The Wallaroo

The
Wallaroo
also in this issue
Fall Zoo Events
Featured Zookeepers
A Fantastic Evening
photo courtesy studioBarbie.com
Zoo Educational Programs
Miller Park Zoo offers a variety of fun & educational classes
for children. Reservations are required for all classes. All
program registration is handled through the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department at http://recweb.cityblm.org or
by phone at (309)434-2260.
ZOO EXPLORERS
Zoo Explorers is a 2-hour adventure for students, age 6
through 5th grade. We’ll learn about life at the zoo, meet
some animals, & work on a special project.
Registration for fall classes will begin September 3rd.
Monday, October 11, 9:00-11:00am
Monday, October 11, 1:00-3:00pm
For additional information about our programs contact Shannon at (309) 434-2256.
ANIMAL CRACKERS
for 3-5 year-old children and a grown-up
Animal Crackers class is a Miller Park Zoo classic! Join
us once each month for stories, animal encounters, crafts,
snacks, and lots of fun! Adults must accompany children to
class, but do not pay an additional registration fee. The registration fee includes admission to the zoo on the day of class.
[Older & younger siblings may not attend. Children must be
at least three years old to participate; proof of age will be
requested.]
CLASS DATES:
Friday, September 24, 9:00-10:00am
Friday, September 24, 1:00-2:00pm
Friday, September 24, 4:30-5:30pm
Saturday, September 25, 9:00-10:00am
Saturday, September 25, 10:30-11:30am
Friday, October 22, 9:00-10:00am
Friday, October 22, 1:00-2:00pm
Friday, October 22, 4:30-5:30pm
Saturday, October 23, 9:00-10:00am
Saturday, October 23, 10:30-11:30am
Cost: Family Zoo Society members: $7 per child;
nonmembers: $12 per child.
Miller Park Zoo is a member of the
American Zoo and Aquarium Association
Cost: Family Zoo Society members: $9 per child; nonmembers: $12 per child.
HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE CLASS
Miller Park Zoo offers science classes for home schooled
students, ages 8-12. These in-depth, hands-on classes can
be used to supplement your science curriculum or just give
your student an opportunity to learn more about animals.
Wed, Sept 15, 12:30-2:30
Wed, Oct 20, 12:30-2:30
Wed, Nov 17, 12:30-2:30
Wed, Dec 15, 12:30-2:30
Topic: Food Webs
Topic: How Animals Eat
Topic: Herbivores
Topic: Carnivores
& Omnivores
Cost: Family Zoo Society members: $9 per child;
nonmembers: $12 per child.
Registration begins September 3rd. All program registration is handled through the Bloomington Parks & Recreation
Department at http://recweb.cityblm.org or by phone at
(309)434-2260.
For more information about our programs contact Shannon
Reedy at (309) 434-2256.
PLEASE help us with our conservation efforts by providing your e-mail
address. Simply send an e-mail to susie.mpzs@yahoo.com with your
name in the subject area.
President’s Piece
Dear Members and Friends,
I would first like to thank all of you for your support this summer season. From
stopping by our booth at the Downtown Bloomington Association Farmers’ Market to purchasing glow-ropes during our annual July 4th glow-rope sale at Miller
Park, your support has been resolute. Your continued donation of time and
resources to the Miller Park Zoological Society (MPZS) will allow us to provide
the much needed support for Miller Park Zoo (MPZ) and their superb staff and
conservation efforts. Recently, the MPZS, with the help of our donors, was able
to provide video cameras for zookeepers to research the health and well-being
of the new red wolf mother and pups, undisturbed. For this we have you, our
members and friends, to thank.
As summer vacations and summer camps come to a close I would like to applaud parents, children, and camp counselors/educators alike. The programs
provided locally, much like the MPZ Junior Zookeeper Program, are so vitally
significant to the development of our community. All who participate in and lead
these programs are dedicated to this community and its resources. Please take
time to take a look at a Parks and Recreation Booklet in order to take advantage
of a variety of enriching opportunities available for all members of the community.
The Miller Park Zoo Do is just around the corner! This years event will be held
on Saturday, September 11th from 6pm-9pm! The Miller Park Zoo Do is the
MPZS’s largest annual fundraiser. Zoo Do will again be held at Miller Park Zoo
as it has been for the past 2 years. Our magnificent committee of volunteers
has been organizing for several months and is proud to present this years
theme...”The Wild Things.” To learn more about the MPZS and to purchase
tickets to this event please visit www.MPZS.org!
In closing, I would like to encourage each of you to visit Miller Park Zoo prior to
the start of the school year. The extraordinary zookeepers, and Junior Zookeepers, at Miller Park Zoo continue to provide each guest with knowledge and
insight to the animal kingdom. There are many ways we can contribute to global
conservation efforts. Visiting Miller Park Zoo and MPZS functions is the best
way to do so locally!!
See ‘ya at the Zoo!!
Marcos Mendez
MPZS President
A Word from Superintendant,
Jay Tetzloff
As the hot, busy summer slowly begins to wind down, the Zoo Do preparations
heat up. The Zoo Do committee has been hard at work to make this year’s Zoo
Do a fantastic event that all the attendees will certainly enjoy. This summer has
also been a time to watch the Red Ruffed Lemur babies and Red Wolf pups grow
up. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. With the addition of a new
breeding pair of Red Pandas, you might call this “the year of the red.”
In addition to the lemurs and wolves, the Zoo also welcomed a Nigerian Dwarf
Goat born in June to “Jelly Bean.” The female kid has been named “Baby Ruth”
by the zookeepers to keep the candy theme of our goat herd. Baby Ruth has
been enjoying running around in the contact yard with the rest of the goat herd.
As we celebrate the birth of some animals, we also mourn the death of long-time
resident, Cathy, the Sea Lion. She came to the Zoo in 1994. She died at the age
of seventeen years old. She will be greatly missed. The Zoo still exhibits another
California Sea Lion, Gremlin.
As I have promised in previous Tiger’s Tongue articles about new additions to your
Zoo, our Wallaby Walkabout has a few new animals for guests to enjoy. Three
Tammar Wallabies have been added as another breeding group. We are hoping
these knee-high macropods (kangaroos and wallabies) will produce many joeys
to the population. Tammar Wallabies are in a conservation breeding program that
is managed right here at the Miller Park Zoo. This program monitors all Tammar
Wallabies in North America. Also, we have added a male Common Wallaroo to
breed with our three females. He is easy to pick out since he is the largest in
the exhibit and also he is a dark chocolate color while the females are gray and
smaller. To maximize some of our exhibit space, a pair of Galahs has also been
added. Galahs are a cockatoo species that is more pink than white. Another
name for the Galah is Pink Cockatoo or Rose-Breasted Cockatoo. We hope to
mix the Galahs with our pair of Goffin’s Cockatoo. We hope that you will come
and see our new residents.
I hope that you have had as good as a summer as we had here at your Miller Park
Zoo. I hope to see you at Zoo Do on September 11th. Please feel free to come
up and introduce yourself to me that night.
See you at the Zoo,
Jay Tetzloff
Zoo Superintendent
the Wallaroo
If you have visited Miller Park Zoo lately, you have probably seen the new 2 year old Common Wallaroo (CW).
“Jon Bon” is the only male CW in the Wallaby WalkAbout
and is easy to identify. He has chocolate brown fur and
is the largest (114 lbs) CW in the exhibit. Female CW are
smaller and lighter in color.
Common Wallaroos range in Australia, although Jon Bon
came to Miller Park Zoo from the Louisville Zoo. These
marsupials breed throughout the year – with a gestation
of approximately 34 days. However, the joey may not
actually be visible to guests for 5 months. If all goes as
expected, you should be able to see a few joeys at Miller
Park Zoo this spring. In the mean time, watch for a bulge
and some movement in the female’s belly area.
One more fact about Jon Bon – yes, he is named after
Jon Bon Jovi!
photos courtesy studio
Barbie.com
Join the Fun
Zoo Events
Member’s Night | August 12 5:00 - 7:00 pm
This member’s only event is tons of fun and a great opportunity to visit the Zoo at night! There will be up close animal encounters, games, free carousel rides and more. This event is FREE and for Miller Park Zoological Society members only. If you
are not a member, this is the perfect time to join! For more information visit mpzs.org
Halloween at the Zoo | October 24 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Creepy details coming soon!
Holiday Pictures with the Reindeer
November 13 1:00 - 3:00 pm | November 20 10:00 - 3:00 pm | November 28 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Have your family holiday picture taken with a Miller Park Zoo reindeer! A photographer will take several pictures and transfer
the images to a CD. If weather is inclement, a sheltered area will be used. Reservations should be made online at mpzs.org.
Cost - $20 per family (zoo admission not included in this fee). Space is limited and reservation and pre-payment are required.
For additional information call (309) 434-2250.
*NEW* In our efforts to be GREEN…
Offer expires 10/31/10. Limit 3. Not
valid with any other offer. Valid only at
participating locations. Coupons cannot
be sold, transferred or duplicated.
$
2
OFF
Receive $2 off any of our
Exclusive Crispy Thin Crust Pizzas.
$
Offer expires 10/31/10. Limit 3. Not
valid with any other offer. Valid only at
participating locations. Coupons cannot
be sold, transferred or duplicated.
3
OFF
Receive $3 off any Family Size regular
menu priced Pizza.
Choose Your deLITE®
Any Family Size Pizza
BLOOMINGTON
2402 East Oakland Ave
Oakland Regency Plaza
309-662-9000
COME SEE US AT...
LSM
NORMAL
1531 East College Ave
Next to Blockbuster
309-452-7575
LSM
As a Proud Supporter
of Miller Park Zoo,
Happy 119th Birthday
MPZS membership renewal notices will be sent via e-mail
On-line registration is available at mpzs.org
FEATURED
ZOO KEEPER
Michael Davis
How long have you worked at Miller Park Zoo?
13 years
Animal training background and education
Private bird breeder
Volunteer - Myrick Park Zoo in Wisconsin
Worked at Topeka Zoo in Kansas
Completed City Leadership and Zoo Management courses in Wheeling, West Virginia
BA in Biology/History – Luther College
Favorite animal at Miller Park Zoo
Enrique the Saki Monkey – because I helped hand raise him.
In general I like birds, primates and cats – in that order.
Best thing about your job
Being at the Zoo and working around the animals.
Beautiful One of a Kind Diamond Pendant
by Bremer Jewelry
The word Zoo is ingeniously incorporated in this breathtaking pendant,
with three diamonds, in a beautiful mounting.
Raffle Tickets: $25 each
or 5 for $100.00
This pendant has been generously donated by Bremer Jewelry.
All raffle sale proceeds benefit Miller Park Zoological Society.
For additional information or to purchase raffle tickets
call (309) 434-2243.
Miller Park Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the rich history of
Miller Park Zoo through fundraising, education, and community outreach.
MILLER PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1020 South Morris Avenue
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 434-2250
Nonprofit Org.
U.S.Postage
PAID
Bloomington, IL
Permit No. 49
or current resident