For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo • A Magazine of Conservation and Education • Winter 2012

Past Meets PresentZoo Milestones Highlight Today’s Successes

Continue Your Visit OnlineVisit www.lpzoo.org for Lincoln Park Zoo photos,videos and up-to-date info on events and animals.You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter!We’d Like to Hear from You!Send your feedback on this issue of Lincoln Park Zoo magazine to magazine@lpzoo.org.

Cover: 3-year-old lion Sahar stares fromhis perch at the 100-year-old KovlerLion House. Left: New gorilla Mosiheads outdoors at Regenstein Centerfor African Apes.

Volume 11 Number 4 • For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo

IN THIS ISSUE

QUESTIONS?Contact the

Membership Department.Staff are on hand during normal business hours—phone 312-742-2322 or visit us online at www.lpzoo.org.

A Century of Big CatsAs the landmark Kovler Lion House turns 100, itcontinues to evolve to meet the needs of the animalsthat call it home.

Leading the LabLisa Faust’s path from intern to Vice President ofConservation & Science reflects how much LincolnPark Zoo’s research efforts have grown.

Then and NowLook back at the origins of the Helen Brach PrimateHouse, Antelope & Zebra Area and RegensteinSmall Mammal–Reptile House.

Ready for ReleaseDecades after filling Lake Michigan with fry, thezoo has science-based reintroduction programsreturning species of all stripes to the wild.

Class Is Still in SessionThe “Answer Man” has moved on, but zoo educa-tors are displaying a global reach in fielding ques-tions—and sharing knowledge—about wildlife.

Ape CrusadersA batch of female gorilla births decades ago set thestage for the zoo’s first all-male bachelor trooptoday.

PerspectivePresident and CEO Kevin Bell uses the zoo’s proudhistory to measure how it can continue to moveforward.

Wild FileA titi monkey baby, new chicks for a species on thebrink of extinction and fall migration at NatureBoardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo.

News of the ZooSummer event highlights, updates from theSerengeti and a zoo welcome to new experts inconservation and care.

Your StoryChildhood visits inspire a lifetime of support fromCarol Stein Sterling and husband Jim.

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

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LINCOLN PARK ZOO MAGAZINE

Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614,312-742-2000, www.lpzoo.org. Lincoln Park Zoo is supportedthrough a public/private partnership between the Chicago ParkDistrict and The Lincoln Park Zoological Society. The only pri-vately managed free zoo in the country, Lincoln Park Zoo relieson membership, individual, foundation and corporate support aswell as earned revenue.

President and CEOKevin J. BellArt DirectorPeggy Martin

EditorJames SeidlerCommunications SpecialistCraig Keller

Deeply RootedWhile zoo blooms have changed over the years,visitors are always at the root of our garden plan-ning.

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perspectiveA Letter From President and CEO Kevin J. Bell

Tradition is an important part of Lincoln Park Zoo. Thatcomes with being one of the longest-running zoos in thecountry. As you see new lion Sahar at the Kovler Lion

House, you also get a glimpse ofa building celebrating its 100thanniversary. When you visit thenew baby Bolivian gray titi mon-key, you can also marvel thatyou’re in a building originallybuilt before the Great Depression.It’s fun to have this living

connection with the past. Butour proven success lies in how

far we’ve come through decades of advancements in conser-vation and care. When I first arrived as curator of birds in 1976, no full-

time educators or scientists worked at Lincoln Park Zoo.Today it’s impossible to imagine the zoo without them.They’re a vital part of what we do. Much like we needexperts to care for animals of all sizes, we need profession-

als to package lessons on animal adaptations so they’ll stickwith young learners. We need trained scientists to researchhow zoo animals can be most comfortable in their homesand how wild populations can be brought back from thebrink of extinction.When I became director of Lincoln Park Zoo in 1993,

we were still managed by the Chicago Park District. Whenthe Zoological Society took over management of the zoo in1995, we became the only privately managed free zoo in thecountry. This gives us a flexible framework in welcoming 4million guests every year. Our successes under this modelinclude state-of-the-art buildings like Regenstein Centerfor African Apes and the Pritzker Family Children’s Zooand world-class research centers such as the Urban WildlifeInstitute and Davee Center for Epidemiology andEndocrinology.The zoo is always learning from our significant history

as part of the fabric of Chicago. Similarly, I’m always excit-ed to work with the zoo family to make your experienceeven better. I look forward to doing so with your support.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Kevin J. Bell President and CEO

Tiny ornate box turtles are growing behind the scenes in the landmark Kovler Lion House, highlighting the joining of old and new.

WINTER 2012 1

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Opening with a RoarThe October 27, 1912, edition of the Chicago

Tribune announced the opening of Lincoln ParkZoo’s new Lion House in the sensationalized styleof the times:“Moving Day in Park ‘Jungle’: Jungletown at

Lincoln Park was all upset yesterday. Rajah, theprince of all tigers in captivity; Prince, one of theoldest inhabitants and the patriarch of the lions;jaguars, panthers and a mandrill moved from theirold home into their new $150,000 mansion.”That $150,000 price tag—nearly $3.5 million in

today’s dollars—made it the most expensive build-ing in the zoo’s 44-year history. Designed by famedPrairie School architect Dwight Perkins, throughhis firm Perkins, Fellows & Hamilton, the buildingshowcased lion mosaics, ornate brickwork and anelegant vaulted tile roof. The design was a hit rightaway, winning a gold medal that year from theIllinois chapter of the American Institute ofArchitects.Beautiful as the design was, it was more focused

on visitors than animals, though—another hallmarkof the times. The building’s south wall packed 13animal exhibits side by side, a layout intent on dis-playing as many animals as possible. Still, the newhome reflected progress. As the Tribune concluded,“All the new dens have skylights and plenty of freshair. After they were released, most of the animalsseemed to enjoy their quarters.”

Evolving to Meet the TimesThe architectural flourishes that impressed

Perkins’ peers in 1912 remain unchanged. Terracotta lions still pose above the entrances. Thisimpressive facade prompted the Commission onChicago Landmarks to designate the building aChicago landmark in 2005.

A Century of Big CatsCelebrating 100 Years at the Kovler Lion House

The Kovler Lion House’s landmark façade has changed little over 100 years,but revolutions in care have resulted in larger living spaces for animalsincluding African lions (Sahar, at top) and Amur tigers.

BY JAMES SEIDLER

See all the highlights from LincolnPark Zoo’s 144-year history withour zoo interactive timeline atwww.lpzoo.org/magazine.

FALL 2012 3

But the building’s exhibit spaces have evolved over the years toreflect increasing understanding of animal needs. “Throughout thezoo, the trend over time has clearly been fewer animals, fewer species,fewer exhibits and larger exhibits,” says Steve Thompson, Ph.D., thezoo’s senior vice president of capital and programmatic planning.At the Kovler Lion House, those original 13 exhibits have

repeatedly been combined and expanded, most recently with a$1.75 million renovation in 2007 that added 1,270 square feet ofhabitat to the south exterior. Large outdoor exhibits on the build-ing’s north end—added in 1971—give lions and tigers more roomto roam than Rajah or Prince could have imagined in 1912.The newest set of paws prowling the outdoor space belong to 2-

year-old male lion Sahar, who arrived from the Bronx Zoo in Marchthrough a transfer recommendation from the Lion Species SurvivalPlan®. The growing big cat spent most of the summer being intro-duced to resident female Myra, who first came to the zoo in 1997.Lion biology suggests Sahar will increasingly assume a leader-

ship role as his mane fills in. But Myra was the clear alpha animalduring introductions. “This was her home,” says Curator ofMammals Mark Kamhout. “Everything was new for Sahar.”

Slow and steady introductions familiarized the pair with oneanother, and the new pride began living together full-time inAugust. As Sahar and Myra lack a breeding recommendation, nocubs are expected. But the grouping does provide them with thecompanionship this social species needs.It’s the latest change in a building that’s seen plenty of them over the

past 100 years. The exterior remains the same, but the rest of the LionHouse always advances to meet the needs of its amazing animals.

See more photos of the new “king” of theLion House at www.lpzoo.org/magazine

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An Intern Crunching Numbers in the AtticOn Lisa Faust’s first day at Lincoln Park Zoo in 1997, it was

easy for the young researcher to meet the rest of theConservation & Science Department: there were only threeother scientists. Not that her office set-up was conducive to socializing. An

intern, she was stationed in the windowless fourth floor of thezoo’s Matthew Laflin Memorial Building. There she poredthrough old mammal population records to discover whether

zoo mammals showed bias in the sex of their offspring. “I def-initely remember being in ‘the attic’ eight hours a day withoutsunlight,” she laughs. “Other people had behavioral work onzoo grounds. I was the only one up there all the time.”But that time in the attic was fruitful. Faust’s work there

cemented her interest in the scientific discipline of demogra-phy—the study of populations. It prompted her to see zoos in a new light, as centers for science and conservation. Most importantly, it led to her first job that fall. She came back to prepare her work for publication and ended up landing the position of administrative assistant/conservationcoordinator.In that role she had a firsthand look at the changes taking

place in a rapidly growing department. Dedicated research atthe zoo only dated back to the 1990 hiring of Steve Thompson,Ph.D., the zoo’s first scientist—and first head of Conservation

& Science. By 1997, the department was hosting internationalworkshops on Bali mynah conservation and developing guide-lines to standardize record keeping for zoos and aquariumsthroughout North America—all while awaiting the opening ofthe William C. Bartholomay Center for Conservation andScience, which provided a permanent home for zoo science in1998.

Now Leading a Global TeamIn the 15 years since Lisa arrived at the zoo, she’s experi-

enced some big changes. She received her Ph.D. from theUniversity of Illinois at Chicago. She’s traveled to Africa forresearch, visiting elephants in Tanzania’s Tarangire NationalPark and consulting with primate sanctuaries across Africa toassist population planning. She’s analyzed population trendsfor eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, transformed our under-standing of animal life expectancies and crunched the num-bers to see whether breeding and transfer recommendationsare being carried out by zoos across North America.Most recently, she became Lincoln Park Zoo’s vice presi-

dent of Conservation & Science. She was named to the role inJuly after a search including top candidates from across thecountry.She takes the helm of a department very different from the

one she first experienced. The number of researchers hasgrown from five to nearly 50, scientists committed to topicsranging from the wildlife making its home in Chicago’s back-yard to great-ape cognition. Faust oversees a team that hasmembers studying disease dynamics in the Serengeti, travelingthe United States to assist the science behind a black-footedferret reintroduction program and doing match making andfamily planning for more than 500 species across NorthAmerica.While the projects have expanded, the baseline commit-

ment to using good scientific research to improve animal man-agement and wildlife conservation remains unchanged.“We have a fantastic suite of strong conservation and sci-

ence initiatives at the zoo,” says Faust. “We try to really focuson the data we need to make better decisions about how tomanage, what to conserve. I love this applied focus on science-based action. It brings a real urgency to what we do every day,because someone’s waiting for the answer.”

Leading the Lab

From the Serengeti to the zoo’s backyard,you can follow field updates from zoo scientists at www.lpzoo.org/magazine

Lisa Faust, Ph.D., started at the zoo as an intern in 1997 and is now Lincoln Park Zoo’s new vice president of Conservation & Science. Faust over-sees field conservation projects ranging from eastern massasauga rattlesnake recovery to improving management for elephants in Tanzania’sTarangire National Park. The lead researcher regularly works in the field herself. At top left, she’s looking for massasaugas in Michigan, while belowshe’s monitoring a herd of elephants (center) tracked via radio telemetry (left).

Then and NowBeyond the Kovler Lion House centenary, three more zoo buildings are celebrating mile-stones. Built in different eras, the Helen Brach Primate House (75 years), Antelope & ZebraArea (30 years) and Regenstein Small Mammal–Reptile House (15 years) all reflect the zoo’sconstant drive to improve conditions for visitors and animals alike.

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The “Dream Lady” statue hasn’t changed in 90 years, but a1992 renovation made the Helen Brach Primate House a bet-ter home for its swinging residents. The Antelope & ZebraArea gives grazing species such as waterbuck room to roam.Outdated exhibits in the old Reptile House were replaced withstate-of-the-art habitats with the 1997 opening of RegensteinSmall Mammal–Reptile House.

A Swinging PlaceWhen the Small Animal House opened in 1927, it

represented the height of zoo knowledge at the time.Designed by architect Edwin Clark, it featured indoor-out-door exhibits as well as “vita-glass” skylights that let in moreultraviolet light than standard glass, a boon for animalhealth.The $221,249 building (more than $5 million in today’s

dollars) housed chimpanzees, capuchin monkeys, red-facedmacaques and more. Zoo icons including gorillas Bushman,Sinbad and Otto later made their homes there.The primate focus proved forward-looking, as the

building underwent renovations in 1992 and reopened asthe Helen Brach Primate House. Vines, trees and muralscreated a more naturalistic living space.

75years

Today, the Primate House has a family focus. Bolivian graytiti monkeys, endangered white-cheeked gibbons and Francois’langurs are among the species to have produced recent newarrivals. “Since the building was built, we’ve learned a lot aboutwhat these animals need to thrive,” says Curator of PrimatesMaureen Leahy.

A Home for the HerdsWhen the Antelope & Zebra Area first opened in 1982, it

represented a $2 million investment in previously undevel-oped land at the south end of the zoo. It was dedicated to ani-mals that roam and graze: American bison, Arabian oryx,Bactrian camels, Grevy’s zebras and more. But it also reflecteda commitment to replacing an older “menagerie” mindset with

an emphasis on fewer species, many of which were in need of con-servation.The area originally featured two ramps offering elevated views

of the exhibits and interior living space. They closed in the 1990s,though. Why? “We always had problems with people droppingstuff—sunglasses, hats, you name it,” says General Curator DaveBernier. Maintenance was also an issue, as was the fact that interi-or views were often limited to empty stalls.The area’s impressive residents remain, though, including

Bactrian camels and Grevy’s zebras, both of which are stillendangered. New arrivals like Grevy’s zebra colt Kito bring con-tinued hope for resurgence.

15 Years of Small WondersWhen Regenstein Small Mammal–Reptile House (SMRH)

opened in 1997, it offered a look at the future. In the previous Small Mammal House (located at the site of Wild

Things gift shop) and Reptile House (now Park Place Café), lightcycles and heat and humidity levels for the building’s diverse resi-dents had to be controlled manually. Not so in SMRH. These ele-ments were controlled by computers, which cycle heat and shufflelights to simulate night and day for nocturnal and diurnal residents.Now, 15 years later, those automated elements still function,

ensuring that Aruba Island rattlesnakes slither through tropicalheat and cactus mice are active through noontime “nights.” Butdespite the automation, animal care staff still find plenty tokeep them busy. “Maintaining habitats for more than 40different species is a lot of work,” says Curator DianeMulkerin. “But it’s a lot of fun too.”

15years

30years

Stocking the WatersIn 1924, the city’s newspapers were awash with Lincoln

Park Zoo’s first big release to the wild. “Fishtivities on LakeShore,” one paper trumpeted. “Finny Tribe to ProvideDelicious Dainties” and “So You Can Fish Again,” othersannounced.The Chicago American had all the details in the March 17

edition. “First steps to restock Lake Michigan were taken yes-terday when 1,000,000 young white fish were dropped intoBelmont Harbor at Belmont Avenue and the lake…Therestocking will continue at the rate of 1,000,000 every day ortwo until 18,000,000 of the white fish and goodly numbers ofwall-eyed pike, salmon, trout of the lake and brown Germanspecies and other fish adaptable have been fed in.”Each of these small fry had its origins at Lincoln Park Zoo.

They’d hatched in the city’s first aquarium, built here in 1923

at the site of what later became the Reptile House and what isnow Park Place Café. (Look along the building’s exterior—you’ll find plenty of decorative scales, shells and fins suggest-ing this original purpose.) But while the fish were bred in impressive numbers, plan-

ning for their release didn’t extend beyond dumping theminto the waters of Lake Michigan. Afterward, the follow-uponly went as far as responding to complaints from fishermanabout a lack of bites. “If the fishermen are deluded, it is alltheir own fault,” said Floyd Young, then aquarium directorand later head of Lincoln Park Zoo.

Strengthening the ScienceReintroductions at Lincoln Park Zoo have come a long

way. What was once a simple release has been refined into ascience. Indeed, the zoo gathered reintroduction experts fromaround the globe for the First International WildlifeReintroduction Conference in 2008. “A lot of work hasfocused on individual species, but we also wanted to examinereintroduction practices as a whole,” says ConservationBiologist Joanne Earnhardt, Ph.D.The zoo has plenty of examples within its own walls to

study. Endangered red wolves and trumpeter swans areamong the species the zoo has returned to the wild. The zoo-hosted Avian Reintroduction and Translocation Database letsresearchers learn from past efforts to restore birds to the wild.The expertise of zoo population planners has placed speciesas diverse as Puerto Rican parrots and African elephants on the road to recovery. Most recently, the zoo has been partnering with local

conservation agencies to apply population-planning and ani-mal-care expertise to restoring threatened species to Illinois.One example has its headquarters at the Kovler Lion House,where a hard-shelled set is growing behind the scenes.The non-feline new arrivals are ornate box turtles, which

have become threatened in Illinois as their sand-prairie habi-

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Ready for Release BY JAMES SEIDLER

WINTER 2012 9

tat has fragmented. Eggs from a stable wild population werebrought to the zoo to hatch in a partnership with the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service. The 18 resulting tiny turtles will spend ayear putting on weight and preparing for release. This “headstart” should give the poky animals faster footing in the wild.“Our goal is to see these turtles strong, mature and ready tothrive in the wild when they leave the zoo next year,” saysGeneral Curator Dave Bernier.Another species receiving a head start at Lincoln Park Zoo

is the smooth green snake. For a second straight summer,Reintroduction Biologist Allison Sacerdote, Ph.D., releasedthese tiny insect-eaters to the wild in a partnership with theLake County Forest Preserve and with support from theIllinois Wildlife Preservation Fund.A steady diet of crickets and wax worms at the Pritzker

Family Children’s Zoo helped the young snakes grow strongfor a successful release. Sacerdote also eases the reptiles into

the wild by initially releasing them into “soft release” enclo-sures that expose them to the landscape while protecting themfrom predators.It’s a far cry from the great fish dump of 1924. Last year

tiny transmitters let Sacerdote follow the snakes as they estab-lished themselves in their new home. This year, special driftfencing will guide their dispersal—and help researchers tracktheir progress. All this helps the scientist build better reintro-duction practices for the future. But the human touch remainsessential as well.“Technology has made a big difference for reintroduction pro-

grams,” she says. “But good partnerships are just as important.”

Fish releases from the zoo aquarium to Lake Michigan were big news in the 1920s. At top left, zoo director Alfred E. Parker, park com-missioner Sanderson Fyfe, aquarium director (and later zoo director) Floyd Young and an unknown attendee ready fry for release. LincolnPark Zoo has helped restore species from trumpeter swans to red wolves to the wild. Now the zoo is partnering with the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service to give ornate box turtles a healthy head start before restoring them to Savanna, Illinois.

Learn more about zoo reintroduction programs at www.lpzoo.org/magazine

Seminal Science Questions? Marlin Perkins, Lincoln Park Zoo’s director

from 1944–1962, had answers. Specifically, “Answer Man”Fred Meyer.In March 1947, Meyer, a junior zoologist at the zoo,

assumed his new post inside the Lion House, fielding randomqueries from the visiting public about zoo species.According to an Associated Press report, “Perkins said the

zoo’s official answer man is armed with a head full of facts, acard case full of answers for anticipated questions and a zoo-logical library for a quick check in case he gets stumped.”The Q&A station was equipped with a bulletin board on

which Meyers posted fun animal facts. (“The body cells of anelephant and those of a mouse are of approximately the same

size.”) It was created to spare busy animal keepers from theirdaily barrage of questions.Many older Chicagoans also have fond memories of the

Traveling Zoo. Launched on a massive scale in 1957, the TravelingZoo featured a 33-foot-long, 8-foot-wide, 12-foot-tall trailerhauled to adoring crowds at local parks throughout the summer.Its 16 glass-fronted enclosures displayed a variety of small zooanimals and required a police escort to navigate city streets.

Expanding HorizonsToday’s mobile learning stations—educational carts

devised by teams of professional educators after extensiveresearch—represent the modern-day successor to Perkins’trivia-dispensing zoologist.

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Class is Still in SessionDecades ago novel inspirations sowed the seeds for today’s advanced public education programs.

BY CRAIG KELLER

“Education has gone beyond simple facts and did-you-know scenarios to a more hands-on experience,” saysDirector of Education Allison Price. “Our new mobilelearning stations enable guests to experience the zoo bybuilding animal enrichment or turning a human into ananimalistic predator.”Specialized educators transmit the zoo’s conservation

message all the way to Montana’s Northern CheyenneReservation and West Africa.In Montana, they’ve helped implement classroom-based

activities to educate teachers and students about a reintro-duced population of black-footed ferrets—a species oncethought to be extinct. In Africa, the zoo’s recentCommunity of Conservation project spanned continents tobring together students and educators from Niamey, Niger,and Chicago’s Francis W. Parker School to explore conser-vation and cultural collaboration.“Protecting our world’s species and habitats requires a

global effort,” says Senior Director of Learning Innovationand Collaboration Leah Melber, Ph.D. “Connecting Chicagoyouth with international peers as they explore the naturalworld reinforces the importance of conservation both locallyand globally.”The education department, founded in 1978 with a

grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has grownfrom a few educators to more than a dozen, expanding andcontracting to tackle the zoo’s busiest seasons. Dedicatedvolunteers contribute to much of the frontline learning.Department staff now orchestrate a score of student,teacher and public programs that would have left Fred“Answer Man” Meyer speechless.The Wine & Wildlife series caters to adults with lectures

from zoo scientists. Public programs such as Yoga at theZoo demonstrate a commitment to more holistic, contem-porary trends. Conservation-oriented summer camps, Zoo

Explorers field trips and the school-year-long YoungResearchers Collaborative address scholastic standards byemphasizing research-oriented, inquiry-based science.Students recording wildlife data at Nature Boardwalk aretestament to a history of educational initiative that’s neverrested on its laurels.“Don’t be surprised if soon you see young learners uti-

lizing iPads and data-collection apps to facilitate animalbehavior studies,” says Vice President of Education RachelBergren. “We want to foster a creative and experimentalatmosphere. We look to colleagues in zoo, aquarium andmuseum education for inspiration and collaboration as weseek to deliver programs that make a difference.”

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Rooted in extensive research, the zoo’s new mobile learningstations (opposite) offer hands-on lessons. Learning has longbeen part of the zoo experience. Director Marlin Perkins (topright) shared wild insights with the popular tv show Zoo Parade,while educators and the Traveling Zoo delivered animalencounters to sites throughout Chicago.

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The First Gorilla FamilyIt was a girl that got the ball rolling at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Kumba, who lived to the age of 34, was born on July 22, 1970.She was just the 14th gorilla born at a zoo and the first forLincoln Park Zoo. Her parents—male Kisoro and femaleMumbi—had come from the wild.Former zoo director Dr. Lester E. Fisher allowed Kumba to

remain with her mother, who nursed the infant in the PrimateHouse, where the zoo’s gorillas then lived. Hand-rearinginfants to monitor their health and ensure their survival hadbeen the prevailing protocol at zoos that had hosted births.While it remains an option that’s some-times necessary, the success of Fisher’sdecision set a precedent.One month later, though, Mumbi

had apparently tired of the task.“Kumba is beginning to teethe, and Ithink Mumbi misses her mate,” com-mented Fisher to a Chicago Tribunereporter in late August, 1970. Thereporter described Kisoro as “unmovedby the whole thing…and boundingabout in the opposite cage with Helen,his newfound flame.” Little Kumbaspent the next year being cared for inthe zoo’s nursery.

Grouping gorillas in small family units led to six morebirths over the next four years. But space contraints stymiedfurther progress in the Primate House.That situation was remedied in a huge way with construc-

tion of the Lester Fisher Great Ape House in 1976. On a grandscale, but lesser than the state-of-the-art Regenstein Center forAfrican Apes that replaced it in 2004, it provided spacious,multilevel habitats where up to four family troops could thrive.

Flourishing FemalesIt may seem that male gorillas have always had top-banana

status at the zoo. After all, this is where the leg-endary Bushman captivated millions of starstruckadmirers worldwide during the 1930s and ’40s.Other reigning silverbacks through the years—Sinbad, Otto, Frank, Koundu, JoJo and Kwanamong them—could be considered flagshipambassadors for both their species and the zoo.Yet Bushman and Sinbad lived out their years

alone during an era when little was known about

Ape CrusadersA fortuitous streak of female births beginning four decades ago set the stage forthriving gorilla families leading to today’s bachelor troop.

BY CRAIG KELLER

Another New ArrivalAs the magazine went topress we were happy to

welcome a new gorilla baby! Learn more at www.lpzoo.org/magazine.

WINTER 2012 13

the species’ needs. And if it hadn’t been for a lopsided ratio of birthsfavoring females in the years closely following Kumba’s birth in 1970,those birth numbers might not have been so impressive.“An imbalance in favor of girls allowed us to leave them together in

the group,” recalls Fisher. “If there had been more males, it would havebeen necessary to separate them when the males got to be teenagers.With so many girls, our gorilla families just grew bigger and bigger.”

Bring On the BachelorsThis fall, though, it’s all about the boys at Regenstein Center for

African Apes. The recently formed bachelor troop of four male adoles-cent western lowland gorillas—Azizi, Amare, Mosi and Umande—is thezoo’s first such grouping in its long history of caring for this endangeredspecies.The new crew has its natural counterpart in the wild. Growing males

in traditionally structured silverback-dominated troops typically leavewhen the silverback begins to see them as threats to his breedingsupremacy. By joining up with other single males, they find security andlearn social and physical skills through active play. Some will lead theirown troops later as silverbacks. Some remain bachelors for life.Scientists and animal care staff at the zoo have eagerly awaited the

chance to observe the new troop. They haven’t been disappointed. Playfulteasing, taunts, staring contests and high-speed chases ensued as the fourteens were gradually introduced to each other this past summer.“This bachelor group is a significant milestone in terms of manage-

ment and research at Lincoln Park Zoo,” says Steve Ross, Ph.D., directorof the zoo’s Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation ofApes. “We’re uniquely positioned to detail the development of thisgroup over time and compare that to how silverback-led family groupsbehave. It gives us a much richer understanding of the species, theirsocial dynamics and their management needs.”

Silverbacks including Otto (inset), Koundu, Kwan and JoJo (from top) haveoften received the bulk of the attention at Lincoln Park Zoo. But it was thebirth of female Kumba (opposite, as infant and adult) in 1970 that set thestage for gorilla families that now include a bachelor troop featuring newgorillas Mosi and Umande (below).

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Deeply RootedDirector of Horticulture Brian Houck looks back at Swain Nelson’s original landscape

plan for Lincoln Park and shares how the zoo still provides a vital urban oasis with its

garden master planning.

Swain Nelson, the landscape designer who created theoriginal master plan for Lincoln Park in 1865, wasn’t justhoned in on horticulture.“Nelson’s master plan shows tiny stick figures of people

walking through the park,” says Houck. “That thought—that this should be a place of easy recreation where peoplecould get away from the rest of the city—still applies. Thezoo is still filling that niche.”Houck cites a mid- to late-19th century feature that once

provided that escapist aesthetic on zoo grounds: the BirchCanal, constructed in 1877. The canal extended from theNorth Pond (adjacent to the Peggy Notebaert NatureMuseum today) to another pond later reshaped into the zoo’sWaterfowl Lagoon and Swan Pond. Another section of itbecame the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool along the zoo’s north-ern border. “People paddled down it in canoes,” says Houck.“It was heated with steam pipes to grow tropical lilies. It’s notunlike walking into Regenstein African Journey today andseeing all those tropical plants.”In other respects, today’s plantings address cultural needs

in a much different era. “In the late 19th century, people did-n’t need to see the prairie. It was all around them. They want-ed Victorian gardens with colorful annual beds,” says Houck.The Great Garden south of the Lincoln Park Conservatoryand west of the zoo is a spectacular surviving example.“Now that we’ve lost so much prairie, the reverse is true,”

continues Houck. Native prairie plants (coreopsis, goldenrod, tall grasses) thrive at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln ParkZoo, the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo and around theWaterfowl Lagoon.Yet the shift toward more immersive pastoral qualities

also echoes Nelson’s original 60-acre park design, a natura-listic scheme influenced by the ridges, lagoons and sanddunes along Lake Michigan’s shoreline. “There have beentweaks here over the years, but the essence of it remainsintact,” says Houck. “We’re still being informed by the past.Historic trees, an emphasis on shade, garden plantings.Lincoln Park was a leader in horticulture for the nation, andwe aspire to be that again.”

The visitor experience has been central to the zoo’s gardens sinceSwain Nelson’s original vision (opposite). Styles have changed overthe decades, as a Victorian-era decorative scheme (top) is augment-ed with native prairie plantings such as golden rod and coreopsis atNature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo (right). Great Gardens

See landscape views throughout thezoo’s history at www.lpzoo.org/magazine

WINTER 2012 15

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wild fileTallying Another TitiOur Bolivian gray titi monkey family welcomed another new

arrival to the treetops in the Helen Brach Primate House. Thebaby monkey, born August 18, is the ninth offspring for dadOcala and mom Delasol. These social primates are native to Bolivia, Paraguay and

Brazil. They live in small family groups in the rainforest canopy,feeding primarily on fruits and leaves.The group here consists of Ocala, Delasol and five offspring,

including the new arrival. At 21, Delasol set a zoo record bybecoming the oldest female titi monkey to successfully givebirth in an accredited zoo. But while she handled the bulk ofnewborn care right after birth, the other family members quick-ly chipped in to help rear the baby. “For titis, dads and the oldersiblings do most of the carrying,” says Curator of PrimatesMaureen Leahy. “It gives mom a chance to rest and recover.”Animal care staff named the little one A.J. in honor of Andy

(James) Henderson, a former zoo employee who sadly passedaway in August. Andy was a longtime primate caregiver andmanaged the titi monkey population plan for the Association ofZoos and Aquariums.

New Chicks for a Species on the BrinkKnown for their vibrant songs and plumage, Bali mynahs

have nearly vanished in their native range of Indonesia. Thesebirds have disappeared in the wild due to poaching for the ille-gal pet trade. But zoos are collaborating to save this criticallyendangered species, working together under the umbrella of theBali Mynah Species Survival Plan®. Their efforts received aboost this summer with five successful Bali mynah hatches atthe zoo’s McCormick Bird House.“Every hatch is exciting, but it’s a thrill to contribute to this

kind of recovery,” says Hope B. McCormick Curator of BirdsColleen Lynch. Lincoln Park Zoo’s role in conserving Bali mynahs goes

beyond the hard work from animal care staff that went into thehatch. Senior Vice President of Capital and ProgrammaticPlanning Steve Thompson, Ph.D., maintains the species’ stud-book, a collection of family trees for every bird in NorthAmerican zoos that lets population planners make the bestmatches to maintain genetic diversity. Vice President of AnimalCare Megan Ross, Ph.D., serves as species coordinator, helpingzoos throughout the country coordinate new pairings to keepthe population healthy.President and CEO Kevin Bell even contributed to Bali

mynah conservation efforts during his tenure as the zoo’s cura-tor of birds. He regularly traveled to Indonesia during the1980s–1990s to release captive-reared birds to the wild. You cansee a slideshow from his travels at www.lpzoo.org/magazine.“Much still needs to be done to save this species,” says Bell.

“But these hatches are a happy milestone.”

New Faces at Nature BoardwalkThe zoo’s urban oasis welcomed plenty of visitors this

fall, city dwellers looking to get a taste of nature. But a wildwelcome was also extended to the range of native species. Black-and-white warblers, red-breasted nuthatches,

belted kingfishers, Swainson’s thrush and common yel-lowthroats all passed through during fall migration. NatureBoardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo also offered a welcomerefuge for a brown thrasher, a species in greatest need ofconservation in Illinois.The visits weren’t limited to flybys. Snapping turtles

have colonized the water and shoreline in increasing num-bers, Coordinator of Wildlife Management Mason Fidinoreports. The area’s raccoons have also been spotted doing abit of night swimming. “We saw raccoon tracks on theisland, so we put motion-triggered cameras out there tolearn more,” says Fidino. The nocturnal omnivores areswimming to the island under cover of darkness—anotherexample of the diversity, and surprises, on display at thezoo’s native ecosystem.

The baby Bolivian gray titi monkey at the Helen Brach PrimateHouse was the ninth for parents Ocala and Delasol. Bali mynahchicks provided a boost for a species on the brink of extinction.

Grevy’s ZebraEquus grevyiIn the wilds of eastern Africa, Grevy’s

zebras travel across the savanna, feeding ongrasses and gathering in small, fluid herds.Females breed throughout the year, givingbirth to offspring after a gestation period of13 months. The new arrivals can standwithin minutes of birth and run short dis-tances across the plains within an hour.As far as we’re aware, though, none of them

have had their names determined by an onlinepoll. That’s one crucial difference between thewild and Lincoln Park Zoo, which dubbed anew Grevy’s zebra colt Kito thanks to the inputof the zoo’s biggest fans.The colt was born August 23 to mother

Adia and father Clayton. As zoo animal careexperts monitored the well-being of momand baby, they also produced a set of Swahili-inspired names for fans to choose from.Kito (“jewel”), Akili (“clever”), Hanisi

(“born on Thursday”) and Daktari (“doctor,healer”) were all in the running. But Kito wasthe clear favorite, receiving more than half ofthe 2,400 votes cast in a week of polling.“The name’s fitting, as we think Kito’s a

treasure,” says General Curator DaveBernier. Unfortunately, he’s a rare one.Grevy’s zebras are endangered in the wilddue to hunting and habitat loss, althoughzoos are working together to reverse thattrend. Kito’s birth was recommended by theGrevy’s Zebra Species Survival Plan®, ashared conservation effort by zoosthroughout the Association of Zoos andAquariums.While Kito is precious, he’s not averse to

getting his hooves dirty while playing in theyard...just like his cousins in the wild.

field note

WINTER 2012 17

Grevy’s zebra colt Kito with mom Adia.

See video of Kito soon after birthat www.lpzoo.org/magazine.

18 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Back for BarksAnna Czupryna, a research associate in the zoo’s

Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology, returned toTanzania in August for her third field season as part of theSerengeti Health Initiative, a collaborative effort to preservethe wildlife of this African ecosystem while benefiting localpeople. Armed with camera traps, test tubes, a centrifuge andsealable plastic bags, Czupryna visits households, adminstersinoculations, checks up on previously vaccinated dogs andcollects data photos. By comparing survival, reproductionand life expectancy data among dogs with and without vacci-nations, she can see whether the population is increasing dueto the project’s efforts.Follow Anna’s field updates on Twitter: @AnnaSerengeti.

Zoo Welcomes New Veterinary ResidentWhile medical school graduates who treat humans have

countless residency programs to which they can apply, veteri-nary school grads have far fewer choices. Those intent onworking with a range of exotic animal species have less than20 options. Lincoln Park Zoo offers one such programapproved by the American College of Zoological Medicineand overseen by Kathryn Gamble, D.V.M., the zoo’s Dr. LesterE. Fisher Director of Veterinary Medicine.In July, Gamble and her staff welcomed John Flanders,

D.V.M., into the three-year training program. Flanders, agraduate of the University of Missouri College of VeterinaryMedicine, interned last year at Oklahoma State UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine in small animal medicine andsurgery and has completed preceptorships in Cincinnati andSt. Louis. “Dr. John has a lot in common with our mission at

news of the zoo Lincoln Park Zoo,” says Gamble. “Most veterinary graduates haveworked with dogs, cats, cows, sheep and chickens, but not exoticspecies. Dr. John learned the medicine for eight species while inschool—now he’ll help care for more than 200.”

Research Scientist Joins Fisher Center StaffThe Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of

Apes also welcomed a new expert to its staff. Lydia Hopper, Ph.D.,began as a research scientist in September. Hopper received herPh.D. in psychology from the University of St. Andrews inScotland in 2008 and was a post-doctoral associate with GeorgiaState University. “Lydia’s expertise is primarily in the study ofchimpanzee social learning, though she has worked with otherprimate species as well,” says Fisher Center Director Steve Ross,Ph.D. “She’ll administer much of the on-ground behavioralresearch with the chimpanzees and gorillas at Regenstein Centerfor African Apes. We’re excited to work with her on new projectsin the near future.”

Summer Event HighlightsThe Women’s Board of Lincoln Park Zoo scored a roaring suc-

cess July 13 with this year’s Zoo Ball. The 35th annual gala,themed “The Great Catsby,” transported more than 1,000 guests tothe elegance of the Hamptons for an evening of cocktails, enter-tainment and gourmet dining. A surprise appearance by theVillage People thrilled attendees, but the best treat of all was morethan $1.2 million raised for the zoo. Proceeds help fulfill the Women’s Board pledge to fund Nature Boardwalk at LincolnPark Zoo. Generous support was provided by presenting sponsor Guggenheim; silver sponsor J.N. Pritzker/TawaniFoundation/Pritzker Military Library; and entertainment spon-sors Marcus Lemonis and Beth Levine. Additional support wasgiven by Sentient Jet and United Airlines.Thousands of revelers also partied after-hours during this sum-

mer’s Jammin’ at the Zoo concert series. Thanks to Neon Trees,Hedley, Better Than Ezra, Tony Lucca, Hot Chelle Rae and AllstarWeekend for crowd-pleasing performances. Thanks also to sponsorsPepsi, MINI of Chicago, United Airlines and 101.9 FM The Mix.Yoga at the Zoo Presented by Walgreens, with additional sup-

port from LUNA, is another seasonal program fast becoming aperennial favorite. Outdoor classes provided a calming boost ofenergy at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. Adults and par-ents with toddlers got in the flow from June through September.

Caregivers Honored with AwardsSaveNature.org awarded its 2012 Conservation Prize to the

Lincoln Park Zoo chapter of the American Association of ZooKeepers (AAZK). The award honors zoos, aquariums and individ-uals who have exhibited an “above and beyond” contribution tosaving wildlife and wild places in nature.In other honors, Curator of Primates Maureen Leahy and keeper

Leslie Lurz received an AAZK Excellence in Journalism Award fortheir article “Biggest Loser—Ape Style,” appearing in the February2012 issue of the Animal Keepers’ Forum.

From left: Zoo Ball co-chairs Suzanne A. Meder and Cynthia RossPolayes celebrate the record-breaking proceeds of Zoo Ball: TheGreat Catsby with President and CEO Kevin Bell, Chairman of theBoard John Alexander and Women’s Board President Abby Zanarini.

WINTER 2012 19

field noteSnow Leopard Uncia unciaAs Chicagoans settle in for months of snow and ice, it’s easy to admire an animal with a built-in scarf. Throw in a snow leop-

ard’s natural power and grace, and you have one of the most majestic—and well-insulated—animals at the Kovler Lion House.As their name suggests, snow leopards need a thick coat. These ambush predators are native to central Asian mountains rang-

ing from China to the Himalayas. To stay warm in that frigid home, they have dense fur reaching 1 inch in length on their backsand 3 inches on their bellies. Ample padding protects paws from frost—and sharp rocks. Finally, a fuzzy tail reaching up to 3 feetin length can be wrapped around the face to further shield the big cat from the sharpest cold snaps.Unfortunately, the very fur that lets this solitary species thrive in the mountains contributes to its decline. The species is

endangered, largely due to poaching for pelts. Lincoln Park Zoo contributes to its recovery by participating in the Snow LeopardSpecies Survival Plan®, a collaborative effort by zoos across North America to conserve the species.While peers in the wild are under threat, Lincoln Park Zoo’s resident snow leopard, a male born in 2003, is safe and snug as

the city looks forward to frost. While the big cat always has the option to retreat to his warm, indoor den, he’s often seen outsideplaying in the snow. “He really likes the colder weather,” says area Lead Keeper Anthony Nielsen. Maybe if the rest of us wereequipped like him, we would too.

20 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Free Zoo Safari Tours on TapSafari-and Zoologist-level adult members and above:

mark your calendars for free Zoo Safari Tours on November10–11 and December 8–9. These exclusive, 45–60-minuteguided tours focus on African animals’ adaptations and habitsat Regenstein African Journey. Spots fill up fast, so reserveyours today at www.lpzoo.org/events/calendar/zoo-safari-tours. Can’t make these dates? Keep an eye out for spring 2013tour dates in ZooMail!

Members Lounge at ZooLightsThe glittering light shows aren’t the only luminaries at

ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Charter One. Memberswill once again receive red-carpet VIP treatment during thisyear’s festivities, with exclusive access to the Members Loungein the Tadpole Room on the lower level of Park Place Café.Warm up with free hot chocolate, cider and tea, cookies andcrafts between 5–8 p.m. each night of ZooLights! You can alsosponsor a night in the Members Lounge—learn more atwww.lpzoo.org/zoolights.

Follow us Online!Lincoln Park Zoo magazine isn’t the only way to stay upto date on the zoo’s world of wildlife. Get your daily dis-patch of what your support makes possible by connectingwith us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the zoo blogsat www.lpzoo.org. New animal arrivals, special events,

field reports by zoo sci-entists—it’s all awaitingyour discovery online.

membership matters

Early Summer Camp Sign-upParents, it’s not too early to start planning your kids’ par-

ticipation in next summer’s Conservation Camp. ActiveDonor Club contributors get to register extra early beginningat 10 a.m. on February 13, two weeks before registrationopens to the public. Active Safari and Zoologist-level mem-bers can register beginning February 20, one week beforepublic registration. And all zoo members receive a 15 percentdiscount on registration. More than 700 campers took part inConservation Camp (4-year-olds to kids entering fourthgrade) and Zoo Crew (kids entering fifth–eighth grades) thispast summer. Call the membership hotline today at 312-742-2322 to check your status!

LPZ VIP PerksWe think it’s fashion-forward to sport your members-only

lanyard with your membership card when you visit the zoo.But it’s also your ticket to VIP treatment: front-row viewingduring keeper chats at Regenstein Center for African Apes,members-only Meet an Animal encounters, discounts at zoorestaurants and gift shops and more.

February Is Member Appreciation MonthFebruary is again Member Appreciation Month at Lincoln

Park Zoo! Enjoy free Zoo Safari Tours, a members-only SleepUnder the Skyscrapers, members-only animal encounters,extra discounts on food and retail purchases and unlimitedfree parking for Individual and Household-level members.Look for more details in January and February ZooMails!Don’t receive our weekly email digest? Sign up atwww.lpzoo.org/zoomail!

Member benefits include the LPZ VIP treatment as well as discounts and priority registration for Summer Conservation Camp.

WINTER 2012 21

your storyA Lifetime’s Support for Lincoln Park ZooDaily DelightsGrowing up in the neighborhood, Carol Stein Sterling had plenty

of opportunities to make Lincoln Park Zoo memories. “My grand-mother would take my sister and me to the zoo very often,” theConservators’ Council donor says. She remembers marveling at lions’ roars and the sheer size of

fabled gorilla Bushman. She enjoyed countless rides on the zoocarousel and train. But more than anything, she appreciated the zoo’saccessibility. “Because the zoo was so close, and we went there sooften, I never really felt the animals were something other thanmyself,” she says. “They were part of our life; they were part of ourenvironment.”

A Continued ConnectionToday Lincoln Park Zoo’s animals still play a big role in the life of

Carol and husband Jim. Although the couple splits time living inCalifornia and Chicago, they’re still frequent zoo visitors. “In winter orsummer, we always make it to the zoo when we’re in Chicago,” she says.ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Charter One is always a

favorite draw. The couple also enjoys the immersive atmosphere ofRegenstein African Journey and the calls of the white-cheeked gib-bons, which remind Jim of his time living in Thailand. They recentlycame in for a Night Hike for donors, which gave them a chance tosee wildlife after hours. “It was such a different experience,” says Jim.While the zoo’s amazing wildlife keeps the Sterlings coming back,

it’s the institution’s accessibility that’s drawn their continued support.“It’s constantly improving,” says Jim. “It amazes me that this zoo letspeople flow in and flow out.”“That’s why it’s so important for donors to support Lincoln Park

Zoo,” adds Carol. “Because it’s free.”

Carol Stein Sterling and husband Jim’s support for the zoo is rooted inCarol’s childhood experiences here, including rides on the train and vis-its with iconic zoo gorilla Bushman.

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

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PAIDLincoln Park Zoo

Your membership supports everything we do,from animal care to publishing Lincoln Park

Zoo magazine. Thank you.

ZooLights Is Ready to ShineGather your mittens, your wish list for Santa and a good dose of holi-day cheer: ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Charter One is readyto once again illuminate winter at Lincoln Park Zoo. More than 2 mil-lion lights will glow throughout zoo grounds, outlining snowflakes,candy canes and new 3-D animal light displays.We’ll flip the switch for the free holiday fun November 23.

Afterward, ZooLights will shine each Friday–Sunday until December26, at which point the lights will stay on nightly until January 6. (Santaheads back to the North Pole after December 23.)The snowy spectacle will include extra fun for members, who can

duck into the Members Lounge to warm up with cookies and crafts.Polar Parties are scheduled December 7 and 21 to give 4–5-year-oldsthe chance to learn how polar bears and penguins survive in frigidhomes. Finally, Conservators’ Council donors will enjoy their annualZooLights party at Regenstein Center for African Apes on December2. Dinner, drinks and behind-the-scenes tours will be part of thisexclusive donor experience.

See more upcoming events at www.lpzoo.org/calendar.

Give the Gift of Wildlife Looking for a meaningful gift this holiday?

ADOPT an Animal at Lincoln Park Zoo for a lovedone! Present them with a snow leopard, black bear,fennec fox, African lion or red wolf holiday giftpackage that includes a cuddly plush, ADOPTioncertificate, photo, fact sheet—and the satisfactionof providing critical support for the zoo’s animals.Shop our ADOPT packages at www.lpzoo.org/adopt

Subscribe to ZooMailWhat are the boys in the new gorilla bachelor

troop up to? What bright ideas might we suggestfor your visit to ZooLights Presented by ComEdand Charter One? Subscribe to our weekly ZooMaildigest at www.lpzoo.org/zoomail to receive the latest animal updates, insidescoop on programs and more!

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Lincoln Park Zoo magazine tomagazine@lpzoo.org.

Openingnight is Nov. 23!