New Elephants Arrive at the Zoo!
Two of the three elephants that
arrived in late October, a mother and her 5-year-old daughter. A
24-year-old bull, not pictured, arrived two days before them.
The three new elephants bring the Zoo's herd size to seven, the largest ever. (N.C. Zoo photo by Tom Gillespie). Read News Story by clicking here.
Wilhelm is Fine and Dandy!
We've had lots of inquiries about Wilhelm, the
popular polar bear. If you've been to the Zoo lately, you know that he is
not on exhibit and a couple of happy Sea Lions have taken over his
pool.
Don't be alarmed. Wilhelm is well and happy
off-exhibit, in a private room (with a private pool). He is taking a
short sabbatical so that the Sea Lions have a place to swim and frolic
while we build a shade structure for their exhibit. The construction should
be finished sometime in January.
When the shade structure is up, the Sea Lions
will
go back to their pool. Wilhelm will go back to his, and everyone
will be happy again.
Polar Bear photo by Valerie Abbot
Zoo Vets On Pins and Needles Over New Pain Therapy
Always searching for new and safe ways to ease the
pain and suffering of Zoo animals, the Zoo’s veterinarians recently
tested an ancient Asian analgesic—acupuncture—on two elderly Patas
Monkeys
who suffer from osteoarthritis.
Acupuncture worked its way into veterinary medicine fairly recently—a
consequence of the procedure’s growing popularity and respectability
among western physicians. The N.C. Zoo’s took its first jab at testing the
procedure with these two Patas Monkeys. Dr. Mike Loomis, the Zoo's
Chief Veterinarian, reports that one of the monkeys has shown definite
improvements after the procedure, while the other one seems about the
same.
For all you skeptics out there, scientific research suggests
that properly placed acupuncture needles stimulate the release of
endorphins—brain chemicals that deaden
pain and generate a general sense of well being in people as well as
other animals.
Don't Mess with the Natives!
Sometimes, native wildlife—foxes, raccoons,
squirrels, turtles or even snakes—can add to the joy and spontaneity of a
Zoo visit. They—like so many of our visitors— find the Zoo grounds
wildly inviting.
Please help us keep them—and you—safe and healthy. Never feed or try to
touch any of these native creatures. The Zoo’s fertile and abundant
plants provide seeds, nuts, pollen, leaves and other natural foods
aplenty for the local vegetarians, and nature drafts just the right
number of them to satisfy the resident carnivores’ needs. Adding
peanuts, popcorn, chips and other human foods to their diet is not good
for them!
Show your love for wildlife by helping us keep it wild and healthy. Look, but never touch or feed, the natives.
Let's Rock the Voters!
The Zoo Society plans to work with the
State Legislature next spring to help the Zoo secure
capital
funding for some pressing animal
welfare needs and to expand the Zoo's conservation and education
programs. Last session, we called on our members to e-mail their
legislators
in support of similar capital needs. The enormous response to this
e-mail proved key in securing over $3 million for the
Zoo—the first large capital investment from the state in 15 years.
We want to improve on this approach next year by helping our members
direct more personalized messages to their legislators. To achieve
that, we will need your help. If you have a personal or business relationship with a legislator or
have donated to a legislator who is currently in office, and if you are
willing to encourage your legislator to support us, please
send an e-mail to ksparks@nczoo.com and tell her your name and the name
of your legislative contact.
We look forward to hearing
from you and appreciate any support you can offer.
Zoo Society Earns Four Stars for Managing Your Money
Charity Navigator works its way through the nation’s
charities, ranking them on how efficiently and effectively they use
their money. After carefully reviewing your Society’s latest
independent, annual audit and tax forms, Charity Navigator ranked the
N.C. Zoological Society at the top. We earned four stars—the highest score possible—for the way that we
respect, oversee, distribute, manage and spend the money that we earn
from contributions, membership dues, grants, sales, special events,
etc.
Greet the Season with Exclusive Gifts from Your Zoo
We’ve put together another bundle of nature- and
family-friendly gifts for the Holiday Season. Buy one and get a great
gift and a good feeling from helping out the Zoo.
Glitz for the Tree
Limited-edition, hand-crafted 2007 Christmas tree ornament
Fuzzy Good Feelings
Weighing in as Ten Tons of Fun, our 2007 Holiday
Adoption packs two pachyderms—one elephant and one rhinoceros—into the
same adoption package. The portly pair will double your fun and help
the Zoo Society raise the last few dollars the Zoo needs to open
its Watani Grassland Reserves—an amazing new complex for
elephants and rhinoceros exhibits that will open in the spring of
2008.
Regular: $59.99
A Year of FUN
Our Annual, Special Holiday Memberships
We’ll bundle up a bear and a hug for you to send
along with these special Holiday membership packages. No
batteries necessary to get family, friends revved up, and having fun
outside and at the Zoo.
Every membership arrives with a 15-inch cuddle
bear, membership card and your good wishes. Memberships will go
on sale on the Web after Nov. 1.
What's To Do in November at the Zoo?
Zoo Snooze
A members-only sleepover for Society parents and children Friday,
November 2 – Saturday, November 3. Reservations are required.
(The event is suitable for children 6 years old and older who are
accompanied by an adult)
The cost is $100 for one parent and child and $30 for each additional person
Member Tips and Reminders
Visit the For Members Only Web pages. The current password is elephant.
Don’t Stand in Line at the Zoo!
Head for the Express-Entry, Member's only ticket
booths on the left side of either Zoo entrance. Show us your membership
card and a picture identification card and we’ll whisk you in and get
you on your way. We ask for a picture identification card when you visit in order to
protect the value of your membership. Your cooperation is greatly
appreciated.
Travel With Us
Trips on the horizon in 2008
San Diego Urban Safari, February 28-March 4;
Cape Lookout Wildlife Weekends, May 2-4 and October 17-19
Tanzania Wildlife Safari, May 16-28;
Migration Safari to Kenya
Manitoba Adventure, November 6-12, to see Polar Bears.
For prices and other information contact sgee@nczoo.com or call 336-879-7253.
Explore Our Web
Do you have questions about estate planning? Planned
giving? Your will? Each month, we feature new articles and
interactive features that cover such topics. We hope it will be a
useful resource for you. New This Month..
Your IRA could be the key to tax-effective giving.
Review your year-end estate planning checklist.
Witness the difference your gift can make.
Visit the Zoo
Society Executive Director's personal blog Russlings for very current info on the San Diego fires,
photos and discussion on the N.C. Zoo, animals and conservation.
Contact Us
Got ideas for stories for Alive, the Z-mail, or programs you would like
to see us offer—or if you have questions or comments about the content
of this month's articles, contact: Jayne Parker
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, please e-mail cparks@nczoo.com and type “unsubscribe” in the subject line.
For travel information, contact sgee@nczoo.com or call 336-879-7253.
For other information, contact mmaclanahan.nczoo.com
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.
Thank you for your continued support of the North Carolina Zoological Society
Last modified
12/23/2007 02:00pm.
