Fall 2016 member newsletter

Fall / Winter 2016
Be prepared…
the dragons are coming!
Page 10
Dear Zoo Friends,
Since it opened in 1996, the Australasia loop has been the site of
countless oohs, aahs and treasured family memories. Who could forget
the sensation of feeding a lorikeet for the first time? Or watching a tiny
kangaroo joey take a peek out of his mom’s pouch?
After 20 years of faithful service to our guests, it’s time to give this
beloved part of the Zoo an extreme makeover. When it reopens in
February 2017, all of your favorite animals and experiences will return,
and you’ll have the chance to experience some incredible new additions:
• A state-of-the-art Komodo dragon exhibit
• A walk-through kangaroo yard and feeding
experience
• New and improved aviaries with better flow
and amenities
• A 100-seat outdoor theater for presentations
• Hands-on activities showing how climate
change is affecting animals in Australia
and Asia
As one of just a few accredited, not-for-profit zoos
not associated with a government body, our existence depends on
remaining competitive. These improvements will make the Zoo and Brevard
County a more compelling place to visit, which in turn will allow us to invest
more in our community-based education and conservation programs.
We look forward to seeing you at the reopening in February! In the
meantime, you can visit and feed your winged friends in their beautiful
“vacation homes” we built in Wild Florida.
See you at the Zoo,
Keith Winsten
Executive Director, Brevard Zoo
ECZS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Heather McDonough - President
Toni George
Joni Norton
Jessica Assam
Beth Gitlin
Cole Oliver
Jackie Barker
Steven B. Harrison
Taylor Pancake
Laura Bomalaski
Mark Huey
Barbara Wall Scanlon
Kim Brown
Dana Kilbourne
Lew Schwartz
Michael Cerow
Heather Lewis
Kent Smith
Michelle Masline
Scott Miller
Mary Smith
Mike Crews
Leasha Flammio-Watson William W. Moore Mary Ann Sperando
William Glenn Young
Christy Galzerano
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Keith Winsten - Executive Director
Jon Brangan - Deputy Director
Frank Fieseler - Chief Operating/Financial Officer
Michelle Smurl - Director of Animal Programs
Trevor Zachariah, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACZM
- Director of Veterinary Programs
Jody Palmer - Director of Conservation Programs
Chris DeLorey - Director of Education
Cheri Purnell - Director of Membership Programs
Karen Davis - Director of Development
Andrea Hill - Director of Marketing & Communications
Sharon Connelly - Director of Operations
Jean Galvin - Director of Volunteer Programs
Christopher Martin - Director of Human Resources
Andrew Batten - Director of Risk Management
Dan Wright - Director of Facilities
How to reach us:
321-254-9453
General Zoo Information ......................ext. 220
Membership ...............................................ext. 231
Education ...................................................ext. 219
Volunteer Opportunities ........................ext. 440
8225 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940
BrevardZoo.org
Thank you to our Corporate Partners
Wildlife Conservation through
Education and Participation
Brevard Zoo is funded in part by the State
of Florida, Department of State, Division
of Cultural Affairs, The Florida Arts
Council and by the Brevard County Board
of County Commissioners and Brevard
County Tourist Development Council.
SELECT PHOTOS COURTESY OF
BREVARD ZOO STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
Printed on 100% Recycled Paper
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EVENTS
September 3-5; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Enter the World of Crocodilians at this beloved annual event! Bruce Shwedick of the
Crocodilian Conservation Center of Florida will be on hand with Nile, Cuban, American
and slender-snouted crocodiles. We will also celebrate the opening of our marine toad
and Jamaican boa exhibits in the Caribbean Trail!
As always, you’ll have the chance to feed stingrays, cheer for your favorite tortoise
in a nail-biting reptile race and chow down on invertebrates at our Bug Buffet! All
activities are included with Zoo admission.
Title Sponsor
Saturday, November 5
7-11 p.m.
Jazzoo is beyond your wildest imagination as the Zoo transforms into a night of
limitless everything—all for one all-inclusive price! Enjoy unlimited food from more
than 40 of the area’s best restaurants, beer, wine and liquor from multiple open
bars and music on six separate stages ranging from Jazz to top 40 to surf rock to
country. Add a sports bar, biergarten, cigar lounge and mechanical bull and you
have an event too amazing for words! Acclaimed saxophonist Jackiem Joyner
returns to headline.
Tickets are available to members at a discounted rate of $70 if purchased by October 15.
A VIP upgrade, which includes one-hour early admission, animal encounters and preferred
parking on Zoo property, is available for a $25 upcharge.
Grab your tickets online at BrevardZoo.org or by phone at 321-254-9453 ext. 283. See
you in November!
Premier Presenting Sponsor
Signature Sponsors
3
EVENTS
Cont.
SPECIAL ZOO
MEMBER PRICING!
Back and more spooktacular than
ever! Stop by the Zoo in October
to experience this family-favorite
Halloween activity, featuring
more than 30 treat stations each
weekend. Once you’ve had your
fill of candy, brave a tween-friendly haunted
house, take a ride on the Boo Choo train, rock out with our DJ,
channel your creative spirit with creepy games and go for the gold in our costume contest!
October 14, 16, 21 and 23
Treat Station sponsorship
opportunities are available
Contact Chris Stagman at
cstagman@BrevardZoo.org
or 321-254-9453 ext. 485 for
more information
Boo at the Zoo will take place on October 14-16, 21-23 & 28-30 from 5:30-9 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays
and 5:30-8 p.m. on Sundays
The Woods
Family...Extended
Everyone met the
Woods family last
year, the suppliers of
that “special quality”
beef town residents
liked so much.
Well, authorities
discovered the gruesome details
of where the meat was coming from the night of the
Harvest Celebration. There was an investigation and they
quickly rounded up and arrested what Woods family they
could find and any Grounders that were tending to the
ranch. The Woods Ranch
has now been turned into
a maximum security
mental institution called
The Dark Woods House
of the Deeply Disturbed.
Authorities have invited the community to an open house
at the asylum, to allay any fears they might have. Can we
really escape the Woods?
Join us October 7-8, 14-15, 20-22
and 28-29 from 8:30 to 11 p.m. at Treetop Trek
What could possibly go wrong?
Learn more and get tickets at runforyourfreakinlife.com
EXTRA ZOO SAVINGS!
Florida Resident Specials
(August 1 through December 16)
Zip into savings at Treetop Trek!
Arrive before noon and take 25% off any
course except Chutes and Ladders! May not
be combined with any other discount, offer
or promotion; not valid September 3-5 or
November 23-27. All participants must
present a state-issued photo ID and the
flyer found at TreetopTrek.com.
WARPED WALL
Not content to push your limits with zip lines?
Challenge yourself with the Warped Wall, Treetop Trek’s newest experience! After
a brief running start, see if you can ascend a steep 12-foot ramp and pull yourself
over the top. Three attempts are included with the purchase of Canopy Walk,
Challenge Reloaded, Black Diamond or Zip Only. Guests not participating in Treetop
Trek may purchase three attempts for five dollars.
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$3 TUESDAYS
$5 SUNDAYS
IN SEPTEMBER
Big savings lie ahead
for friends and family! All
September long, general
admission for Florida
residents is just three
dollars on Tuesdays and
five dollars on Sundays,
starting after Labor Day
Weekend. Each person
will need to show a valid
Florida ID to receive the
discounted rate.
This offer cannot be
combined with any other
discount, offer or promotion.
We are WILD about our MEMBERS!
Your kids can come GROW with us here at the Zoo! Check out all the amazing programs we have
available for kids ages 2 to 16 and best of all, only Zoo members get discounts on all of our activities.
To register or learn more about our programs visit BrevardZoo.org/education/experiences
ZOOper kids 
9-10:30 a.m. • Ages: 2-4
Give your tot the opportunity to explore
nature in a safe, nurturing environment. Join
us monthly for animal encounters, a walk
through the Zoo, games, crafts and more!
September — Carnivore Countdown  October — Artistic Animals
November — Holiday Helpers  January — Season’s Greetings
FOUR-CLASS SERIES:
Adult/Child pair
$60 Members
$80 Non-members
TWO-CLASS SERIES:
Adult/Child pair
$30 Members
$40 Non-members
ZOO CREW
2-4 p.m. • Ages: 5-12
(drop-off is optional for ages 5-8 and preferred for ages 9-12)
$15 Members • $20 Non-members
Our homeschool classes, led by Zoo educators, inspire
and challenge students through interactive lessons as
we explore interesting and current topics in science and
conservation.
September — Animal Architects
October — What Color is Your Camouflage?
December — Eat or Be Eaten!
November — Classify This!
February — Awesome Amphibians
January — Amazing Plants
JR. ZOOKEEPER CLUB
1-3 p.m. • Ages: 10-13
Hey, tweens: Join our club for access to special behind-the-scenes tours, amazing animal encounters
and fun social opportunities. Cost per session: $15 Members $20 Non-members
Exclusive Event cost: $24 Members $24 Non-members
September 18 — Quarantine Queries
October 16 — Heroic: Horseshoe Crabs
November 20 — Stellar Siamangs
December 10 — Jr. Zookeeper Challenge (Exclusive Event)
Winter
WINTER break
BREAK camp
CAMP
Amazing Animals
p
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
December 27-30
Explore all the ways animals have adapted
to make it in the wild and see up close how
amazing they are!
For children in grades K-6
Animal Super Senses
- 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
January 3-6
Campers will investigate the different senses of a variety
of animals and discover what makes them so unique.
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FAMILY FUN
Calling All Wildlife Detectives:
New Zoo Mysteries Each Month!
Does your family like adventure and mystery? Each month, we have new Zoo mysteries, so
stop by the Wildlife Detective Training Academy between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to grab a case before
embarking on your next Zoo excursion. All new detectives receive an official Detective Card after
solving their first animal mystery. After four solved cases, you achieve Brevard Zoo Detective status
and receive an honorary place on our detective wall!
Lights Out Safari Adventures!
Are you brave enough to embark on a nocturnal safari? These special
evening programs are full of adventure and include a nighttime stroll
through the Zoo, up-close animal encounters, fun activities and pizza for
dinner. Our overnights include a continental breakfast.
Night Hikes
Upcoming Dates
Ages 5-12
September 10 - Survival Safari Challenge
5-9 p.m.
October 8 - Experimentation Exploration (Night Hike only)
$24 Members
November 19 - Zoo Mythbusters
$28 Non-members
Overnights
Ages 7-12
5 p.m.-9 a.m.
$35 Members
$45 Non-members
HAPPY NEW YEAR! OVERNIGHT
December 31 - New Year’s Eve
(Overnight Only. See page 18)
Zoo Teens
The Zoo Teen volunteer
program allows youth to
serve their community by
increasing environmental
awareness and exploring
career opportunities. Each year, Zoo Teens (ages 13 to 16) work alongside
staff to create a positive and memorable experience for Zoo visitors. Teens
perform a variety of tasks at the Zoo, including animal husbandry, animal
handling, face painting and assisting with Zoo camps, special events and
public education programs. Applications for the 2017 program are due by
Sunday, October 2. Visit BrevardZoo.org/volunteer-programs/zoo-teenprograms for details.
20th Annual Teacher Open House
Celebrate your child’s special
day at the Zoo! Choose a
Treetop Trek
adventure or
a nighttime
excursion
through the Zoo. Contact
edregistrar@BrevardZoo.org
for more information.
6
This year’s educators-only event will be
September 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy a night to mix and mingle with
other educators, plan experiences for
your students and win great door prizes!
Educational organizations and businesses
from throughout Central Florida will
be present to talk with educators and
provide informational handouts and
freebies for your classroom and school. 
For more information and to register, visit
BrevardZoo.org/education/groups.
Lands of Change:
Australia and Beyond
G’day, mates! When our Australasia Loop re-opens in February
2017, it will debut as a new experience with a new name: Lands
of Change: Australia and Beyond. Have no fear, though all of your
favorite animals will return and will be joined by some brand-new
species as well. A thrilling addition to the trail will be Komodo
dragons, the world’s largest lizards. Though our dragons are
still young, these mighty reptiles have the potential to grow as
long as 10 feet. The state-of-the-art exhibit will give our dragons
plenty of room to grow and will mimic a sandy beach on the
dragons’ island home in Indonesia. A large water feature will
include freshwater fish and an opportunity to watch the dragons
swimming below your feet from a glass walkway.
Of course, all of your old favorites will be returning in new and exciting ways, too!
Surrounding a central plaza area, our raucous flocks of lorikeets and cockatiels as
well as our red kangaroos, wallabies and emus will return to their own interactive
exhibits. You will once again be able to purchase seed sticks or nectar cups to feed
the birds and will also be able to feed our kangaroos. The kangaroo exhibit will be
reconfigured to allow guests to travel a path inside the exhibit and offer a treat to
our adorable marsupial mob. This new plaza area will drastically improve the flow of
traffic and will allow you to park your stroller and enjoy each walk-through exhibit at
your own pace. There will be no more need to backtrack to collect your stroller after
visiting the birds.
Our group of fruit bats will make a return in a brand-new walk-in exhibit that will
allow them to display their natural behaviors in full view of guests. The exhibit will
allow you to better appreciate these amazing flying mammals.
Along the waterfront near the entrance to the trail will be a 100-seat outdoor theater.
This theater will be home to presentations and demonstrations and allow us an
opportunity to introduce you to our animals in a variety of new ways. All along the
trail you will be able to participate in hands-on activities that will demonstrate how
climate change is affecting animals in Australia and around the world.
With returning favorites and all-new experiences, we are excited to share this fresh
look at the amazing wildlife of Australia and the islands of southeast Asia.
ALSO PLANNED FOR 2017!
Restroom renovation and addition: Our original restrooms are due for a makeover. We will renovate
them and build two new family restrooms that will be accessible from outside the Zoo.
Celebration Garden: The Zoo has needed an elegant spot to recognize everyone who has made us so
successful over the years. Our new Garden will begin off of the Main Loop of the Zoo and travel to the
Flamingo Pond. It will be a quiet place to relax and stroll as you see some creative features that recognize
our supporters.
Compost facility: We need something to do with all of our Zoo poo! Well, we finally have an answer
thanks to Waste Management. We will be constructing our own facility to compost all of the wonderful
manure. This new space will be located behind the scenes in the back of the Zoo near our largest manureproducing barn. Once the compost has cooked and cured, we will use it around our grounds to keep all
of our plants looking and growing great.
7
C O N S E R VAT I O N
Fish Kill Cleanup
As we all remember, the Indian River Lagoon experienced
a severe fish kill in March as a result of declining water
quality and ensuing algal blooms. Zoo staff jumped into
action, working with community partners to organize a
cleanup of the dead fish, which if not removed would have
contributed to excess nutrients already plaguing the Lagoon.
Zoo staff and volunteers alone collected more than five
tons of carcasses from the Lagoon, which resulted in an
award from the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition.
Keep Brevard Beautiful, St. Johns River Water
Management District, Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission and other organizations and individuals
worked together to remove more than 100,000 pounds
of fish! This is exactly the kind of teamwork we’ll need in
order to address our Lagoon’s issues moving forward.
Diamondback Terrapins
Did you know crab traps pose a serious threat to diamondback terrapins? By asking
one of our aquarists for a free bycatch reduction device you can prevent terrapins
from entering and drowning in your traps. And if you want to learn more about these
charismatic turtles found in the Lagoon, we host training sessions with them for
guests to see every Saturday at 11 a.m. near the Paws On Aquarium.
Oyster Mats
After eight years
and 77 restored
reefs, the Oyster
Mat project has
completed its original
goal of oyster restoration in Mosquito Lagoon within
Canaveral National Seashore! Thanks to the dedication
of over 48,000 volunteers in the local community as
well as visitors from afar, more than 45,000 oyster mats
have been deployed to potentially recruit 10.6 million live
oysters to clean the Lagoon and protect our shorelines!
Brevard Zoo, University of Central Florida and many other
fabulous project partners and community volunteers
participated in this project.
Though our restoration efforts will no longer be needed
within Canaveral National Seashore, Dr. Linda Walters
and her team at UCF will continue to monitor the reefs
and migrate their restoration efforts further north in the
Lagoon. Our Lagoon still needs plenty of help, so the
Oyster Mat project will be teaming up with the Oyster
Gardening project to give the Brevard County area even
more support! This effort will transform into what will be
known as the “Restore Our Shores Project,” focusing not
8
just on mats but also oyster
bags and shoreline plantings
of spartina seagrass and
mangroves. We are very
excited to see what these two
projects can accomplish together!
Fascinated by frogs?
Want to become a
citizen scientist?
Your family can be a part of a nationwide
conservation effort by signing up for a FrogWatch
USA training session, where we’ll teach you
everything you need to know about listening for
frogs in your own backyard!
Ages: 7 and up
Cost: $5 per household (up to 4 family members)
Upcoming training sessions: February 1, 10 & 18
Oyster Gardening
The Oyster Gardening team deployed 2016’s first oyster
reefs in May at the Merritt Island Riverpoint Program
Center, placing 1,270 blank oyster shell mats and
540 half-sized oyster shell bags in order to build two reefs,
one on the Banana River side and one on the Sykes
Creek side.
Oyster gardeners dropped off their carefully tended oysters
at Kiwanis Park in Merritt Island that were then mixed with
half-sized oyster shell bags filled with blank shell. Over the course of two days, the
Oyster Restoration team, staff from Brevard County Natural Resources Department
(BCNRD) and 96 volunteers from across the county participated in the reef build.
Since the Merritt Island Riverpoint Program Center is affiliated with the Girl Scouts
Citrus Council, a troop of upper-level Scouts traveled all the way from Kissimmee to
volunteer for the second day of reef building! Once finished, the team built 400 total
linear feet of oyster reef.
The next 2016 Brevard County oyster reef location is at Geiger Point in Melbourne.
Once completed, this reef will measure 700 linear feet, the largest reef built by the
oyster gardening team in the county! In early June, our Zoo Teens, BCNRD staff and
Sorensen Moving Company employees helped us gather and move thousands of mats
and bags to the deployment site. We expect the Geiger Point reef and a smaller reef in
Merritt Island to be finished at the end of the month.
Sea Turtle Healing Center
2016 has been a busy year for the
Sea Turtle Healing Center! So far, we’ve
admitted 28 patients, released 14 and
transferred four. Nine turtles remain in
our care.
Even though our staff and volunteers did
everything they could for them, we lost
11 turtles as their conditions continued
to deteriorate. We are saddened by their
passing, but this is the nature of wildlife
rehabilitation.
Zoo members, staff,
volunteers and partners made this
year’s Party for the Planet another
success! More than 1,200 guests
visited the Zoo April 16 to learn and
take part in the different ways our
community supports the 4 Rs: reducing,
reusing, recycling and refusing.
Thank you to our sponsor
Florida City Gas and local partners Sea Turtle
Preservation Society, Blue Life, Recycle Brevard and
Goodwill for participating in the event!
Our new bead filter,
which was purchased
with funds generated
by the Sea Turtle
Conservancy’s Turtle Krawl, is now up and running!
This filter can handle larger waste loads and doesn’t
require as much maintenance as other models, which
saves us valuable time and money.
We also created a new position to hire a part-time sea
turtle assistant. Having more staff on hand allows us
to devote even more much-deserved attention to each
patient as we nurse them back to health!
9
AN I MAL
Anna and Elsa and learn what enrichments they really
enjoy. This, along with daily behavioral training, has
allowed the dragons and their caretakers to form a trustbased bond and minimize stress when they relocate to
their permanent home.
Komodo Dragons
One of the most exciting aspects of next year’s
Australasia reopening is a Komodo dragon exhibit! You
and your family will be able to view the world’s largest
lizards in a natural setting and, if you’re lucky, watch
them swim beneath your feet through an acrylic panel!
Elsa and Anna, who are arguably the Zoo’s best-kept
secrets, arrived in May 2015 and currently occupy a
large holding area in our Expedition Africa barn. These
two sisters, who will turn three years old on Halloween,
have very unique personalities. Elsa is brave and
adventurous, while Anna tends to be more reserved and
curious. Having them behind the scenes has given the
keepers the special opportunity to spend extra time with
Science Update
Have you ever seen our jaguars licking an ice block
with fish inside? How about the birds playing with a
cardboard toy? New, challenging and fun puzzles keep
our animals mentally stimulated and interested in their
world—an essential component of animal wellness.
Providing enrichment also helps us understand our
animals better. Like you, when scientists see our
young spider monkey exploring his habitat, we
wonder, “what’s he thinking”? Watching how he solves
challenging puzzles provides a glimpse into his thought
processes and cognitive abilities.
One of our current projects involves a challenge where
two spider monkeys have to work together to get a reward
that’s just out of their reach. We weigh a tray down with
food so that it’s too heavy for one monkey to reach. But, if
two monkeys pull together, they get a tasty treat! Not only
is this a new, enriching puzzle for the monkeys to solve; it
is also helping to answer the question of whether or not
they can learn to cooperate. (Hint: we think they can!)
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Because Komodo dragons are venomous, we use a
technique known as “proteced contact,” which means
the animals and their caretakers don’t occupy the same
space without some sort of barrier. A large window was
installed in their current habitat so that the keepers can
safely train the animals and offer immediate positive
reinforcement.
Komodo dragons are found on several Indonesian
islands, where they use their strong neck muscles to
take down large prey like deer and wild boars. Because
it is important for these muscles to be used, keepers
have crafted special feeders and enrichments that
encourage the dragons to pull on their prey as they
would in the wild.
Adults can weigh up to 350 pounds and grow to over
nine feet in length; Elsa and Anna are each currently
under nine pounds and four feet long, so guests will be
able to watch them grow up over time. Be prepared…
the dragons are coming!
In the coming months, look for
more of these exciting puzzles
in the primate exhibits. We are
currently training the spider
monkeys to use a touchscreen
computer, testing their color
vision abilities and seeing if they
can count. I’m often at the Zoo
with my team of Florida
Tech students to work
on projects or collect
behavioral data; if
you see us in the red
Florida Tech shirts, feel
free to say hello and
ask us what we’re doing
to learn more about the
minds of animals.
— Darby Proctor, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Florida Institute of Technology
U P D AT E
Did You EAAT Today?
Enrichment happens every day at the Zoo to engage our animals
in natural behaviors like digging, climbing, running and jumping.
To come up with exciting new enrichments for their
charges, the keepers devised a friendly competition called
EAAT (Enriching Animals Awesomely Teams). Every month,
our six teams create a fun challenge, toy or food item for
their animals based on a theme. This project is still new,
but so far we have seen our lorikeets devour treats under
an umbrella for April Showers, giraffe “dance” around a
maypole for May Flowers and lemurs rip open boxes of
treats delivered by Santa Claus himself for Christmas in July. The animals seem to enjoy the
new enrichments and the public has been able to keep up with the action on our Facebook
page. We can’t wait to see what the keepers will come up with next!
Commissary
and veterinarian, then updated by the Diet Specialist.
With over 800 resident animals representing 184 species
at the Zoo, one thing needs to be addressed every single
day: food! Some animals hope for worms and fruit while
others can’t wait to start munching on hay and carrots. A
few slithering friends are looking for mice on their plate
and at least one picky jaguar demands ground pork.
So many appetites with so much diversity in behaviors,
backgrounds, needs and preferences. Who can help? Enter
the Diet Specialist.
With so many diets going into the Zoo each day, the
commissary team has devised methods for easily locating
what food is needed and when. Color-coded buckets
for each loop in the Zoo help the keepers find what
they need. Separate carts containing the morning and
afternoon buckets distinguish which diets are for which
feeding. Looking for a sloth diet? Check the afternoon
cart for a green bucket; green is the color for La Selva and
since the sloth is nocturnal, the diet will go out later.
Each day at 5:30 a.m., the first person to arrive at the Zoo
is the Diet Specialist. They begin by cruising through over
300 bird diets, many the same, many very, very different.
In the aviary, the lorikeets will go through two gallons of
nectar and a full five-gallon bucket of small diced fruits,
pellets and vegetables. The kookaburra will eat three small
mice. The wrinkled hornbills want a variety of fruits, figs,
ground meat and pellets. The ducks need special waterfowl
pellets and some chopped lettuce. The Diet Specialist has
all these recipes set in a specific order, making sure similar
diets are made together to save time. Once the bird diets are
completed, work begins on more than 200 mammal diets,
as well as meals for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Great communication from the animal care team
allows for individual needs to be met. One particular
macaw doesn’t like walnuts? This information is
passed along from his keeper to the Diet Specialist
and added to the notes. No more walnuts for him,
but his buddy might still get some. The warty pigs are
gaining weight? An adjustment is made by the curators
A second Diet Specialist arrives in the early afternoon
to pick up where their coworker left off, finishing all
cleaning and preparations for the next day at 7:30 p.m.
Since everyone expects to eat
again tomorrow, the whole
process starts over again each
day, with exciting new findings
along the way. Whether it has fur,
scales, fangs or a beak, the Diet
Specialists are ready to make each
animal something nutritious and
delicious to eat!
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A N I M A L U P DAT E
Cont.
Australasia Keepers
Prepare For Piglets
After reintroducing our male Visayan warty pig,
Pandan, to females Fancy and Makina, keepers hoped
for a successful pregnancy and piglets. The last time
the Zoo had warty pig babies was 2011; at that time,
closely observing the female pig’s weight was the best
tool keepers had for identifying a pregnancy. This time
around, keepers have trained Fancy and Makina to
participate in a voluntary ultrasound!
Before the training process began, part of their
enclosure was modified into a training wall by making
flaps that lift up; this allowed access to the pigs’ bellies
while giving them the freedom to leave the training
session at any time.
To start, the pigs were trained to line up and hold still
next to the training wall. Next, a capped PVC pole was
rubbed on their bellies to mimic an ultrasound probe.
Once the pigs were comfortable
with the mock ultrasound probe,
a veterinary technician began
attending training sessions to
desensitize the pigs to
her presence. Finally,
the vet tech was able
to bring a portable
machine to the exhibit
and give Fancy
her first voluntary
ultrasound!
A second ultrasound
produced a picture of a possible fetus and a third one in
late July revealed Fancy was carrying two piglets. The more
timid Makina has not yet had a successful ultrasound, but
she is getting closer each training session. Training animals
for voluntary medical procedures creates less stress for the
animal and helps keepers identify as early as possible if
an animal is sick, aids in treating injuries, and, in this case,
helps us prepare for piglets.
White-Faced Sakis
Chuckette (affectionately known as “Chuckie” by our keepers) is the Zoo’s
resident breeding female white-faced saki monkey. She lives in La Selva with
her daughter Alexandria, young son Blackbeard and partner Yuki. Although
Chuckie has had numerous offspring at the Zoo, we almost never see her
mating with Yuki, and monitoring her weight was until recently the only way
for us to detect a pregnancy.
Nikki, one of our La Selva keepers, came up with a training plan that enabled
Chuckie to participate in voluntary ultrasounds, which would allow us to
monitor the fetus’ development. Keepers lodged a small PVC pipe through
the mesh of Chuckie’s exhibit, trained her to place her hands on the pipe
and reinforce the behavior with watered-down peanut butter. Next, they
desensitized her to being touched on the belly by a mock ultrasound wand.
After many training sessions, keepers performed an ultrasound on June 29;
this was the first time Chuckie had ever seen the machine, gel or technician.
She was a little fidgety but did very well overall! We tried again the next day
and, although we didn’t get a great picture, it was obvious she was carrying
a fetus! She is most likely near the end of this pregnancy but we hope to
continue these training sessions to keep track of fetal development in future
pregnancies. As is the case with all animal training, Chuckie was free to come
and go as she pleased.
12
Seriema Chick
On June 7, red-legged seriemas Bella and Beast successfully hatched a chick in their
exhibit in La Selva! This featherless bundle of joy quickly won over the hearts of its
keepers, who named the chick “Chip.”
Seriema chicks grow up on the fast track. They are born with their eyes open and
can stand at one week of age. At two weeks, many will venture down from the nest
and by three weeks, they’re already walking with their parents. At four months, they
are fully grown and ready to live on their own.
Very early on, an astute keeper noticed that one of
Chip’s legs was slightly swollen. A veterinary inspection
revealed a piece of nesting material wound around
the top of Chip’s leg, which was removed immediately.
Thanks to the observations of the keeper and the
quick work of our veterinary staff, the swelling
subsided and Chip sustained no damage to his leg.
Chip is very curious and eager to greet the keepers.
At this time, Bella and Beast are throwing food on
the ground, encouraging Chip to search for it!
Three Is Not A Crowd
In early July, we welcomed a third zebra to our herd! Lauren, who
was born in 2013, lost her mother when she was just three weeks old.
Because she was hand-raised and didn’t have the social skills to be a
part of a large group, it was determined that she would be better off
with a smaller herd like ours.
After arriving at her new
home, Lauren was unloaded
into a stall near the exhibit
and introduced to fellow
zebras Iggy and Zonka
through the barn window.
After a few days of
adjustment, Lauren was
given sole access to the yard
she would
eventually share with Iggy, Zonka and the
rhinos; this allowed her to explore the new
area without being harassed by the other
animals. Next, all three zebras were let into
the yard together and, although some kicking
and biting was expected, the transition was
very smooth. On July 19, female rhinos Kabibi
and Uzuri were added to the mix, and male
Howard joined them the following day. Again,
this transition went very well, and Lauren
acted like she had lived here with the rhinos
for her entire life!
13
We
Our Members!
Your Zoo membership isn’t just a terrific value for you–it benefits the whole Zoo! Memberships are an
important source of funding for the Zoo–they help support the day-to-day demands of animal care as well as
our conservation and education efforts. Brevard Zoo is a private, not-for-profit organization. In fact, we are one of a handful of accredited zoos that
doesn’t depend on public funding to pay the bills. On average, we earn 90 cents of every dollar we spend
while providing truly unique experiences with nature. We connect you with the natural world at a fraction of
the cost of most other attractions and we work hard to educate your children and preserve our wildlife. Thank
you for your support, it does make a real difference. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS:
REMEMBER: Skip the line!
• Go straight to the turnstile with your membership
card and photo ID for each named member.
• Your membership card is valid for the person(s)
whose name appears on the card. Supporting
photo ID is required for the named adults.
• Children (ages 21 and under) covered on the
membership may use the card even if their parents
are not present.
• A named adult member must be present for guest
option (Plus Plans) entrance or admission.
• Memberships are non-refundable and nontransferable.
• Duplicate or replacement cards can be purchased
for a $5 fee.
REDUCED ADMISSION to more than 120 zoos and
aquariums nationwide.
EARLY ADMISSION – open at 9 a.m. for members.
Come in and see us getting ready for the day!
10% DISCOUNT at Wonders of the Wild gift shop and on
select food and beverage purchases.
BUY 1 GET 1 FREE kayaking at the Zoo (subject to
blackout dates and availability).
$6 OFF Rhino Encounters.
$3 OFF paddle boat excursions.
DISCOUNT on select camps, education programs and
birthday party packages.
SPECIAL MEMBER-ONLY ticket pricing on select
evenings for Boo at the Zoo.
Volunteer Superstars
As a community Zoo, we encourage and appreciate public involvement. United by their passion
for animals, conservation and education, our volunteers come from all walks of life and assist in
virtually every aspect of our operations. For more information about volunteering at the Zoo
and the exciting opportunities that await, visit BrevardZoo.org/volunteer-programs.
Our volunteer team is comprised of more than 350 amazing volunteers, each giving at least 4 hours
a week. We appreciate all of our volunteers and the hard work they do for us, but also wanted to take
a moment to recognize 26 of them for going above and beyond the call of duty. What does it mean to go
above and beyond? These volunteers not only give more than 250 hours of service a year to the Zoo,
but also rise to the occasion when we are short-staffed or there is a call-out, sign up for special
events, and so much more! Congratulations to our Volunteer Superstars:
14
Spencer Anderson
Carl Applin
Mike Babich
Nancy Cooper
Laurie Der
Bob Hassol
Tanis Hatt
Carolyn Jenkins
Pat Jones
Carol Lavin
Donna Meger
Sandy Meierer
Karen Moser
Linda Owiesny
Dennis Palmer
Patricia Palmer
John Pordon
Judy Price
Tom Rossi
Susanne Saether
David Saylor
Dawn Smith
Barb Stewart
Bob Sunshine
Morris Susaneck
Steve Taylor
Indra Wagner
This year’s Safari Under the Stars
celebrated the Zoo’s amazing
achievements and, with the support of
our incredibly generous community,
assured the continued success of
our mission of wildlife conservation
through education and participation.
Raising a record-breaking $570,000,
the event was punctuated by the
introduction of groundbreaking
initiatives like the creation of a
designated venue and educational
program designed specifically
for children with special needs.
Renowned animal behaviorist and
autism advocate Temple Grandin
was on hand to discuss her personal
experiences and impel our attendees
to support this life-changing project.
Nearly $100,000 was raised for this
effort alone.
This year’s celebration marked our
first sustainability focused event,
eliminating single-use foodservice
items wherever possible. Attendees
gathered around our new hands-on
conservation kiosk to learn about
what we’re doing to protect local
mangroves, oysters and pollinators.
On behalf of the entire community,
we could not be more grateful to
our sponsors who are ensuring such
extraordinary benefits for all who
make the Space Coast their home.
2016
Title Sponsor
Red Carpet
Sponsor
Safari After Dark
Sponsor
Sustainability
Sponsor
Entertainment
Sponsor
Street of Dreams
Silent Auction
Sponsor
Healthy Zoo
Healthy You
Sponsor
Gala Dinner
Sponsor
Premier
Luxury Car
Sponsor
Give From the Heart
Showcase Sponsor
Safari Spirit
Sponsor
Dessert, Liqueur
& Cigar Lounge
Sponsor
Nyami Nyami River
Lodge Pre-Party
Sponsor
Central Plaza
Reception
Sponsor
Walter and Dotti
Gatti
Garvin Wealth
Management
In-Kind:
Bagel World  Cake So Simple
Carrabba’s Italian Grill  Chick-fil-A
Classic Wood Flooring  Crush Eleven
Cupcake Girl  Digital Graphics Printing
Dunkin’ Donuts  Exclusive Cigars
Florida Beer Company  Four C’s Nursery
Freeze Frame  Good Impressions Printing
Green Turtle Market  Kernal Encore
Jenn Manaseri  Ossorio Bakery & Cafe
Panache – A Classic Party Rentals Company
Panera Bread  Party Elegance Catering
Renaissance Catering of Cocoa
Sam’s Club
SKY Advertising  The Soltree Company
Southern Wine & Spirits
Starbucks-Rockledge
Lynda Ulrich  K. Thomas Robbins & Gayle E. Woodson
15
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Take a Walk on the WILD side with these Tours!
Wild Encounter
Cost: $125 per person
This unparalleled adventure takes visitors off the boardwalk on an awe-
inspiring hour and a half to two hours of fun getting up close and personal
with some of the Zoo’s most charismatic animal residents. The tour starts
with the Lemur Rendezvous encounter then continues on with a Rhino
encounter and ends with giraffe and/or zebra. Guests learn the intricacies
involved in keeping these beautiful creatures conditioned, healthy and
mentally enriched. Guests can explore first-hand how the Zoo’s skilled
keepers utilize their training to interact with the animals.
Wild Encounter Tours are offered Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Reservations are required 14 days in advance of desired date and subject to
availability. Wild Encounter Tours are limited to 6 guests per tour. Available
to ages 5 and older (due to kayaking requirements); children ages 5 to 11 must be accompanied by a
paying adult. Zoo admission is included with the Wild Encounter tour.
Lemur Rendezvous
Cost: $44.95 per person
Take a kayak tour to the lush island home of our ring-tailed lemurs
and get closer than ever. Experience is 45 minutes to one hour
and includes the kayaking tour with a 20-minute stop on lemur
island. This is not a hands-on experience. You are welcome to
take pictures and our lemurs may come up and touch you, but
you will not be able to hold or touch them.
Lemur Rendezvous is offered Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30
a.m. Reservations are required 14 days in advance of desired
date and subject to availability. Lemur Rendezvous experience
is limited to 6 guests per tour. Available to ages 5 and older
(due to kayaking requirements); children ages 5 to 11 must be
accompanied by a paying adult. Zoo admission is not included
with Lemur Rendezvous.
Jungle Encounter
Cost: $34.95 per person
Step off the boardwalk and immerse yourself in the world of La
Selva–the rainforest! Meet anteaters, a sloth and other rainforest
creatures in this magical 30-minute adventure. You will be able
to touch and feed some of the animals, but you will not be able
to hold them.
Jungle Encounter is offered
Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m.
Reservations are required 14 days
in advance of desired date and subject to availability. Jungle
Encounter experience is limited to 6 guests per tour. Available to ages
5 and older; children ages 5 to 11 must be accompanied by a paying
adult. Zoo admission is not included with Jungle Encounter.
16
Cost:Zoo Members $13.95 per person
Non-Members $19.95 per person
Rhino Encounters
Meet the Zoo’s magnificent massive rhinos up
close and personal! These incredible encounters
are offered daily (contingent on weather and
rhinos) from noon to 1 p.m. Rhino Encounters
are limited to 10 guests per encounter and
subject to availability. Each tour lasts about 20
minutes. Children under the age of 12 must be
accompanied by a paid adult. Zoo admission is
not included with Rhino Encounters.
Individual holiday gift certificates for each course can be
purchased online at TreetopTrek.com or in person at the
Treetop Trek harness house during normal operating hours.
Holiday gift certificates are valid through December 31, 2017.
Annual passes are also available and
make a great holiday gift! The cost for
Chutes and Ladders Flight Pass is $79 and
the cost for the Annual Flight Pass (which
includes the Canopy Walk, Challenge
Reloaded, Black Diamond and Zip-Only)
is $199. Annual passes can be purchased
online or at the Treetop Trek harness
house during normal operating hours. For
more information, visit TreetopTrek.com or
call 321-254-9453 ext. 253.
Adopt an animal
and continue
to support
YOUR Zoo!
Furry, feathery or hairy…claws, paws, beaks or scales? By participating in this program, you have
the satisfaction of knowing your contribution supports the daily care and well-being of our animals. A
Share the Care “adoption” is the perfect (not to mention unique AND unconventional) holiday gift!
FEATURING: ALLIGATOR, ARMADILLO, DEER, FLAMINGO, FOX, JAGUAR, MONKEY, OTTER OR OWL
COST: $35 and includes an official “adoption” certificate; species ‘“Facts & Fun” sheet; Share the Care
magnet; Zoobooks™ Animal Champions; and plush animal (your selected species).
All sponsored animals must remain in the custody of Brevard Zoo and no ownership rights are conferred.
“Adopt” online at BrevardZoo.org or call 321-254-9453 ext. 231 or ext. 225
17
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Cont.
Give a WILD GIFT
that
lasts
all year
long!
Holiday Education
Programs
(See pages 5 and 6)
Program space is limited.
To register, visit
BrevardZoo.org/education
WINTER BREAK CAMPS
Kindergarten to 6th grade
(See page 5)
HAPPY NEW YEAR! OVERNIGHT
December 31 • 5:30 p.m. - 10 a.m. • Ages: 7-12
Cost: $50 Members
$65 Non-Members
GIFTS to the ANIMALS
Brevard Zoo Annual Memberships
make great holiday gifts...
December 20-23 • 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Strap on your jingle bells
and head to the Zoo to
watch the animals unwrap
exciting gifts! On Thursday
and Friday, jam with our DJ,
play fun holiday-themed
games and meet Santa and
Mrs. Claus! See our website
for a complete schedule.
MEMBERS GET MORE!
PURCHASE GIFT MEMBERSHIPS
AT THE MEMBER SERVICES WINDOW,
ONLINE AT BREVARDZOO.ORG
OR CALL 321-254-9453 ext. 231 OR ext. 225
GO A LITTLE WILD...
JOIN the
YOUR CHOICE OF
Cheetah • Giraffe • Lemur • Meerkat • Rhino • Zebra
$25 - Plush animal of your choice and Safari Club magnet
Celebrate the New Year with us on Saturday,
$50 - Plush animal of your choice, Safari Club magnet and tote bag
$100 - Safari Club certificate of support, plush animal of
your choice, Safari Club magnet and tote bag
18
Join the Safari Club online at brevardzoo.org
or call 321-254-9453 ext. 231 or ext. 225
December 31 at our fourth annual Noon
Year’s Eve Celebration. From 11 a.m. to 1
p.m., kids can make crafts and play games
in Paws On then join us at noon at the Paws
On stage for a juice toast to ring in 2017! All
activities are included with Zoo admission.
Let Us Host Your Next Event
Our Event Space is Great for Fundraising Events,
Weddings, Company Picnics & Retreats,
Holiday Parties and More!
AT BREVARD ZOO
BrevardZoo.org • 321.254.9453 x235 or x226
19
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 98
Melbourne, FL
8225 N. Wickham Rd.
Melbourne, FL 32940
Printed on 100% Recycled Paper
Up Close and
Personal with an
Insider’s View!
How would you like to encounter a rhino up close and personal? Or be among
the first to view new animals and exhibits? Or maybe get an insider’s view of Zoo operations?
For as little as $84 a month, you and your family can join our distinguished Jaguar Society and
enjoy special VIP “perks” on every visit in recognition of your commitment to the Zoo.
In addition to monthly behind-the-scenes experiences and previews, Jaguar Society members are
given exclusive previews of all new exhibits and animals, free Zoo admission, animal feedings,
train rides, kayaking and guest passes.
If you are interested in joining this elite group of Zoo supporters, please contact our membership department at 321-254-9453
ext. 234. Our staff will happily work to craft a membership that caters to the unique needs of your family.
Thank you to all of our current members!
John and Nancy Abernathy
Bruce and Jessica Assam
Andy and Christine Barber
Mick and Jackie Barker
Tom Bedor
Larry and Cindy Bishop
John and Laura Bomalaski
Jim and Cathy Bouck
Dr. Edward Breakell and
Donna Burleson
John and Diane Breitfeller
David and Kim Brown
Gene and Becky Cavallucci
Jim and Pam Cavanaugh
Mike and Tonya Cerow
Yuan-Tsong & Alice Chen
Eric and Shelly Cooper
Nelson and Gretchen Cover
Nelson Cover III
John and Carol Craig
Mike and Becky Crews
Laurel Crowe
Phil and Jeanne Farmer
Brian and Hope Fisher
Greg Watson and Leasha
Flammio-Watson
Betsy Stabler Franz
Shane and Elaina Garvin
Walter and Dottie Gatti
Nick and Toni George
Beth Gitlin and
Scott Hoffman
Nanialei Golden and
Chris Johnson
Lazaro and Carole Gonzalez
Steve and Susan Hall
Deanne Dailey Hansen
Henry Harrison and
Ruth Lambert
Steve and Jill Harrison
Julie Harrison and
Dr. Steve Watts
Nick and Diane Heldreth
Douglas and Barbara
Hendriksen
Robert and Patricia Henry
Tom and
Cortney Hermansen
Don and Julie Herndon
Chas and
Vonnie Hoyman
Marc and Lynda Huey
Myra Igo Haley
Keith and Kerry Johnson
Mark and Lysee Kierstein
Briggs and Dana Kilborne
Matt and Sue Ann Kucera
Joanne Labbe
George Leonard and
Liz Norwood-Fields
Heather Lewis
Alan Marumoto
Michelle Masline
Clif and
Kathy McClelland
Patrick and
Heather McDonough
Scott Miller and
Valerie Duda-Miller
Steve and Jill Mimbs
Brad & Carol Missimer
Tom and Polly Molnar
Bill and Jill Moore
Doug and Joni Norton
Arden Monroe-Obermeit
and Tobias Obermeit
Roger and Jennifer Ogburn
Cole and Lizzy Oliver
Taylor and Misty Pancake
Lenny and
Carol Ann Panzini
Dan and Marian Pearson
Paul and Cheryl Pearson
Clyde and Linda Pittman
Jane Quadrozzi
Peter and Laura Rochester
Bryan and Judy Roub
Penny Sallinger
Gen. Chuck Scanlon and
Barbara Wall Scanlon
Jay and Laraine Schultz
Lew and Heather Schwartz
Kent and Mary Smith
Dan and
Mary Ann Sperando
Ken Stackpoole
Karen Sulitzer
Ralph and Nancy Taylor
Frank and Linda Vega
Joe and Peggy Ward
Glenn Young and
Liz Moran Young
Matthew and Karen Zifcak