Z-Mail Oct.

NORTH CAROLINA ZOO SOCIETY Z-MAIL
October 2007

A Zoo elephants sinks, swims and cools off in the pond inside its habit.

New Elephant Arrives

Samantha, a 19 year old, female African elephant arrived at the N.C. Zoo late last night (September 29). She made her journey in a climate controlled truck that left Edmonton, Canada, last Thursday.

Samantha will spend at least 30 days in quarantine before keepers begin introducing her to her new herd and to her new exhibit. This transition will take several months, but will give Samantha a new family and will move the N.C. Zoo closer to its goal of becoming a major breeding facility for African elephants. Samantha is just the right age to become a first time mother.

Samantha is resting comfortably in her new barn—the state of the art facility built with funds donated to the N.C. Zoo Society by corporations, foundations and Society members who care about elephants. These donations allowed the Society to provide the Zoo with the vast majority of the funds needed to complete Project Pachyderm. (See additional information below.)

N.C. Zoo Curators Receive Grant to Research “Snot Otters”

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) awarded the N.C. Zoo’s Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles, John Groves, and Curator of Conservation and Research, Dr. Richard Bergl, a highly competitive Conservation Endowment Fund grant to conduct research on the state's Hellbenders.

The Hellbender is a large salamander that has earned the whimsical nickname, “Snot Otter," because it secretes a thick coat of mucus when agitated. Hellbenders grow larger than any other species of salamander native to North America.

The AZA grant will allow Mr. Groves and Dr. Bergle to lead a series of field programs in western North Carolina to look for streams inhabited by Hellbenders. The researchers will record observations about Hellbender population densities and about water quality. These data will provide baseline information that researchers will use to monitor the health of these populations in the future. Monitoring is needed to determine if North Carolina's Hellbenders are in decline and, if problem populations are identified, to search for ways to restore them.

The research is one of several new projects the N.C. Zoo is undertaking to help zoos worldwide protect and conserve amphibians. These partnerships were inspired by growing concerns about declining populations of wild amphibian population—even in pristine habitats—around the world.

You can help Hellbenders, too. Buy a “Snot Otter” button. The proceeds will support the Zoo's amphibian conservation projects, and the button will get you some giggles.

Zoo’s Sea Lions to “Hang Out” in Polar Bear Exhibit

Don’t be shocked to see the Zoo’s male and female Sea Lions swimming in the Polar Bear exhibit until mid-to-late November.

The Sea Lions are hanging out (safely) in the bear's pool while the Zoo adds a new awning to their exhibit. The awning will provide additional shade—cooling the area where the Sea Lions haul out to rest—and reducing the glare on the water, which will protect the Sea Lions' eyes. While the Sea Lions use the bear's place, he will relax in his off-exhibit holding space, which has a small pool of its own.

Animal Division staff made this switch to get the Sea Lions back outside. They had been held off exhibit for several weeks because of the construction. The timing is good because Polar Bears naturally lower their activity levels this time of year. Because Wilhelm has a normal case of "Fall Fever," he won't mind staying inside until the construction is completed.

Zoo Pilot Program Invites Children Outside to Lose Weight and Have Fun

The North Carolina Zoo and the Franklinville Parents as Teachers (PAT) have formed a partnership to reduce childhood obesity. The program, part of the Zoo’s KidsActive! Project, uses the Zoo's remarkable outdoor resources to help preschool children adopt healthy lifestyles in the outdoors.

Eight children and their family members entered the program in late August. Until the program wraps up in October, the children will be visiting the Zoo’s kidZone exhibit and indulging in all sorts of outdoor fun: learning to dig, climb, run, paint and play under the Sun and exploring how frogs, tadpoles, butterflies and other animals live and grow in the great outdoors.

A grant from the Be Active NC Foundation to the N.C. Zoo Society funded the program.

Randolph Telephone’s Zoo To Do Exceeds Fundraising Goal

Zoo To Do 2007 raised $200,430 to support the Zoo’s elephant and rhinoceros expansion project—Project: Pachyderm. This total exceeded Zoo To Do's fundraising goal of $197,000. Following the event, Randolph Telephone pledged $30,000 to remain as the signature sponsor for next year's Zoo To Do. That gift will make Randolph Telephone the Signature Sponsor for its eighth straight year.

Held September 8, Zoo To Do 2007 featured live entertainment, fine cuisine, and live and silent auctions. This year's live auction generated $67,100, the largest amount in the event’s history. Examples of live auction items and bids include $9,000 for an adventure trip to Manitoba, Canada; $6,750 for a turquoise wooden vase created by Joel Hunnicutt; and $4,750 for a St. Thomas getaway donated by Mr. and Mrs. Dan Lackey.

The volunteer group Randolph Friends of the Zoo organizes the event in partnership with the Zoo Society. The group, which pledged $2 million from Zoo To Do earnings to Project Pachyderm, will reach this goal next year.

With more than $7.2 million already raised, Project: Pachyderm is funding a major expansion of the N.C. Zoo’s Elephant and Rhinoceros exhibits. Called the "Watani Grasslands Reserve," the new exhibit complex increases the size of the animals' exhibits so that the Zoo can bring additional elephants and rhinos into its existing herds. These changes will increase the chances that the Zoo's animals will reproduce. The new exhibits will also give visitors up-close, almost eye-to-eye views of these animals.

Get an early jump on your Holiday shopping with these exclusive gifts!

Share the Zoo—Share the Joy!

Zoo Society memberships make great gifts. They provide a full year—or even a lifetime—of free admission to the N.C. Zoo and to all three North Carolina aquariums and Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck, NC, and free or discounted admission to more than 150 other zoos and aquariums across America—plus a subscription to the N.C Zoo Society's Alive magazine, discounts in the Zoo Society's gift shops, a membership decal and more! This year's gift memberships come bundled with a cuddly 15-inch plush black bear, named Kay, who arrives wrapped up for the holidays.

Gift memberships share the joy of the Zoo and support its education, conservation, recreation and research programs. Prices range begin at $45 and include the cost of the membership, the plush bear Kay and standard shipping fees.

Coming Soon--our 2007 limited edition Christmas Ornament

Made in North Carolina by a North Carolina artist, an ornament to celebrate the planned opening of a new elephant exhibit.

Adopt an Elephant & Rhino and Have a Ten-ton Holiday

Adopt an elephant and rhino from the N.C. Zoo Society this holiday and pack ten tons of pachyderm joy into your gift package (adult African elephants can weigh over 7 tons, and white rhinos can tip the scales at nearly 3 tons). For only $59.99, the adoption package includes a cuddly plush elephant and a companion rhino, a photo of the adopted pachyderms and an official adoption certificate. Buyers can also add their own personal messages to the gift package. The price includes standard shipping.

Proceeds from the adoptions will support the N.C. Zoo’s Watani Grasslands Reserve. To celebrate the new exhibit, the adoption package also includes a button commemorating the exhibit's spring 2006 grand opening.

Click here to purchase our regular adoption.

For adoption gifts of $500 or more, we also enclose a print of a painting created by one of the Zoo's own elephants. (You can't pick one of these up at the mall!)

To shower someone with one of these gifts, call the Zoo Society at 336-879-7250, e-mail adopt@nczoo.com or purchase them on the Web after October 15.

Links of Interest

Do you have questions about estate planning? Planned giving? Your will? Each month, our Web site features new articles and interactive features that cover such topics. We hope it will be a useful resource for you. Visit our Planned Giving page for answers to these and other questions and to explore options for philanthrophy that you may never have considered before.

Russlings – Visit the Zoo Society Executive Director’s personal blog for current photos and discussions on the N.C. Zoo, animals and conservation. While you are there, read about Valerie Abbot an amazing Zoo volunteer and photographer who recently won international recognition on Yahoo.

Upcoming Events

Your Last Chance to Rock at the Zoo - Oct. 6
Learn about the Zoo's real rocks with Chris Tracker, Curator of Geology from the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. We are offering two morning programs, one for adults, one for children and an afternoon program for adults who want to explore a nearby manadnok. Join us for an easy, rockin', fun, hike up Ridges Mountain.
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Zoo Snooze Friday, November 2 – Saturday, November 3
Who sleeps at the Zoo?

Reminders
To use the FOR MEMBERS section of the Society’s Web site, simply enter the password: elephant.

Don't stand in line to go to the N.C. Zoo. Head for the Zoo Society's Express-Entry, Members-Only ticket booths. The booths sit on the left side of either Zoo entrances. Just show your membership card and a picture identification card to the person in the booth and he or she will whisk you on your way.

We ask for a picture identification card to protect the value of your membership. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Travel Opportunities

One travel opportunity remains this year—a Peruvian Adventure, November 9-18. 2008 travel opportunities include San Diego Urban Safari, February 28-March 4; Cape Lookout Wildlife Weekends, May 2-4 and October 17-19; a Tanzania Wildlife Safari, May 16-28; a Migration Safari to Kenya, and a Manitoba Adventure, November 6-12, to see Polar Bears. For prices and other information contact Stephanie Gee at sgee@nczoo.com or call 336-879-7253

Contact Info

Send questions and comments about the topics in this Z-mail to mmcclanahan@nczoo.com.

If you have suggestions for future Society education programs or Alive articles, please e-mail jparker@nczoo.com or write Editor, Alive, N.C. Zoo Society; 4403 Zoo Parkway; Asheboro, NC 27205.

To unsubscribe from this mailing list, please e-mail cparks@nczoo.com and type “unsubscribe” in the subject line.

Our mailing address is: North Carolina Zoological Society, 4403 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, N.C. 27205. Phone 336-879-7250, toll free 888-244-3736. Web address: www.nczoo.com.