ultimately$115,000 was raised and the Farm-in-the-Zoo’s barn doorsopened in 1964.Other successes followed. Buildings were renovated and pro-

grams were launched. In 1971, Shirley Ryan (wife of ZoologicalSociety member Patrick Ryan) formed the volunteer/docentprogram. In 1973, the Zoological Society approved the forma-tion of the Women’s Board, a new fundraising branch.A few individuals served as executive director of the society

in the early years, but the greatest change began in 1975 with theappointment of Barbara Whitney (later BarbaraWhitney Carr).While raising three children on her own, the 33-year-old had

been freelancing as a business writer while volunteering with ahandful of Chicago associations, such as the Junior League andthe Maternity Center board. She began volunteering for theZoological Society, writing a small newsletter that detailed the

The Start of Something BigLooking Back at 50 Years ofThe Lincoln Park Zoological Society

The Zoological Society transformed Lincoln Park Zoo, and its vision was guid-ed by longtime executive director Barbara Whitney Carr (center, with Dr. Fisher,receiving a check from park commissioner Jean Foran). Zoological Societyefforts included the creation of the Great Ape House (below) and other modernbuildings as well as a new focus on education, conservation and science.

BY CHRIS MCNAMARA

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activities of the organization. After a brief stint volunteering, Carrwas asked to serve as executive director of the Zoological Society.She learned on the job and from her prestigious new peers.“I learned fromexperience, but I also learned fromLes Fisher,”says

Carr, who quickly multiplied zoo membership fivefold. “Les stressedhow important Lincoln Park Zoo was to Chicago and how importantit was for people to create personal relationships with the zoo.”Over time, Carr and Fisher began to realize that a long-term

vision was needed for Lincoln Park Zoo. Togetherthey mapped the future of the zoo.“People laughed at the plans we made,”says Carr. “They thought we were outra-geously ambitious.”Over time, with the strong support of

Zoological Society members, ambitionbecame plans, plans became reality andnew buildings emerged on zoo grounds—the Great Ape House (1976), Blum-KovlerPenguin Seabird House (1981), Antelope &Zebra Area (1982). A new emphasis on sci-ence took hold, and Lincoln Park Zoobecame the first institution of its kind to havefull-time scientists on staff. The EducationDepartment blossomed. Curators traveled toconferences around the world and conductedfieldwork in far-off locales.“Barbara’s creativity developed the

Zoological Society,” says Lincoln Park ZooPresident and CEO Kevin Bell. “She made thesociety strong by bringing together the Chicagocommunity. If there’s a list of people who made the zoo what it istoday, Barb would be at the top.”High praise. Of course, Carr is quick to point out other pio-

neers with the Zoological Society, people such as HopeMcCormick, who understood early on the importance of scienceon zoo grounds. Marion Simon, who tirelessly worked toward thesuccess of the society. Marshall Field, who lent his name and timeto zoo projects. The zoo boosters ranged from Debbie and KeithStocker, who threw zoo parties at their Tiffany store, to AbraWilkins, whose tireless devotion buttressed the society in those earlyyears. “What we accomplished in those days wouldn’t have beenpossible without Barbara and a host of other dedicated zoo lovers,”says Judy Keller,Women’s Board co-founder and eventual chairper-son of the Zoological Society, who was instrumental in those earlyyears. “The transformation of the zoo in the past 50 years hasexceeded our expectations, and our expectations were high.”

Going PrivateThe Zoological Society continued to help guide the zoo up

until the great shift of 1995—privatization—when all of the orga-nization’s accomplishments and knowledge were put to good use.“By 1994, the ParkDistrict realized that the zoowas no longer just

a place for recreation, so they proposed that we go private,” explainsTroy Baresel who is the longest-serving Zoological Society employee.“When the zoo went private, the Zoological Society was ready

to assume responsibility from day one,” adds SeniorVice President of Conservation Programs Steve Thompson, Ph.D., thefirst scientist hired by they zoo.“As a private entity,wehadmore auton-omy,more flexibility to operate, and that made a huge difference.”After privatization, Lincoln Park Zoo thrived like never before.

In the past 15 years, most buildings on zoo grounds have been ren-ovated, zoo scientists have solidified their place as world leaders inresearch and field conservation, education programs have enlight-ened millions of visitors and the animal collection has flourished.Membership buoys the zoo’s mission while forging special

bonds for zoo lovers, and the generosity of donors ensures abright—and free—future.Lincoln Park Zoo has been a place of wonders since its incep-

tion. And milestones, such as the formation of the ZoologicalSociety and the two-decade tenure of Barbara Whitney Carr asexecutive director, can clearly be seen as turning points in histo-ry—moments when the right people took action at the right timeand ushered in progress beyond anyone’s expectations.“People want to fund a vision,” says Carr, looking back on her

tenure with the Zoological Society. “So you’ve got to have bigdreams.”

The leadership of theZoological Society—andits successful fundraisingcampaigns—helped createthe zoo you visit today.

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The Zoological Society of Lincoln Park Zoo Timeline

1959OnMay 14, The Lincoln Park Zoological Society isformed by 300 community leaders and zoo loverscommitted to raising money to care for animals,purchase equipment and improve the zoo. TheZoological Society’s first Board of Directors isestablished this very day. That year, the nation’sfirst year-round Children’s Zoo opens to thepublic on Lincoln Park Zoo’s grounds.

1962The Zoological Society launches its first fundraisingcampaign to build the Farm-in-the-Zoo.

Dr. Lester E. Fisher is named Zoo Director.

1963The renovated Bird House opens to the public.

Members of the public are officially invited to bemembers of the zoo for the first time. Their dueshelp to support and improve the zoo.

1964Mayor Richard J. Daley helps to open the Farm-in-the-Zoo, the first major project made possible bythe Zoological Society.

1971The volunteer/docent program is established byMrs. Patrick G. (Shirley) Ryan.

1973After several years of hosting dances on grounds tosupport the zoo, the 16-member Women’sCommittee is formed under the guidance of LifeDirector Marion Simon.

1975Barbara Whitney Carr is named executive directorof the Zoological Society. Prior to this, the staffconsisted of two employees; it grows to four uponCarr’s appointment.

1976The Zoological Society launches “To Make a GreatZoo Greater,” a $17-million fundraising capital cam-paign aimed at adding six new facilities to the zoo,including a new Education Center, OutdoorAmphitheater and Pavilion for the Children’s Zoo,LargeMammalArea,HoofedAnimal Area, Penguin-Seabird House and a Waterfowl Lagoon andObservation Area.

The Great Ape House is constructed, and the KrocAnimal Hospital and Commissary open.

Kevin J. Bell is hired as the youngest curator in thezoo’s history.

The Zoological Society establishes the Women’sBoard, comprised of many members of the initialWomen’s Committee, under the leadership of Mrs.Patrick G. (Shirley) Ryan.

1977The Education Department is officially formed.

The Women’s Board begins the holiday traditionof “Caroling to the Animals.”

The First Zoo Ball, Zoo La La, chaired by Mrs.Keith K. (Debbie) Stocker, is held on July 15.

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1978TheWaterfowl Lagoon and Flamingo Dome opens.

The ADOPT an Animal program is established bythe Zoological Society.

1979Crown-Field Center opens with education facilitiesand administrative offices for the ZoologicalSociety staff.

1981Blum-Kovler Penguin Seabird House opens.

1982Antelope & Zebra Area, Regenstein Large MammalHouse and the Robert R. McCormick Bear andWolf Habitat open.

1983The Zoological Society launches the $10 million“Landmark Campaign” to restore the zoo’s mosthistoric buildings and renovate them according tocontemporary zoo standards. Houses slated forrenovation included the Lion House, PrimateHouse, Children’s Zoo, Bird House and Birds ofPrey habitats.

1984The Zoological Society establishes the AuxiliaryBoard, a co-ed group of young professionalswhose purpose is to provide supportive funds andservices to the Zoological Society from a youngermembership base.

1988The Red Roof Café reopens as Landmark Café.

The Children’s Zoo reopens and is rededicatedas the Pritzker Children’s Zoo

The Farm-in-the-Zoo reopens with new and upgrad-ed educational graphics and expanded facilities.

1989Regenstein Birds of Prey Exhibit opens.

1990Taking on what Carr calls her “greatest risk” asexecutive director, the Zoological Society renovatesand reopens Café Brauer and the Great Hall. Theyhad been closed for 50 years, serving as storagefacilities for the Chicago Park District. Cafe Brauerreopens to delight visitors with an ice cream shop,café and event facility.

The Lion House reopens and is rededicated as theKovler Lion House.

The Zoological Society establishes a Conservation& Science Department.

1991The Bird House is renovated and reopened as theMcCormick Bird House.

1992Lester E. Fisher retires after 45 years of service toLincoln Park Zoo, 30 of which were spent as ZooDirector. David Hales is named as his successor.

The Primate House is renovated and rededicated asthe Helen Brach Primate House.

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1993The Zoological Society launches its next campaign,“Heart of the Zoo,” seeking $50 million in capitalsupport to further the long-held dream of makingLincoln Park Zoo a state-of-the-art institution byexpanding public services for guests, creating a true“zoological garden” through greening efforts andcreating the endowment.

Kevin J. Bell is named the seventh Zoo Director.

1995On January 1, The Lincoln Park Zoological Societyprivatizes, taking over the day-to-day operation ofthe zoo from the Chicago Park District. Kevin J. Bellis named President and CEO.

The new visitors’ center, Gateway Pavilion, opens.

1996The Lincoln Park Zoological Society staff take upresidence in their new home, the newly renovatedMatthew Laflin Memorial Building.

1997Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House opensand the Waterfowl Lagoon is renovated, with thenorthern section renamed the Hope B.McCormick Swan Pond. The bridge at the pond isrenamed to honor Barbara Whitney Carr for heryears of service to the Zoological Society.

1998Park Place Café opens as a year-round cafeteria forall zoo guests.

The C.H. “Doc” Searle, M.D. Animal Hospital iscompleted.

2002The Zoological Society undertakes the unprece-dented $125 million campaign, “My Kind of Zoo:the Campaign for Lincoln Park Zoo,” intended todramatically increase the zoo’s endowment, pro-vide operating support, build the new RegensteinCenter for African Apes and Regenstein AfricanJourney, and renovate both the Pritzker FamilyChildren’s Zoo and Farm-in-the-Zoo Presentedby John Deere.

The Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented by John Deerereopens.

2003Regenstein African Journey opens.

2004Regenstein Center for African Apes opens.

2005Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo reopens.

2008The South Pond Enhancement Project is the mostrecent campaign undertaken by the ZoologicalSociety, seeking $12 million to transform theSouth Pond into Nature Boardwalk at LincolnPark Zoo. Construction on Nature Boardwalkcontinues, and the urban oasis will be unveiled inspring 2010.

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Western lowland gorillaGorilla gorilla gorilla

In Regenstein Center for African Apes, amongsignage highlighting the bushmeat trade and great-ape tool-use, visitors can find a graph delineating thefamily lines of Lincoln Park Zoo’s famous westernlowland gorillas. In following the generations, it’spossible to trace Lincoln Park Zoo’s pioneering workwith the species.

The zoo’s first gorilla was the legendaryBushman, who thrilled visitors from his arrival in1930 to his death in 1951.While Bushman was thefirst gorilla at the zoo, his living conditions reflect-ed the era’s poor understanding of the species. Helived alone in the Primate House for the durationof his life, a far cry from the social groups formedby this species in the wild.

In 1959, when The Lincoln Park ZoologicalSociety was formed, understanding of gorillas wasbeginning to increase. The first zooborn gorilla hadarrived at the Columbus Zoo three years earlier.Lincoln Park Zoo was home to two male gorillas,Sinbad and Rajah, and an infant female, Helen, wasen route to the zoo from the Republic of Congo.(Times—and collection practices—have changed.See “Arranging New Arrivals” on page 12.)

The visionary support provided by theZoological Society enabled Lincoln Park Zoo tobecome a leader in caring for this endangeredspecies. In 1970, female Kumba was the first gorillaborn at the zoo. Others followed, but the real revo-lution came when the Lester E. Fisher Great ApeHouse opened in 1976, enabling the animals to livein larger, more natural social groups.

Today’s gorillas climb, browse and, yes, breed inRegenstein Center for African Apes, a naturalisticfacility reflecting the latest understanding of greatape needs. The residents reflect the zoo’s proud his-tory with the species: silverback JoJo was born here,as were females Bulera, Madini, Bahati, Tabibu andRollie. The state-of-the-art surroundings—and theconservation programs underwaywithwild gorillasin the Republic of Congo’s Goualougo Triangle—reflect the Zoological Society’s legacy of conserva-tion and care.

field note

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Today’s Lincoln Park Zoo is a conservation leader, lending sup-port and scientific expertise to projects around the globe. Frommanaging the Serengeti Health Initiative to studying ape popula-tions in Africa’s Gombe National Park and Goualougo Triangle,zoo scientists help manage and conserve crucial wild populations.Fifty years ago, though, the most prominent field project asso-

ciated with Lincoln Park Zoo was a bit of a novelty. At the end of1959, Marlin Perkins, Director of Lincoln Park Zoo, announced

that his next field expedition would have him travel to Nepal withfamed mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary.The news, as broken by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Irv

Kupcinet, read: “Sir Edmund Hillary, conqueror of Mount Everest,has requested Lincoln Park Zoo’s Marlin Perkins to join him on hisnext venture: climbing 27,790-foot Mount Makalu in Nepal andsearching for the Abominable Snowman.” The project, sponsoredby the publishers of World Book Encyclopedia, aimed to study theimpact of altitude on the human body while looking for clues ofthe mythical creature.Both Hillary and Perkins were skeptical, but open to the yeti’s

existence. Ever the zoologist, Perkins summed up his involvementin the spirit of inquiry. “The reason I’m interested is that some-thing in the Himalayas leaves strange foot tracks. They have beenphotographed and are different from any known thing. Zoologistscan’t identify the tracks or the creature, so it bears investigating.”While Perkins trained at Lake Shore Park for the rigors of the

trip, he also gathered the equipment he would need to search forthe animal. Binoculars, sighting scopes, telephoto lenses, a 16 mmcamera and 12 self-tripping cameras—low-tech predecessors of the“camera traps” used in field conservation today—were part of thepackage. Perkins also brought a high-powered tranquilizer gun incase he came across a live specimen to capture.The tranquilizer gun proved unnecessary: as you may have

Committing to Conservation BY JAMES SEIDLER

guessed, no yetis were spotted on the trip. “Yeti tracks” presentedto Perkins were discovered to be fox tracks that had melted anddistorted in the sun.The expedition did return to Chicago with a hide identified as

a yeti scalp by native people of the region (a Sherpa elder, KhumjoChumbi, came along as well to safeguard the sacred object). Buthair analysis showed that the hide belonged to a serow, a species ofgoat-antelope, and Perkins concluded, after much publicity, thatthe yeti was just a myth. “It looks like we won’t have to build a YetiHouse at the zoo this year,” concludedWilliam Hoff, who served asacting Zoo Director while Perkins was away.

Leading theWayZoos have evolved since Perkins’ expedition, transitioning from

places that showcased animals to institutions leading the way intheir conservation. Today’s Lincoln Park Zoo has one of the largestzoo-based conservation and science programs in the country. Duein large part to the leadership of The Lincoln Park ZoologicalSociety, this shift has the zoo leading conservation programs inAfrica, South America, Puerto Rico and its own backyard, all whileproviding resources for conservationists around the globe to pre-serve wild and endangered populations.“Lincoln Park Zoo is at the forefront, but conservation and sci-

ence programs have grown at zoos across the country,” says SeniorVice President of Conservation Programs Steve Thompson, Ph.D.“Almost 20 years ago, there were 10 or 12 formal conservation andscience programs in North American zoos. Now, there are proba-bly 50-60, a result of the trend toward zoos assuming leadership inthese projects.”This growth reflects the fact that zoos are well-positioned to

serve as conservation leaders. Lincoln Park Zoo’s conservation andscience programs use knowledge gained at the zoo to improvemanagement in the wild and bring wild observations back to thezoo to expand understanding and care.The Serengeti Health Initiative is representative of this inter-

connectedness. Managed by Lincoln Park Zoo, and based in one ofAfrica’s signature ecosystems, it aims to safeguard the health of theentire Serengeti ecosystem by studying the interactions of humans,domestic animals and wildlife. At the heart of the initiative liewildlife surveillance programs and domestic-dog vaccinationefforts aimed at preventing the spread of disease between wild ani-mals, domestic animals and humans.At the same time, a proposed project to translocate endangered

African wild dogs highlights the strength the zoo-to-field connec-tion. Social predators, African wild dogs live in packs of 2–30 mem-bers, cooperating to hunt prey such as gazelles and impalas.Recently, someAfrican wild dogs in areas outside Serengeti NationalPark have begun attacking domestic livestock as well, antagonizinglocal pastoralists who rely on the animals for their livelihood.To mitigate conflict and preserve the highly endangered preda-

tors, researchers with the Tanzanian National Park Authority haveproposed moving the packs to protected areas within the park. Butto ensure the transfer doesn’t have an adverse impact on the species,the scientists want to weigh the stress associated with the move.Endocrinologist Rachel Santymire, Ph.D., director of the Davee

Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, has developed a toolto help scientists study the issue. Using fecal samples collected fromthe African wild dogs at Lincoln Park Zoo, she developed a field kit

that enables scientists to process samples from the most remoteareas of the region. By processing samples without refrigeration andwith minimal electricity (both in short supply in remote regions ofthe Serengeti), researchers can collect samples and send them toLincoln Park Zoo’s lab for analysis. Research that began at the zoowill come back full circle to benefit wild populations.“We developed the kit just for use with African wild dogs, but

it’s been applied to black rhinos, elephants and cattle as well. Thesame method has helped us research many different species,” saysSantymire.Overall, the expertise of zoo scientists influences conservation

projects far from zoo grounds. Experience gained managing smallpopulations has been extended to wildlife including elephants inTanzania’s Tarangire National Park, jaguars in Argentina and Brazil,and endangered Puerto Rican parrots. Behavioral studies of the zoo’schimpanzees and gorillas are complemented with conservationefforts in Gombe National Park and the Goualougo Triangle, wherescientists study the health, play andmothering behaviors of wild apes.These ambitious programs are far removed from Marlin

Perkins’ hunt for the yeti, but they reflect the same energy, care anddedication that inspired him. Programs 50 years from now will beeven more advanced, but they will still be rooted in today’s suc-cesses and the inspiration of The Zoological Society of LincolnPark Zoo.“It was the Zoological Society that hired me to create the con-

servation program we have today,” says Thompson. “It was theirdecision to have a staff and the resources to do science. Everythingwe’re doing today is a legacy of their support.”

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While Marlin Perkins embarked on a search for the yeti in 1959, today’sresearchers conserve wild populations worldwide. Here, Kevin J. Bell,President and CEO of Lincoln Park Zoo (right) is visiting GombeNational Park with Vice President of Conservation & Science DominicTravis, D.V.M., and Fisher Center Director Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D.

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Mappingthe ChangesThe legacy of The Lincoln Park Zoological Society is best

seen in the transformation of zoo grounds. In 1959, the year

of the Zoological Society’s formation, the construction of a

permanent Children’s Zoo building was the first addition to

the zoo since the Primate House in 1927. Over the next five

decades, the Zoological Society has provided the support

necessary to create a world-class zoo, complete with state-

of-the-art facilities and a dedication to research, conserva-

tion and education.

TODAY

REGENSTEIN AFRICAN JOURNEY An immersive atmos-phere provides visitors with a firsthand feel for the richness ofAfrican wildlife.

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TODAY

REGENSTEIN CENTER FOR AFRICAN APESNaturalistic surroundings and social groups ensure anenriching home for the zoo’s chimpanzees and gorillas.

TODAY

FARM-IN-THE-ZOO PRESENTED BY JOHN DEEREAn early goal of the Zoological Society, the Farm-in-the-Zoo has given generations of city kids a glimpse offarm life.

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In the early 1970s, recalls Barbara Whitney Carr, former execu-tive director of The Lincoln Park Zoological Society, theAssociation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) magazine was littlemore than a collection of classified ads for animals, captured in thewild, that were available for purchase by American zoos.The August 2009 issue of the AZA magazine, now titled

Connect, includes nothing of the sort. Rather, there are articlesabout a field project to conserve a Nigerian gorilla population andadvertisements for ultraviolet lighting systems for bird exhibits.Why no personal ads for wild-born pied tamarins? Why no

classifieds for chimpanzees? Because in recent decades there hasbeen a sea change in the way zoos acquire animals.“The concept of building a zoo collection with wild animals is

archaic,” explains Steve Thompson, Ph.D., senior vice president ofconservation programs at Lincoln Park Zoo “Years ago, the mostcommon way zoos would get animals was directly or indirectlyfrom the wild. There were dealers who would sell animals caughtin the wild. Or we would contact other zoos that had animalspulled from the wild.”The transition began in the late 1970s, when better animal hus-

bandry and a greater understanding of breeding resulted in morezoo-born animals. “There was new legislation aimed at protectingwild animals. And of course there was the high cost of obtaininganimals in the wild,” says Thompson. “But there was also a shift inphilosophy. There was a growing conservation mindset—a

stronger focus on animal welfare that got us considering thatmaybe it’s not always appropriate to take animals from the wild.”A milestone in the shift happened in 1988, when the Gorilla

Species Survival Plan® (SSP) banned the importation of greatapes captured in the wild for AZA-accredited zoos. Other SSPsfollowed suit.These days, more than 98 percent of mammals in AZA institu-

tions were born in zoos. Among the 900 animals at Lincoln ParkZoo, only 52-year-old chimpanzee Keo and geriatric dwarf croco-dile R1 (see sidebar) were wild-captured. Other animals, such asthe zoo’s juvenile black bear, puma, bald eagle, American kestreland gray seals, were rescued from the wild after being orphaned orsustaining injuries that threatened their survival.

Scientists as MatchmakersThe shift to zoo-born collections has been a boon for animal

welfare—both for zoo animals and those in the wild. However,refusing wild-caught animals brings with it the potential problemof a limited genetic pool. With a static population of, say, chim-panzees, there are only so many genetic lines available. And, asThompson explains, “The key to sustainability in perpetuity isgenetic diversity.”So scientists must play matchmaker. Science-based population

management ensures that zoo and aquarium collections are main-tained at the sizes necessary to meet the conservation and educa-tion missions of each species. Scientific planning also ensures thatpopulations retain the highest possible levels of genetic diversityand don’t grow beyond the zoo and aquarium community’s abilityto care for them.“We try to do better than the wild,” says Sarah Long, director of

the AZA Population Management Center, hosted at Lincoln ParkZoo. “Most breeding in the wild is assumed to be random, whichcould result in some family lines becoming over-represented, otherlineages not surviving and even inadvertent inbreeding. Zoos havelimited space and a desire to maintain all possible genetic lineages,so we have to be efficient about which animals should breed. Zoopopulation-management advisors take care to select breeders sothat all the lineages brought in from the wild have equal opportu-nities to produce offspring.”

Exceptions to the RuleIn rare cases, wild mammals are introduced to a zoo popula-

tion. (Wild-animal introductions are more common with birds,reptiles and fish.) Usually, this is done to inject a new line to thebreeding pool—to diversify the genes and create a healthier group.But other circumstances also prompt the capture of wild ani-

mals. Take the case of the Illinois population of the eastern mas-sasauga rattlesnake. The U.S. Fish andWildlife Service and IllinoisDepartment of Natural Resources approached the zoo about arecovery effort for this population, which is endangered inIllinois. The zoo worked with these organizations and the Cookand Lake County Forest Reserve Districts to capture these wildrattlesnakes, two of which were brought to Lincoln Park Zoo. Thefemale, who must have been pregnant when she arrived, gavebirth to four offspring in August. These new arrivals will bolsterefforts to conserve the population, even as they highlight theimportance of the occasional outreach to the wild.

ArrangingNewArrivals BY CHRIS MCNAMARA

Wild OriginsYou may recall the birthday party in spring 2008, when chimpanzee Keo was presented a cake made of frozen fruit to celebrate his

50th birthday. His peer over in Regenstein African Journey, known as R1, celebrated his golden years by siring a clutch of offspring in2007. Quite a feat, considering that the dwarf crocodile is at least 69.

Keo and R1 represent the small population of Lincoln Park Zoo animals that once lived in the wild. In the chimpanzee’s case, he wasbrought to the zoo as an infant. The circumstances surrounding the dwarf crocodile’s capture are murky, just like the old-timer’s trueage.We know this—R1 arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo in 1940.

While these two individuals represent an outdated method of zoo-collection building, they also highlight the benefits of modern ani-mal husbandry.

“Geriatric animals speak to the level of care they receive at our facility,” says General Curator Megan Ross, Ph.D. “Keo and R1’s oldage is a testament to exceptional animal husbandry.”

Above: Geriatric dwarf crocodile R1 (left) originally made his home in the Reptile House but now shares spaces in Regenstein African Journey withhis mate. Below: Chimpanzee Keo arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo as an infant. He now makes his home in Regenstein Center for African Apes, wherehe benefits from advancements in animal care.

14 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Heads in the HeavensWith elongated necks holding those knobby heads some 15 feet

in the air, the pair of female giraffes at Regenstein African Journeyhave their meals served high. Baskets stuffed with hay and boomerballs filled with peanut butter are affixed to the ceiling, promptingthe large mammals to stretch those necks and employ their foot-long tongues just as their wild cousins do when plucking leavesfrom branches in the African savanna, where shorter femalesbrowse the lower branches and taller males—which can reach 20feet—pluck greenery from the upper parts.The actual height of the pair at Lincoln Park Zoo was an eyeball

estimate until a few months back, when keeper Kelly Schaffnerclimbed a ladder and used green paint to mark heights—12 feet, 14feet, 16 feet—on a tall doorway, enabling zoo visitors with sharpeyes to make their own readings whenever the giraffes amble intotheir off-exhibit holding area.

Busy Bird HouseThe residents (and staff) of the McCormick Bird House have

been busy in recent months. Hatchlings include a Blyth’s hornbill,three Guam Micronesian kingfishers, three laughing kookaburrasand three piping plovers.Nearby at the Kovler Penguin/Seabird House, a commonmurre

hatched, as did a rockhopper penguin, while a clutch of threetrumpeter swans enlivened the Hope B. McCormick Swan Ponduntil they were transferred to the Iowa Department of NaturalResources in late August to be released to the wild.

“Many bird species breed in the summer months, so this is abusy time for birds and keepers alike,” says Hope B. McCormickCurator of Birds Colleen Lynch.

New NeighborsAnd speaking of transfers, two new species recently took up

residence at Lincoln Park Zoo. Two green woodhoopoes arecurrently adding color to the Free Flight Area within the BirdHouse while two masked plovers scamper through the MountainClearing Exhibit.

Rut at HoofstockAs the colors on the trees turn and the temperature cools, activ-

ity within the white-lipped deer exhibit is ramping up. And it’s dueto the males—the two with the impressive antlers—who are in themiddle of rut this time each year.Rut is the seasonal period of sexual excitement that recurs

annually in male ruminants such as deer and camels. It promptsanimals to breed, which results in spring births—the ideal time towelcome new offspring.The white-lipped deer males at the zoo grow aggressive during

rut, so keepers provide them with sturdy enrichment devices, suchas boomer balls and barrels, which they fling around their exhibits.The animals’ pre-orbital glands (black patches just below theireyes) open up and emit a musky scent, which they rub on branch-es to mark their territory. The big animals create loud whines tomark their space, too.

wild file

Left-to-right: Quick work with a brush and ladder helped keepers measure the giraffes at Regenstein African Journey. Guam Micronesian kingfish-er chicks and green woodhoopoes are among the new arrivals at the McCormick Bird House.

FALL 2009 15

While Lincoln Park Zoo’s white-lipped deer are not reproduc-ing, the males still undergo rut. The animals still copulate. Andwith the changes of the season, visitors still get to experience oneof the more interesting phenomenons at the zoo.

New Digs for RhinosSure, they look tough enough to blast through brick walls, but

rhinos are actually quite reticent. They’re wary of new situationsand slow to experiment with the unknown. This natural behaviorhad to be taken into account when the female black rhinoceros wasintroduced to her new yard in early August.Zoo staff had been preparing her for months, helping her feel

comfortable in the chutes that led to the Harris Family FoundationBlack Rhinoceros Exhibit. When she was finally given full access(with the larger male safely housed in the other outdoor yard), shetook a few small steps with her massive feet.“At first the female was very nervous about the yard and hold-

ing,” says Curator of Mammals Dave Bernier. “She was runningaround, snorting and acting highly alert. The yard has sightlinesthat are unfamiliar to the rhinos. In the new exhibit, they areslightly above the visitor path, which allows them visual access toall of the surrounding area and activities.”The 4-year-old female eventually found the wallow most

interesting, taking a mud bath shortly after checking out her newdigs. She browsed the alfalfa that keepers had strewn around theyard. She munched hay and rubbed up against the rockwork.Bernier stresses that during these explorations, the rhino was

given access to her off-exhibit dayroom, should the new area haveproven overwhelming. But it didn’t, and by mid-October the tworhinos were both using the large yard together (although they wereseparated by barriers).Breeding is still down the road a ways. (The female is too

young—and too small—for the male.) But on a sunny Mondaymorning just a few days after her first exploration, she was com-fortable enough to casually catch rays as she strolled—or moreaptly lumbered—through her new digs.*A new male rhino arived at Lincoln Park Zoo in October, when

he began the slow process of acclimating to his new digs.

Farm NewsThe tomato vines hung heavy with red fruit. Sunflower plants

grew taller than the tractor planted in the southeast corner of theVegetable Garden. Plump pumpkins—no bigger than softballs atthis point—rested on the ground, and a few fat, white eggplantsnestled beneath leaves within the accessible flowerbed.It couldn’t have looked any heartier here in fall in the middle of

the Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented by John Deere. Even the pungentsmell from the compost pile was encouraging, a multi-sensoryexperience here at this garden within a farm, within a zoo, withina city. And none of the attendees at Harvest Days (October 3 and4) seemed to mind. They were too busy painting the pumpkins.

Left-to-right: The male white-lipped deer’s antlers mark the height of breeding season. Across the zoo, visitors watch as the female black rhinoexplores the new Harris Family Foundation Black Rhinoceros Exhibit.

16 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

A New ZooVisionKevin J. Bell, President and CEO of Lincoln Park Zoo, was

named Chair of the Board of Directors for the Association of Zoosand Aquariums (AZA) during the organization’s annual meetingin September. In this prestigious position, Bell will serve a one-yearterm leading the nation’s largest zoological organization.As chair of the AZA’s 13-member board, Bell will guide efforts to

expand education, conservation and care in 217 AZA-accreditedzoos and aquariums throughout the country. The new role reflectsBell’s distinguished history of service in the zoological community.After being named Lincoln Park Zoo’s Curator of Birds—theyoungest ever, at 23—in 1976, Bell was named zoo director in 1993and was first voted to the AZA Board of Directors in 1999.“This is an exciting time for zoos and aquariums, and I’m hon-

ored to serve the AZA community,” says Bell. “Together, we canlead a strategic effort to build America’s largest conservationmovement.”

Zoo HonorsLincoln Park Zoo’s mission of conservation, education and

care was also recognized at the AZA conference. With world-renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall serving as keynotespeaker, the zoo was awarded Top Honors in InternationalConservation for its chimpanzee conservation efforts inTanzania’s Gombe National Park.The site of Goodall’s groundbreaking research, Gombe has rev-

olutionized our understanding of animals. The zoo is proud topartner with The Jane Goodall Institute on research projects in thearea, from studying chimpanzee health and play to investigatingthe mother-infant relationship. You can learn more about theaward-winning work at www.lpzoo.org/gombe.

The zoo also received a Significant Achievement Award inEducation for the creation of “Exploring Ape Behavior,” a programthat enables visitors to experience firsthand the behavioralresearch of scientists at the zoo’s Regenstein Center for AfricanApes. You can sign up for the program—and even try your hand atobserving ape behavior—at www.lpzoo.org/eab.

A New Understanding of DiseaseRecent findings from the Gombe Ecosystem Health Project

have led to a breakthrough in our understanding of SimianImmunodeficiency Virus (the primate homologue to HIV). Asreported in the leading research journal Nature, a study led by zoocollaborator Beatrice Hahn, M.D., from the University of Alabamaat Birmingham, has shown that chimpanzees infected with SIV are10–16 times more likely to die than those that don’t carry the virus.The results were confirmed thanks to necropsies performed byZoo Pathology Program veterinarians Karen Terio, D.V.M., Ph.D.,and Mike Kinsel, D.V.M., both from the University of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine.“Before, chimpanzees were believed to carry SIV without show-

ing any ill effects,” says Vice President of Conservation & ScienceDominic Travis, D.V.M. “Now we know it causes them to get sickand possibly die, making it another factor influencing the healthand survival of Gombe’s chimpanzees.”Beyond the local impact, the new findings open up larger ques-

tions as to how SIV might affect primate populations throughoutAfrica.Moreover, in increasing understanding of the disease in pri-mates, the research may eventually boost efforts to understand,and combat, HIV and AIDS in humans.“These results highlight the importance of having dedicated,

long-term scientific programs,” says Travis. “Thanks to 40 years of

news of the zoo

Left-to-right: Lincoln Park Zoo President and CEO Kevin J. Bell was named Chair of the Board of Directors for the Association of Zoos andAquariums at the AZA annual meeting in September. The zoo’s conservation and education work was also recognized with a SignificantAchievement Award in Education for the creation of Exploring Ape Behavior and Top Honors in International Conservation.

FALL 2009 17

demographic data from the Jane Goodall Institute, 10 years of SIVdata and six years of health data, we can begin to answer thesequestions.”

Pond ProgressWork continues to transform the South Pond into Nature

Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. Pepper Construction spent thesummer deepening and dredging the existing pond to provide amore hospitable home for native wildlife. The old—and unsta-ble—asphalt and steel pathway lining the shores has beenremoved, opening the way for new, natural shorelines and animmersive boardwalk experience.Work this summer was carefully scheduled around breeding

season for the black-crowned night herons that nest on the pond’sisland. More than 120 of the birds, which are endangered inIllinois, established nests on the island for the fourth straight year.While they migrated away in late summer, the zoo looks forwardto welcoming them back to a restored landscape in spring 2010.

Conservation Camp Close-UpLincoln Park Zoo Conservation Camp 2009 was a success with

a brand-new camp structure. By alternating sessions on local andglobal conservation topics, Conservation Camp better served fam-ilies and boosted attendance by 30 percent. Campers enjoyed ani-mal encounters, arts and crafts, and firsthand lessons on habitats,“going green” and misunderstood animals.Donor support helped open up the fun to as many

campers as possible, with HSBC Global sponsoring 20 camp schol-arships. While Conservation Camp 2009 is complete, planningfor next summer is already underway. Be sure to checkwww.lpzoo.org/education for updates in the months ahead.

Jammin’AwayThe zoo’s summer concert series returned to the South Lawn,

enabling music fans to enjoy music in the company of Chileanflamingos and white-lipped deer. Jammin’ at the Zoo 2009 featuredJosh Kelley and Sister Hazel (June 26), Pat McGee, Brett Dennenand Matt Nathanson (July 24) and Angel Taylor and Five forFighting (August 28). Plenty of fans were drawn by the zoo’s newmedia partner, The MIX 101.9 FM, as well as the expanded bever-age menu, featuring Hornitos margaritas and Cruzan raspberrylemonade.

Fun FundraisingSummer nights, stylish guests and swanky surroundings added

up to significant support for Lincoln Park Zoo’s mission of conser-vation and care.Spring Benefit: Moonlight Migration, hosted by the Lincoln

Park Zoo Auxiliary Board on May 29, kicked off with cocktails atRegenstein African Journey and ended with dancing at Café atWild Things. Chaired by Harry Pfaff, Lori Lynch and Tara Marsh,the event raised nearly $40,000 for the Auxiliary Board’s Fund forConservation and Science.The zoo’s biggest fundraising event, Zoo Ball, sported an

animal-centered theme with Spots and Stripes Forever. Hosted bythe Women’s Board of Lincoln Park Zoo, and chaired by PatriciaCutilletta, the gala took place July 10 on the zoo’s Main Mall. Morethan 750 guests enjoyed a silent auction and the sounds of theKen Arlen Orchestra. With generous support from the TawaniFoundation and the Pritzker Military Library, more than $360,000was raised to support the Women’s Board’s $2 million pledge forNature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Left-to-right: Work is ongoing to transform the South Pond into Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. The past season also saw lots of summerfun, including another year of Lincoln Park Zoo Conservation Camps.

18 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

A New Kind of ZooKids’ meals, kids’ clubs, kids’ museums—nowadays, kids have plen-

ty of options.When Lincoln Park Zoo’s Children’s Zoo opened in 1959,however, it was the first year-round children’s zoo building in the coun-try. It was also the first new building to be constructed on zoo groundssince the Primate House in 1927.The idea of a children’s zoo wasn’t new. Lincoln Park Zoo first

provided an exclusive area for kids in 1952 (adults weren’t evenallowed inside). But while it proved wildly popular—170,000 “smallfry” came in 1955 for story time and animal encounters—it was alsooutdoors, and therefore only open during summer.Looking to draw on the obvious appeal, the zoo commissioned the

new Children’s Zoo building, an octagonal structure with a redwoodframe and glass walls.A pond linked the building to the outdoors, brightcolors dominated the interior and a variety of small animals lived in anS-shaped enclosure that was designed to resemble a caterpillar.Zoo guides invited kids to explore the world of wildlife, offering

supervised access to animals including bush babies, monkeys, blue-tongued skinks, kinkajous, Guinea pigs (Mr. and Mrs. Fuzzy, as theywere named) and even infant chimpanzee Keo. The new buildingserved visitors of all ages—even adults—for 29 years before beingremodeled into the Pritzker Children’s Zoo in 1988.

Laying the Foundation

“Even the circus was never gayeror more fun for the small fry than Lincoln Park’sChildren’s Zoo, which opened today in a unique

new building as a year-round attraction.”-Chicago’s American, May 19, 1959

BY JAMES SEIDLER

While the original Children’s Zoo engaged young visitors through contactwith animals, today’s Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo immerses guests in anorth woods atmosphere.

Reflecting theWildRed wolves howl, black bears prowl, North American river otters dive and

a north woods landscape now thrives on the site of the old Children’s Zoo.The Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo, created in 2005, continues to introducechildren to the wonders of wildlife. But while the Children’s Zoo of 1959emphasized contact with animals, today’s Children’s Zoo—and indeed,today’s Lincoln Park Zoo—encourages natural behaviors and presents ani-mals as they live in their native homes.“The Children’s Zoo tries to demonstrate how people share the environ-

ment,” says General Curator Megan Ross, Ph.D. “There are lots of native plantsand greenery reflecting the animals’ wild habitats, and the interpretatives andexhibit design reflect a new emphasis on conservation, research and education.”That’s not to say the new building neglects old-fashioned fun. Anyone who’s

seen toddlers dancing in the water jets or scampering to the heights of theTreetop Canopy Climbing Adventure can attest that kid-friendliness remains afocus. But even as little ones enjoy knee-high graphics and learning tools thatencourage them to crawl, scratch, sniff and howl, the native plants and expan-sive outdoor areas enable visitors to envision animals as they live in the wild.The new Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo reflects a transformed zoo land-

scape, one that’s home to a range of state-of-the-art facilities. Exposed concreteand steel enclosures have given way to naturalistic habitats, complete with built-in greenery and places to perch, play, chase and climb. The African immersionof Regenstein African Journey, the chimpanzee communities and gorilla groupsliving naturally in Regenstein Center for African Apes and the urban oasis nowbeing created at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo—these are all the lega-cy of the Zoological Society’s 50 years of leadership and support.

Safe and SoundVisitors arriving to Lincoln Park Zoo in 1959 didn’t have to decide which

gate to enter: the entire zoo was open to the park paths that surrounded it.A single security guard patrolled the grounds at night, but there was no fencesurrounding zoo grounds.

While the need for a security fence had been discussed for some time, theinciting incidents for building it occurred in 1958 and 1959, when intruderssnuck into the zoo at night and killed some birds at the Zoo Rookery (now theAlfred Caldwell Lily Pool). This sad incident prompted the Park District tospend $26,000 to create a 10-foot-tall fence surrounding zoo grounds, an actthat ensured the safety of animals and guests alike in the decades that followed.

FALL 2009 19

FALL 2009 21

Bringing Education Into the CommunityLearning Goes MobileWhen you visited Lincoln Park Zoo in 1959, your primary rea-

son probably wasn’t to learn. At the time, the zoo was mainly aplace of recreation. It was an extension of the park that surround-ed it, free and open and full of exotic animals to engage visitors.That’s not to say efforts weren’t made to inform guests about

the wildlife on zoo grounds. A junior zoologist named Fred Meyerserved as the zoo’s “Answer Man” for years, fielding questionsabout animals from his booth in the Kovler Lion House.Volunteers at the Children’s Zoo introduced young visitors to theanimals living there, guiding them through fun facts and animalencounters. Marlin Perkins even adopted the early medium of tel-evision to educate people about animals, hosting Zoo Parade at theReptile House from 1950–1957.As Zoo Parade came to an end, another animal-outreach effort

began. This new initiative centered on bringing animals to thecommunity—with a trailer truck and three-wheeled police escort.“If the people can’t come to the zoo,” Perkins figured, “we’ll bringthe zoo to them.” And the Traveling Zoo did just that.In 1959, the Traveling Zoo roared through the city in a spe-

cialized trailer that was 33 feet long, 8 feet wide and 12 feet high.Staffed by a driver, zookeeper and zoologist, it traveled toChicago Park District camps throughout the city, introducingcampers to animals including Galapagos tortoises, parrots, sandboas, red foxes, armadillos and more. It didn’t skimp on theschedule, hitting more than 80 neighborhood parks during theaverage summer, instilling an appreciation for animals that res-onates to this day.

Education EvolvesToday, Lincoln Park Zoo’s educational efforts continue to grow.

Kids looking to combine summer fun with the world of wildlifecan laugh and learn at Summer Conservation Camps. Speciallytrained guest engagement leaders introduce visitors to the feel of arhino’s horn or the back story behind the zoo’s red wolf conserva-tion efforts. Behind the scenes, zoo educators develop guides onusing the zoo as a living classroom.“Our field of study has evolved,” says Director of Student and

Teacher Programs Leah Melber, Ph.D.“There are degree programs,

A beloved sight, the Traveling Zoo brought animal encounters—and education—into the community. Zoo Director Marlin Perkins (above and left,with snake) also used the new medium of television to inform people about animals with the popular show Zoo Parade.

research, best practices and models to follow. This expertisehelps us find the best ways to inform people about animals andconservation.”Active participation is the centerpiece of today’s education pro-

grams, explains Melber. Guests are invited to ask questions, engageeducators and get hands-on with their learning.One example of the hands-on approach is Exploring Ape

Behavior, an award-winning program offered at Regenstein Centerfor African Apes. (You can find more information, includinghow to purchase tickets, at www.lpzoo.org/eab.) Exploring ApeBehavior introduces participants to ape cognitive and behavioralresearch conducted at the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study andConservation of Apes.While in the past participants might have justlistened to lectures, Exploring Ape Behavior enables them tostep into a scientist’s shoes, using iPod Touches to collect behavioraldata on one of the building’s chimpanzees or gorillas. “We’re

helping people learn more about our research by letting them actu-ally participate in the activities,” says Melber.Hands-on learning is also at the heart of the zoo’s animal

ambassadors and curiosity carts. By letting people touch the scalesof a blue-tongued skink or rub their fingers over a “boomer ball”that fell victim to the sharp canines of an Amur tiger, educatorsoffer lessons about biology and behavior in ways that are memo-rable and lasting.While animal contact for its own sake was a fixture of past edu-

cational offerings, today’s encounters are carefully planned androoted in larger lessons. “Inthe past, contact with animalswasn’t designed to demon-strate principles of endan-gered species or conserva-tion,” says Director of PublicPrograms and GuestEngagement Jessica Monahan.“Today, it’s carefully designedto serve the dual role of con-necting people with wildlifebut also encouraging them torespect the animals and sup-port their conservation.”Zoo educators are con-

stantly looking for newapproaches to engage audi-ences. Monahan is working topromote learning across gen-erations by developing new family events, such as this fall’s“Bedtime Buddies” program, which will let parents with kids ages3–10 experience Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House afterhours. “We’re going to have yoga, crafts and lots more. It’ll let thekids get their hands dirty as they learn.”Meanwhile, Melber is prepping professionals by developing

curriculum guides to enable teachers to make the most of their vis-its to the zoo. Zoo Tracks and Species Safaris are printable guidesorganized around basic wildlife themes. By following a Zoo Trackon their visit, teachers will have ready resources to help students“Meet the Family” or learn about “Predator and Prey.”“The guideshelp teachers and students observe what’s going on, but they alsoencourage them to lead the discussion about what they’re seeing,”says Melber.While methods have changed, Lincoln Park Zoo’s animals con-

tinue to inspire curiosity about the natural world. By using mod-ern methods to harness this interest, Lincoln Park Zoo’s educatorsare crafting lessons about conservation and care that will endurefar into the future.

22 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Left: Animal encounters are now rooted in larger conservation lessonswhile curiosity carts let visitors direct their own educational experi-ence. Above: A camper explores an owl’s diet by probing apart apelllet regurgitated by the predator.

FALL 2009 23

African LionPanthera leo

Head raised, body arched, the lion opens its throat and beginsto roar, drawing the attention of every visitor within earshot.Guests rush over to see this natural display, marveling at the graceand power of the great animal announcing its dominance.

This familiar scene has reverberated throughout Lincoln ParkZoo’s history. Lions first arrived at the zoo in the late 1800s. In1912, the construction of the landmark Kovler Lion House gavethe big cats an iconic building to match their stature.

When The Lincoln Park Zoological Society formed in 1959, theLion House had been essentially unchanged since its construction.Meanwhile, Sugar and Spice, two 8-week-old lion cubs (picturedbelow at mealtime) lived in the new Children’s Zoo building, whereyoung visitors could touch and pet them under the supervision of afemale guide.

Today’s trio of lions—male Adelor and females Myra andHelene—inhabit an entirely different landscape. True, they maketheir residence in the same namesake building shared by earlierlions. But the large outdoor yard where they stroll, climb andlounge atop heated boulders was made possible through aZoological Society–supported expansion of the building in 1971,one that gave the imposing predators more room to prowl.

Similarly, while the zoo of 1959 was happy to welcome as manycubs as possible, today’s new arrivals are carefully planned by thePopulation Management Center to ensure the sustainable health ofthis vulnerable population. Indeed, because Adelor, Myra andHelene are already well-represented in theNorthAmerican zoo pop-ulation, themale lion has been vasectomized to curtail future arrivals.

It’s a decision that reflects how today’s zoos collaborate to ensurethe best future for the animals in their care. A future that shouldinclude raucous roars at the Lion House for decades to come.

field note

24 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Early in his tenure as Lincoln Park Zoo’s veterinarian, Dr. LesterE. Fisher’s most valuable tool was the telephone, which he’d use tocontact other members of the informal Zoo Vets club with ques-tions about treating, say, a sick boa constrictor. (His peers wouldcall him with gorilla questions.)In the late 1940s there were no zoo veterinary textbooks and

scant reference materials. So the dozen pioneers in the field reliedon their pooled resources to get by. “You could study the bloodfrom a boa constrictor,” explains Fisher, “but you wouldn’t knowwhat a normal reading was to compare it against.”Fast forward six decades, when Director of Veterinary Services

Kathryn Gamble, D.V.M., and her team have at their disposal notonly a world of animal knowledge at the click of a keyboard, butalso modern tools the likes of which Fisher and the Zoo Vetscouldn’t have dreamed of—laser scalpels and blood-cell-countingcomputers and video scopes that enable you to peer into a duck’sgut to see what it had for lunch.“As human medicine has evolved, so has veterinary medicine,”

explains Gamble. “Veterinary medicine has greatly benefited from

new technology and knowledge in the human field.Consider this—when I started 20 years ago we had adozen books about veterinary medicine for zoo ani-mals. I now have six editions of one particular vol-ume. There has been an explosion of knowledge.”

New Technology“The autopsy table was a great learning instru-

ment for us,” says Fisher, who joined the zoo on apart-time basis in 1948 and started his 30-year tenureas the Director in 1962, three years after the forma-tion of The Lincoln Park Zoological Society.When ananimal died, a necropsy (animal autopsy) providedinsight as to the cause but also served as a way to learnabout how, say, a giraffe pumps blood up that longneck. It was a peek inside an animal that you couldn’totherwise get.Necropsies are still performed on all deceased

zoo animals at the C.H. “Doc” Searle, M.D. AnimalHospital, but today there are much better devices tostudy animals—to peek inside them—while they’reliving, in the hopes of postponing that post-mortemprocedure.A stroll through the lab, surgery center or radi-

ograph room within the hospital reveals an ultra-sound machine that is now commonly used on greatapes. Scopes are used to explore the abdominal cav-ities of birds. Tono-Pens are used to measure pres-sure within the eyeballs of seals. And the aforemen-tioned laser scalpel, which looks like a robotic golfbag, enables staff to cut tissue with maximum preci-sion and minimal pain.While not technically technology, advancements

in medicine have also aided zoo veterinarians.Antibiotics are now given to snakes. Sedatives helplizards experience reduced pain after surgery.

Futuristic devices and advanced medicine illuminate the shift inphilosophy that has taken place in the field in the past half-century.

New PhilosophyWhile zoo veterinarians in the past were more like emergency-

room doctors, reacting to problems as they arose, Gamble and herstaff today spend 60 percent of their time on preventive medicine,performing physicals and routine medical care to minimize prob-lems down the road.“Additionally, we’ve become more assertive in minimizing dis-

comfort for animals,” says Gamble, who will use fentanyl patchesto curb post-surgical pain in, say, a post-surgical skink.The new philosophy is also one of continuing education. Modern

zoo veterinarians—whomust now be state-certified and are subject tostrict regulation—stay abreast of developments in the field with fre-quent seminars and tutorials. Gamble recently lectured at theInternationalVeterinary Emergency andCritical Care Societymeeting.She and Zoo Veterinarian Owen Slater, D.V.M., also attend weeklyseminars with peers from Brookfield Zoo and Shedd Aquarium.

The Evolution of Care

Compared to Fisher, who started out part-time, as a staff of one,the modern Lincoln Park Zoo veterinary team includes Gamble,Slater, a veterinary resident, three veterinary technicians, a hospitalkeeper, zoo medicine support interns, rotating fourth-year veteri-nary students and veterinary pathologists from the University ofIllinois’ Zoo Pathology Program, which is contracted to performnecropsies.

A Push to the Future, A Tool from the Past“Fifty years ago everything was new. We hadn’t seen anything

before,” surmises Gamble. “Now we have a better grasp on diseaseand care, and we have much better tools to address them.” AddsFisher, “The field has changed totally and dramatically.”In the corner of the Animal Hospital lab sits a dark and dented

centrifuge, a device used to spin liquid samples in order to separatecomponents. Though more than 60 years old, the squat device stillworks just as well as the state-of-the-art computers and blinkingelectronic gizmos that sit nearby.The purpose of the centrifuge is to spin samples, sure, but it also

serves as a reminder. Despite the great advances in zoo veterinaryknowledge and technology—and benefits to animals under thecare of zoo veterinarians—some things have remained the same.

FALL 2009 25

In 1959, the zoo veterinary staff consisted of the part-time presence of Dr.Lester Fisher, who later became Zoo Director. Today’s full-time veterinarystaff, led by Director of Veterinary Services Kathryn Gamble, D.V.M.,employs state-of-the-art endoscopes, radiographs and regular preven-tive check-ups to ensure the health of Lincoln Park Zoo’s animals.

Black BearUrsus americanus

As the first mammal exhibited at Lincoln ParkZoo, black bears have a special place in our history.They’ve been a part of the zoo experience for morethan 120 years. But even as the bears remain constant,each of their years is filled with great change.

Just like their wild counterparts throughout muchof North America, the zoo’s black bears’ behavior,metabolism and diet change drastically throughouteach calendar year. In the fall, they become ravenous,eating everything in sight in order to bulk up for thecoming winter, when wild bears hibernate and zoobears slow down dramatically (though never enteringfull hibernation, as food is never scarce).

Each spring, black bears return to activity andmod-erate eating—even plucking fish from their stream—which continues through the summer months.

The black bears’ menu includes, well, just abouteverything. As anyone who has had to take special pre-cautions when camping knows, black bears are omniv-orous. As such, the Nutrition Center here at the zooprovides the three resident black bears with bear bis-cuits, produce and low-calorie items like cereal andpopcorn, which keepers hide around the exhibit andatop a climbing structure, prompting the bears to workfor their treats.

The 4-year-old male at the Pritzker FamilyChildren’s Zoo is more enthusiastic about these ele-vated snacks than the geriatric female and male, whoyou can often spot snuggled up against the viewingwindow within the log at the east end of the ElizabethHubert Malott Black Bear Habitat. In winter monthsa hot rock installed in the log keeps the big guy warm.While diets and seasons change, the temperature inthis hideout is as permanent as black bears at LincolnPark Zoo.

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26 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

FALL 2009 27

From the Archives—Historic HeadlinesTake a look back at 1959, the year of The Lincoln Park

Zoological Society’s formation, with these clippings fromthe zoo scrapbooks. Even as the headlines evoke a differ-ent era, they reflect the same connection to animals—andthe community—that Lincoln Park Zoo celebrates today.

Right, top: Zoological Society leaders hold a poster, featuringKeo, used to recruit zoo members (see the appeal at bottom).Marion Simon (left) and Nancy Gross (right) still serve on thethe zoo’s Board of Directors. Right, center: Columnist IrvKupcinet announces Zoo Director Marlin Perkins’ expeditionto the Himalayas with Sir Edmund Hillary. Below: Photos ofnew arrivals were a common feature in newspapers 50 yearsago. While zoos of that era often purchased animals from thewild, today’s zoos maintain zoo-born populations with carefulscientific management.

28 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Top: The creation of the Farm-in-the-Zoo was the first major project under-taken by the Zoological Society. Overthe next 50 years, their inspiration andsupport transformed zoo grounds. Left:While Marlin Perkins acquired animalsfrom Africa in 1959, scientists todaywork to conserve them in Tanzania andthe Republic of Congo. Right: TheChildren’s Zoo, which opened in 1959,introduced generations of visitors to thewonders of wildlife. Today’s buildingspresent animals in naturalistic sur-roundings, enabling visitors to see themas they live in the wild.

Trumpeter SwanCygnus cygnus buccinator

Perhaps no animal at Lincoln Park Zoo representslongevity quite like swans. And surely none do it as grace-fully. The zoo was founded in 1868 with the gift of a pairof the angelic white birds. By 1959—the year theZoological Society was formed—generations of visitorshad grown to love the birds.

And by 2009, generations of swans had produced gener-ations of offspring,many of which now grace the wild wet-lands of the Midwest thanks to Lincoln Park Zoo’s partici-pation in a trumpeter swan release program with the IowaDepartment of Natural Resources that has resulted in 37birds (to date) being reintroduced to their wild habitat.

The current pair of trumpeter swans in the Hope B.McCormick Swan Pond, residents since 1998, began pro-ducing clutches of chicks in 2001 and have done so eachyear since. “It’s a remarkable feat,” says General Curator

field note

Megan Ross, Ph.D. “And ourparticipation with the wild-release program has been amazing.”

Graceful. Monogamous. Fertile.Sure. But trumpeter swans are hardlylightweights. The large birds (Four-footwingspans! 30 pounds!) will aggressivelydefend their territory with loud vocalizations and chargeswith outstretched wings. They tolerate the presence ofsmaller birds—such as the hooded mergansers and ruddyducks that share the Swan Pond—but will not stand forlarger birds entering their area.

Same goes for human caretakers at the zoo. Our trum-peter swans are comfortable with their regular keepers, butnewcomers entering the pond (such as service personnel)require a keeper escort, lest the feathers fly.

You don’t stick around for generations by being flighty.

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

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PAIDLincoln Park Zoo

Your membership supports everything wedo, from animal care to publishing Lincoln

Park Zoo magazine. Thank you.

Members Lounge at ZooLightsDuring ZooLights, which begins November 27, members and

their guests are invited to warmup in theMembers Lounge,which isstocked with complimentary hot drinks and snacks. Located in theTadpole Room in the lower level of Park Place Café, the MembersLounge is open 5–8 p.m. every night of ZooLights. Join us!

Annual Fund—Increase your Gift’s Impact!Now through the end of the year, your Annual Fund donation

can be worth even more. We invite you to join the Donor ClubDrive: FromOne to $150. Lincoln Park Zoo’s Board of Directors ischallenging zoo donors to increase their Annual Fund contribu-tions. Make a new Donor Club-level gift or increase last year’sDonor Club-level gift and the board will contribute an extra $150.Now is the perfect time to increase your commitment to the

zoo. Donor Club members support exemplary animal care,worldwide conservation efforts and exceptional education pro-grams, all while receiving great benefits.Visit the Support sectionof www.lpzoo.org to learn more. To participate over the phone,please call 312-742-2321.

Members Open House—Save the DateOn February 20 and 21 and March 6 and 7, members are

exclusively invited to tour Regenstein Center for African Apes.More details to follow, but mark your calendars now!

Shop for the HolidaysThe 2009 holiday card features red wolves, North American

river otters and a black bear romping through the snow withinthe Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo. This year’s holiday orna-ments range from sublime to silly. Shop for both at Wild Things!gift shop on zoo grounds or at www.lpzoo.org.

membership matters Give a Gift to RememberADOPT one of Lincoln Park Zooʼs most unique animals—

a red panda, jaguar, naked mole rat or polar bear—and givea gift to remember.

The purchase of a Gift to Remember ADOPT gives twice—once to the recipient and once to the animals at the zoo.

Each package costs $40 (plus $6 S&H) and includes a redpanda, jaguar, naked mole rat or polar bear plush, personal-ized certificate of ADOPTion, animal fact sheet, animal photo-graph and an ADOPT an Animal magnet.

ADOPT packages can be purchased at www.lpzoo.org/ADOPT,by calling 312-742-2322 or at zoo shops.