Thanks to all...
who took last month's survey about
improving our Z-mails. We listened and adjusted this Z-mail to reflect
your ideas. Let us know how we did..and help us keep getting better by
filling out the short
survey (only 3 questions) at the end of this
Z-mail.
YOU wanted us to tell you more about...
The Special Events Planned at the Zoo....
In February, on the 29,
the Zoo leaps into the YEAR OF THE FROG.
Zoo staff is still in the process of planning a spring, summer and
fall jumping with fun. We will let you know more as plans develop.
In March, Programs for Society members
28 - 29, starting at 6:30 p.m. Zoo Snooze*, a sleepover for Society parents and children.
29, starting at 8 a.m. Wake Up with the Animals & Watani Grasslands Member Preview*
- Wake Up brings members into the Zoo an hour before it opens to the public to
munch on breakfast (compliments of McDonalds) and preview the new
elephant and rhino exhibits. Weather permitting, meet the elephant keepers, marvel at the new exhibit and play elephant games.
29 - 6:30 p.m. Frog Walk* For Society members and their guests, dinner and a concert with some local crooners. (Learn more)
Other Society Programs scheduled for later this spring:
April 12: Adult Photo Safari* — May 3: GeoCaching for Beginners* —
May 17: The Zoo Rocks* (Walk and Rock with the native geology) —June
14: Children’s Photo Safari *— June 21: Things with Wings* (The Buzz on Butterflies
and Dragonflies)** Reservations are required. Click on an event
name for information on fees and other details. We
begin taking reservations six weeks before an event. If you want more
information about a program, please call (366.879.7262) or e-mail Karen
Powell (kpowell@nczoo.com).
The N.C. Zoo has special events scheduled, too, and the ones listed below are all free with Zoo admission.
March 22, EGG-STRAVAGANZA - Celebrate the holiday at the Zoo.
March 29 & 30, S.O.S. (Save Our Snakes!) Meet some cool reptiles and the people who care for them.
April (every weekend), Spring Fling
YOU asked us to tell you about exhibit closings...
The Polar Bear remains off exhibit. He should be back in his pool in March. We will keep you posted.
The R.J. Reynold's Aviary will be closed for maintenance from Jan. 28 - Feb. 1.
The African Pavilion will be closed for maintenance from Feb. 4 - 8.
YOU want to learn more about the Zoo's animals...
...So Meet "Goldie" 
She is a Panama Golden Frog—one of several that have moved into a
new exhibit in the R.J. Reynold's Forest Aviary. This tiny frog
measures less than an inch in length but packs enough venom under its
skin to kill about 1,000 mice.
The venom protects Goldie and her kin from potential predators. Any
animal that tries to bite into one of these beauties usually spits it
out—right away. All the startled predator gets for its trouble is a mouthful of pain
and suffering that lingers for several hours.
Panama Golden Frogs are toads as well as frogs. They live in Panama (of course) and have recently found
themselves on the Endangered Species List. A fungal disease, called "Chytrid," has invaded
their mountain habitat and killed the frogs by the thousands. A number of
zoos around the world—including the
National Zoo and the
Houston Zoo have established captive breeding programs to try
to save these animals from extinction.
YOU asked for updates on Zoo news stories...
...IN CAMEROON
Dr.
Mike Loomis (see last month's story) is still in Cameroon working to keep elephants away from crops and people. So
far, his team has successfully added two more elephants to this ongoing
conservation study. (The photo to the left shows a study elephant with its satellite collar attached.)
To learn more about this project, visit Field Trip Earth and read Dr. Mike's (and
other world renowned researchers') diary entries on saving endangered
species.
Here
is an excerpt from a Dr. Mike posting:
“We headed out very
early this morning…After an hour of driving .. We were able to locate a
large female, approach her, and get her darted. She went down smoothly
and in a good, safe position. We attached the collar in only fifteen
minutes, gave her the reversal drug, and watched her get back up and
rejoin her herd. It was a "textbook" collaring! We named the elephant
"Kadin" in honor of my grandson, who lives in the United States and
turned two years-old on 13 January 2008.”
...IN BAGHDAD 
A Society grant has purchased teleconferencing equipment to support communications between veterinarians
in Iraq and the United States. Staff from the N.C. State University College of Veterinary
Medicine will use the equipment to beam live classes to the Baghdad Zoo.
The first class going to Iraq is “Advanced Topics in Zoological
Medicine.” Both U.S.
Army veterinarians serving in Iraq and Iraqi veterinarians can sign up
to view the class. It will meet once a week, at midnight Baghdad
time, over the next semester. During the teleconferences, professors and their Baghdad students can interact in real time.
Iraq-based veterinarians will also use the equipment to consult with the
N.C. Zoo's veterinarians.
The N.C. Zoo and Zoo Society began
helping animals at the Bagdad Zoo in 2003, shortly after coalition
troops took that city and donors sent in nearly $100,000 to aid animals
caught in the conflict. These funds helped the International Fund for
Animal Welfare and staff from Thula Thula Game Reserve (South Africa)
secure food and medicine for the zoo animals early in the conflict.
Read reports on the Zoo's historical Bagdad connection
here.
..UNDER THE SUN 
On January 29, the Zoo
Director flipped a switch and sent electricity surging out of three new
picnic shelters at the Zoo. The roofs on these shelters combine to form
North Carolina's largest array of solar panels—a 104 kilowatt, 9,600
square-foot photovoltaic system that can generate enough power to
keep 11 to 13 typical North Carolina homes humming every year.
Donations from Carolina Solar Energy and the N.C. Zoo Society built The
Solar Pointe picnic pavilions. These pavilions will generate
money as well as electricity. The Zoo leases the roofs to Carolina
Solar Energy,
which sells the generated electricity to Randolph Electric
Membership Corporation. The nonprofit, NC Green Power, also subsidizes
the project.
Visitors
can follow the pavilion's
operations by watching a monitor at the shelter that broadcasts
readouts on current energy production along with estimates of the
amount of pollution kept out of the atmosphere by capturing sunlight to generate the power.
YOU asked about exclusive Society gifts..
Let our special Valentine’s Day adoption say what flowers never could ...
“I Can’t Bear to Live without You”
Adopt
a Zoo animal for $45 and treat your Valentine to a cuddly plush bear,
an Adoption Certificate, an animal fact sheet and photo, a few sweet
chocolates and a romantic message from you. Proceeds from these
adoptions buy tasty treats and toys to enrich the Zoo animals' lives
and provide training opportunities for the keepers.
YOU like to pursue links of interest....
If
you have questions about estate planning, planned giving or writing a
will, we want to help. Every month our Web site offers new articles
and interactive features that delve into these topics.
New This Month...
The Most Cost-Effective Gift
Leave a Legacy While Boosting Your Income
What do you Get the Person Who Has Everything?
Russlings, the Zoo Society Executive Director's blog, with its
timely photos and discussions on the N.C. Zoo, animals and
conservation.
YOU like hearing about membership benefits...
...Enjoy
free or reduced admission to over 150 other zoos and aquariums across
the United States. Our Web site lists reciprocating zoos—our Partner Zoos—along with instructions about how to take advantage of this benefit.
The Zoo has a new admission policy
for N.C. Zoo Society members...All members will be asked to enter
through the Society's Express Entry, Member’s Only ticket booths. These
booths are on the far left at either Zoo entrance. Come to booth, show
us your membership card and a picture identification card and we’ll
whisk you on your way.
We ask for a picture identification card to protect the value of your membership. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
To enter the Members Only section of the Society’s Web site, use the current password: elephant.
COME TRAVEL WITH US IN 2008
The Society travel programs bring members together to explore nature and wildlife.
Travel with us on a
· San Diego Urban Safari, February 28-March 4
· Tanzania Wildlife Safari, May 17-28
· Migration Safari to Kenya August 29 – September 9, travel with Zoo Director, Dr. David Jones – Only one space left!
· Manitoba Adventure, November 6-12, to see Polar Bears.
For prices and other information contact sgee@nczoo.com or call 336-879-7253.
Photo Credits for our Feburary, 2008, Z-mail.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO COMPLETE OUR THREE QUESTION SURVEY...
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have ideas or suggestions for future Z-mail or Alive stories,
or if you have questions or comments about the contents of this Z-mail, please e-mail Jayne Owen Parker at jparker@nczoo.com
Send other questions and comments to mmclanahan@nczoo.com.
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.
