ZooTracks Spring 2013

MARCH • APRIL • MAY SPRING 2013

INSIDE

JUST THE FACTS, THE ZOO FACTS!

COURTSHIP

SUMMER LEARNING ADVENTURES

MEMBER’S MAGAZINE

ZooTracksA Sedgwick County Zoological Societymagazine for members

PublisherSedgwick County Zoological Society, Inc.© 2013All rights reserved.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORMark C. Reed

PRESIDENTScott Ochs

TRUSTEESJeff AblahKevin J. ArnelRon BruntonWilliam P. BuchananMartha C. BufordKelly E. CallenMark C. DeVriesJohn Dunlop IIIAllan DunneGenevieve FarhaRhonda FullertonSteve HarrisMichael HerbertRonald HoltSteven A. HoulikDirk JonesSarah KauffmanDon J. KnappenbergerDave LarsonBuz LukensGayle MaloneSam MarnickDoug NeffMartin W. ParkSue PearceMary Lynn PriestScott RedlerBarry SchwanJay SmithDavid M. UnruhSuzanne VaupelMarty WellsSheryl Wohlford

MAGAZINE COMMITTEESchanee AndersonKaren BatesMelissa GrahamRyan GulkerScott NewlandSteven OnkenJonathan Rold

ON THE COVER— Cassowary

FEATURE STORY

Big or Small We Care for Them All

LARGEST:Mammal: Elephant (Stephanie—6,942 lbs., Cinda—7,803 lbs.)Bird: Cassowary—up to 121 lbs.Fish: Pacu—estimated 3 ft long and 45 lbs. Amphibian: Burrowing caecilian—approx. 26 inches and just under 1 lb.Reptile (heaviest): Aldabra tortoise—approx. 400 lbs.Reptile (longest): King cobra—13 ft.

SMALLEST:Mammal: Vampire bat—approx. 2 ozBird: Owl finch—6–8 gramsReptile: Ruin lizards—approx. 3–4 inchesAmphibian: Golden mantella—less than one inchFish: Guppies—just under 1 inch

Elephant Stephanie—6,942 lbs., Cinda—7,803 lbs.

Vampire Batapprox. 2 oz

You're Only as Old as You Think You AreOLDEST:Aldabra tortoise, Missy—wild born, estimated hatching in 1950

62 years oldYOUNGEST :Blue-crowned pigeon chick—hatched early January

Fuzzy WuzzyBrown bears are the hairiest mammal, although most mammals are covered with hair. Some hairs are very fine and not easily seen.

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Animals can be Foodies too!

STRANGEST FOOD:Canned green beans— algae-eating fish

MOST EXPENSIVE:Flamingo breeder grain @ $71.50 per 50 lb. bag ($1.43 per lb.)

CHEAPEST:ADF 16 grain (alfalfa-based pellet) @ 27 cents per lb.

MOST USED:ADF 16 grainRomaine lettuce—all areas in the Zoo

BONES USED:45 per week—2,340 per year

Crowd PleasersGIFT SHOP: The item we sold the most of last year was the inflatable animals. We sold over 8,000 of them. That’s a lot of hot air. Well, cold air really.

PLAZA BEASTRO:32,000 souvenir cupsOver 26,000 sno-conesOver 12,000 orders of fries13,000 bottles of water 13,000 small boxes of popcorn13,000 pretzels

The Zoo—Step by StepStarting at Admissions, the total steps to walk each exhibit (going counter clockwise), is 7,558 steps. This total includes the steps taken between each exhibit.

Children’s Farms Cessna Penguin Cove Amphibians & Reptiles Jungle North America

Asian Forest Slawson Family Tiger Trek

The Downing Gorilla Forest

Pride of the Plains Australia & South America

Koch Orangutan & Chimpanzee Habitat

1,115 172 220 568 1,417

127 308 557 364 647

3937,558 steps

Let’s Talk About Chicks:EGGSLargestCassowary—135mm X 95mm, 600 gramsSmallestOwl finch—12–15mm X 6–8mm, 4–6 grams

CASSOWARY:Incubation period is 50 days, chick can leave the nest quickly, but can stay with dad for 9 months.Interestingly, Cassowary dads are the ones to care for the chick!

OWL FINCH:Incubation is 18 days, chick fledges in 14 days.

FEATURE STORY

Invertebrates Fish Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mammals Total

Collection Chart (2011 Collection Data)

Orders

Families

Species

Specimens

5

5

5

118

9

27

57

653

3

18

44

701

3

24

83

276

20

52

159

853

11

33

75

375

51

159

423

2976

Invertebrates 4%

Fish 21.9%

Amphibians 23.5%

Reptiles 9.3%

Birds 28.7%

Mammals 12.6%

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Animal EncounterAll ages • NO COST

No advance registration required.Classes may be canceled without notice.

Encounters are held in the Cargill Learning Center.

Kansas Animal

Snake

Jungle Animal

Reptiles

Body Coverings

South American Animal

Lizard

Cats

African Animal

Aquatic Animal

Domestic Animal

Nocturnal Animals

Australian Animal

Mammal

Mystery Animal

Invertebrates

Mon 3/4

Tues 3/12

Wed 3/20

Thurs 3/28

Mon 4/1

Tues 4/9

Wed 4/17

Thurs 4/25

Mon 5/6

Tues 5/14

Wed 5/15

Thurs 5/23

Mon 6/3

Tues 6/11

Wed 6/19

Thurs 6/27

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m. –11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

DISCOVERY

Animal TalesDoes your preschooler LOVE the Zoo? Animal

Tales Preschool at Sedgwick County Zoo focuses on traditional learning skills with a creative and

environmental twist!

New student registration now open!

CLASS SCHEDULES: Age 3

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9:00–11:30 a.m.

Ages 4 & 5Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 9:00–11:30 a.m.

or 12:30–3:30 p.m.

Spaces fill up quickly so call 266-8213 today or visit scz.org for more information!

Education Program ScheduleAll classes are held in the Cargill Learning Center unless otherwise noted. Please visit www.scz.org for program information and brief class descriptions of individual classes. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for classes. Please call 316-266-8213 to register. Classes take place rain or shine. For the safety and enjoyment of everyone, no older or younger siblings, including infants, are allowed in age specific classes unless otherwise noted.

Class Date Topic Start–End Time Class Date Topic Start–End Time

Wee WigglersAge: 12–23 mo.Members: $4Nonmembers: $6Additional person: $2

* Classes will meet at the Cessna Penguin Cove

** Classes will meet in the tent room at the Downing Gorilla Forest

+Siblings up to four years of age may also attend these classes for an additional $2

Wed 3/6

Wed 3/6

Thurs 3/7

Thurs 3/7

Tues. 4/2

Tues 4/2

Wed 4/3

Wed 4/3

Wed 5/1

Wed 5/1

Thurs 5/2

Thurs 5/2

Tues 6/4

Tues 6/4

Wed 6/5

Wed 6/5

Turtle

Turtle+

Turtle

Turtle

Penguin *

Penguin*

Penguin*

Penguin+*

Rabbit

Rabbit+

Rabbit

Rabbit

Gorilla**

Gorilla**

Gorilla**

Gorilla+**

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

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OwletAge: 2–3Members: $6Nonmembers: $8Additional person: $3

* Classes will meet at the Cessna Penguin Cove** Classes will meet in the tent room at the Downing Gorilla Forest

+Siblings up to four years of age may also attend these classes for an additional $3

Wed 3/20

Wed 3/20

Thurs 3/21

Thurs 3/21

Thurs 3/21

Tues 4/16

Tues 4/16

Tues 4/16

Wed 4/17

Wed 4/17

Wed 5/15

Wed 5/15

Thurs 5/16

Thurs 5/16

Thurs 5/16

Tues 6/18

Tues 6/18

Tues 6/18

Wed 6/19

Wed 6/19

Turtle

Turtle+

Turtle

Turtle

Turtle

Penguin*

Penguin*

Penguin*

Penguin*

Penguin+*

Rabbit

Rabbit+

Rabbit

Rabbit

Rabbit

Gorilla**

Gorilla**

Gorilla**

Gorilla**

Gorilla+**

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

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10:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

10:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

2:45 p.m

10:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

2:45 p.m

10:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

10:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

10:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

2:45 p.m

10:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

2:45 p.m

10:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

Tot TuesdaysAge: 3–5 siblings welcome

NO COSTNo advanced registration required.

Tues 3/26

Tues 4/23

Tues 5/28

Tues 6/25

Super Salamanders

Wind is our Friend

Gobs of Green

What is an Ape?

10:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.11:00 a.m.

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Pajama PartyFamily of up to 5 members, children ages 0–1st grade

Members: $17Nonmembers: $19Additional person: $5

Sat 3/2

Fri 3/8

Sat 4/6

Fri 4/12

Sat 5/4

Fri 5/10

Sat 6/1

Fri 6/7

Lively Lizards

Lively Lizards

Mammal Potty Break

Mammal Potty Break

Bird & Reptile Potty Break

Bird & Reptile Potty Break

Proud Primates

Proud Primates

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

DISCOVERY

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"ZOO"per StarsGrades: 1–5Members: $6Nonmembers: $8

Sun 3/24

Sun 4/28

Sun 5/19

Sun 6/23

Snake

Lion

Amur Leopard

Camel

1:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

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ZOOper KidsGrades: 1–5Members: $8Nonmembers: $10

Sat 3/9

Sat 4/13

Sat 5/11

Sat 6/15

Excuse Me While I Shed My Scales

The 3 R's

Endangered Ranges

Water Worlds

2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

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Sunset SafariAge: 12 mo.–6 yearsMembers: $6Nonmembers: $8Additional person: $3

Tues 3/12

Tues 4/9

Tues 5/7

Tues 6/11

Salamander

Penguin

Rabbit

Gorilla

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

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Ewe & MeAge: 4–KMembers: $8Nonmembers: $10Additional person: $4

+Younger siblings may also attend these classes for an additional $4

Tues 3/12

Tues 3/12

Wed 3/13

Wed 3/13

Wed 4/10

Wed 4/10

Thurs 4/11

Thurs 4/11

Snakes are Special

Snakes are Special

Snakes are Special+

Snakes are Special

Otterly Wonderful+

Otterly Wonderful

Otterly Wonderful

Otterly Wonderful

10:00 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

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Class Date Topic Start–End Time Class Date Topic Start–End Time

Social HourAges 21+Members: $25Nonmembers: $30

Fri 6/3 Beastly Beers

Sponsored by House of Schwan

6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

Registration Information:1. Preregister by calling the Learning Center at 266-8213 between 8 a.m. and noon. 2. Pay over the phone by credit card OR fill out the form completely and mail with payment to 5555 Zoo Blvd., Wichita, KS 67212-1698. Registration is not complete until payment is received. 3. Payment must be postmarked no later than seven days after preregistration. We reserve the right to cancel any preregistration or to charge a $2 late fee to individuals whose payment is not received on time. NOTE: If a refund is needed, contact the education department by 4 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled class. After contact, we will be happy to refund a maximum of 75% of the original program fee. If we need to cancel class, we will notify registrants 48 hours in advance. For the safety and comfort of other participants, we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone with a fever or who is noticeably sick.

6

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So You Think You Want to Be a Zookeeper?TeensMembers: $10Nonmembers: $12

* close-toed shoes required

Thurs 4/18

Thurs 6/20ChimpanzeeFrog

3:30 p.m.3:30 p.m.

4:45 p.m.4:45 p.m.

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Sat 3/9

Sat 3/23

Sat 4/13

Sat 5/11

Farms

Veterinary Medicine (added date!)

Commissary

Horticulture

10:00 a.m.10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:30 a.m.11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

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Backstage PassIncludes up to five family members, ages 5+Members: $17Nonmembers: $19Additional people/Individual fee: $8

Wheeling Wild ClubAdult & Family—must

be on bicycle or attached wagon.

Members: $30 1 ride per month

Nonmembers: $34 1 ride per month

Wed 3/20thru

Wed 10/16

3rd Wed each

month

5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.–Sponsored by Bicycle X-change

Senior WednesdaysActive guests over 55$4 per adultPre-registration not required

Wed 3/13

Wed 4/10

Wed 5/8

Wed 6/12

Creatures in Comics

A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper

Here Lizard, Lizard

Conservation Projects

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

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Coffee ConnectionsGeared towards adults but all ages welcomeNO COST

No advance registration required.

Mon 3/4

Mon 4/1

Mon 5/6

Mon 6/3

Kara KingEducation Specialist

Jan Nelson Australia/South America Mammals

Rachel HorschVeterinary Tech

Stephanie Kelley Amphibians and ReptilesSponsored by

Starbucks

9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

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Education Registration Form Please enclose form with payment and mail after you have preregistered.Student Name Class Title Date Time Fee

Membership No:

Parent's Name:

Address:

Total:

Phone:

City: Zip:

Homeschool ExpeditionsGrades: 1–5Members: 15Nonmembers: $17

Includes up to five family membersAdditional person: $5

Wed 3/6

Wed 4/10

Wed 5/1

Slither, Scuttle, and Sprint

Celebrate Earth Day

On the Brink

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

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NEW! Farm FamiliesFamilies of all agesMembers: $15 per participant

Nonmembers: $20 per participant

**Go to scz.org for more information**

Mon 3/3– Sun 5/5

Mon 6/3– Sun 8/25

Session One

Session Two

Varies

Varies

Rides will not be rescheduled if inclement weather

WOWgrades 1–5For five-day class:

$145/$160

Mon 3/18–

Fri 3/22

Spring Fling 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.–

Before & After Care for WOW classes:7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. $15 for entire week, March 18–22

Summer Hours Begin March 1 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 30: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Regular Zoo admission applies. Members FREE with

membership card and photo ID.

Come out to the Zoo and enjoy Easter activities throughout the day! Meet the Easter Bunny, participate

in egg guessing games and much more! Kids are encouraged to bring their Easter baskets to collect

goodies located throughout the Zoo. A special activity for children with special needs will be held at 1:00 p.m.

and an activity for visually impaired children will be held at 2:00 p.m. Call 266-8367 to register for these

special activities.

For more information call 660-WILD (9453) or visit scz.org.

Sponsored by:

Meritrust presents: Earth Day Kansas

Thursday, April 25: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Celebrate Earth Day Kansas! This free environmental

fair gives everyone the opportunity to learn how

to protect and care for the world we live in. Fun,

interactive activities and exhibits will be on display

throughout the Zoo. Activities are geared for grades

3-5, and admission to the Zoo is free for this event.

For more information call 660-WILD (9453) or visit scz.org.

Teachers, please register online at scz.org starting in mid-March.

World Penguin DaySaturday, May 4: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Regular Zoo admission applies. Members FREE with

membership card and photo ID.

World Penguin Day coincides with the annual northward migration of certain penguin species, which happens

each year in April. We are celebrating World Penguin Day on May 4 this year. There will

be penguin activities, penguin crafts, and keeper chats with a

keeper available to answer all your penguin questions.

Keeper Chat & Feeding Schedule:

10:00 a.m., Noon, 2:00 p.m., 3:45 p.m.

For more information call 660-WILD (9453) or visit

scz.org.

ADVENTURE

Sign up for 2013 Kid’s Club! It’s a special club for kids ages 3–11 that gives you the

opportunity to get more involved with the Zoo. And

it’s free to join!

• Participate in Easter Eggstravaganza as well as

Wet-n-Wild Days this summer to earn Kid’s Club points!

• Earn fun attendance prizes!

• Stay up-to-date on Zoo news with your very own newsletter!

For more information or to register for Kid’s Club, go to

scz.org. We’ll see you at the Zoo!

Cinco De Mayo Celebration

Sunday, May 5: Noon – 6:00 p.m.Regular Zoo admission applies. Members FREE with

membership card and photo ID.

Come celebrate Mexican culture with food, music, and fun! Exhibitors, authentic Mexican food vendors, and live bands performing on the stage are all part of the festivities during this exciting celebration. And don’t

forget to see your favorite Zoo animals while you’re here!

Sponsored by:

Sunday, May 12: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Moms get in free with a paid child’s admission.

Celebrate the beauty of spring and treat your mom to a visit to the Zoo on her special day! Visit our newest babies and their Zoo moms while enjoying the great family atmosphere! All

moms are admitted free when accompanied by a paying child.

Also, stop by the Pavilion from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and enjoy a wonderful all-you-can-eat Chris Cakes pancake brunch for

just $5 a plate.

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Sponsored by:

Nocturnal AdventuresAre you looking for an exciting activity for your scout, church, or school group but do not want to mess with camping equipment? How about spending the night at the Zoo? Groups will meet education staff at 6:00 p.m. in the Cargill Learning Center and participate in an exciting evening of games, tours, and special animal visitors. Groups will sleep inside, so no tents are needed. You bring a sack dinner. An evening snack and morning juice are provided by the Zoo.

These exciting overnights are only $25.00 per person. Participants sleep in the Cargill Learning Center, The Downing Gorilla Forest, the Slawson Family Tiger Trek or at the North American Prairie Overlook. There is a minimum of 15 participants. However, for reservations of fewer than 30 people, the education department reserves the right to combine groups similar in age and gender. A non-refundable deposit of $150 is due one week after the date of booking. To schedule your Nocturnal Adventure, contact the Education Department at 266-8213 a minimum of two weeks in advance.

FRIENDS & FAMILY

Creature CampoutJoin us for an overnight outdoor adventure “Down Under," mate!

Friday, April 12Friday, April 26Friday, May 10Friday, May 17

Saturday June 22 National Backyard Campout 2013

All campers need to bring their own tents, sleeping bags and flashlights. The campouts are designed for families with children ages 5 and older. Any youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Cost is $30 per person for members and $35 per person for nonmembers.

Space is limited at each of the campouts, so call soon to register. For more information or to register, call the Education Department at 266-8213. We have added more dates this year, so decide which wild night is best for you! Creature Campout Shirts will be for sale for $10 per shirt for those that camp out with us.

We would like to thank our friends at Papa John’s for helping to sponsor these great overnights!

zoo gift shop coupon

One Coupon per person/per purchase. Must have membership ID and coupon to redeem.

valid from 3/1/13 to 3/31/13

Plastic Animals and Toobs

MARCH

off15%

zoo gift shop coupon

One Coupon per person/per purchase. Must have membership ID and coupon to redeem.

valid from 4/1/13 to 4/30/13

T-shirtsAPRIL

off15%

zoo gift shop coupon

One Coupon per person/per purchase. Must have membership ID and coupon to redeem.

valid from 5/1/13 to 5/31/13

JewelryMARCH

off15%

Children’s Farm Festival: Shearing of the SheepSaturday, March 16: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Join us as we shear the sheep and prepare for spring. The Zoo’s Tunis, Karakul, and Navajo Churro sheep will be sheared in the American Barn throughout the morning. Guests will get to feel the different wool, try their hand at wool carding and hand spinning. Knitters and spinners will also be on hand to show you how this beautiful wool can be turned into sweaters, scarves and much more. It will be a fun time for all!

Regular Zoo admission applies; members get in free with membership card and photo ID.

Help us Reduce, Reuse & Recycle!

Thanks to Learjet, you now have more opportunities to reduce your waste and recycle while you visit the Zoo. Check out the Learjet Recycle Centers to recycle plastic and aluminum.

Travel with the Zoo Kenya

August 13–23, 2013

Prepare to see amazing wildlife in their natural habitats on this amazing safari to Kenya! This adventure is hosted by Sedgwick County Zoo and escorted by Deputy Zoo Director Ryan Gulker.

Do you want to see elephants, wildebeest, cheetahs, lions and spectacular birdlife? Kenya's got them. Or maybe it's scenery, or flowers, or butterflies. Kenya has a lot to offer.

Places you'll visit:• Nairobi• Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary• Samburu Game Reserve• Kigio Wildlife Conservancy in the Great Rift Valley• Masai Mara Game Reserve• Amboseli National Park

Dates: August 13 – 23, 2013

Total Land Cost: $4995 (based on double occupancy) Airfare not included in this price.

"Nothing can really prepare you for Africa: it is too full of extremes and contrasts, too immense—a spectrum of creation so much wider and more vivid than anywhere else that it seems to require a new set of senses, or the rediscovery of lost ones."

— Evelyn James, A Glimpse of Eden

10View the full itinerary

Questions? Contact Ryan Gulker at

316.266.8202 or [email protected]

Courtship: Not just a bunch of bubbles and bellowing!Jon Rold, Senior Keeper—Amphibians & Reptiles

This spring, as you make your way through the Amphibian

and Reptile building, you might want to take a little extra

time to watch the Chinese alligators. You just might catch a

glimpse of some very interesting breeding behaviors, both

natural and encouraged!

It all starts with a little warm up in the animals’ habitat

around mid-March. The temperatures in the exhibit will

range from about 50 degrees in the winter to 80 degrees in

the summer. This mimicking of the seasons is a necessary

piece to the puzzle of trying to get these critically

endangered animals to reproduce in the Zoo. These seasonal

cycles will trigger hormonal changes necessary to initiate

ovulation and courtship.

As the breeding season begins, there is a wide array of

fascinating behaviors exhibited by both male and female

alligators. Some of these actions are quite subtle and can be

easily overlooked, while other behaviors are more obvious

and very entertaining to watch. You may walk by the exhibit

and see the alligators sitting side by side. Suddenly one of

the animals submerges while exhaling, causing bubbles to

rush upward against the surfaced animal. Or, perhaps you

will see the animals swimming in tandem, the male nuzzling

the female and gently biting her snout. All of these are visual

and tactile courtship behaviors.

But, arguably the most impressive behavior exhibited by

both male and female alligators during the breeding season

is bellowing. Bellowing is a low grunting, groaning call made

by crocodilians. It is not only heard in the air but can also be

heard and felt underwater. The animals will lift their heads

and tails out of the water and roar as they sink back down.

This activity serves at least a couple of purposes.

First, bellowing is a way for a male alligator to stake out a

bit of territory, warning other males of his presence and

determination to find a mate. Second, bellowing attracts

females. The female is drawn to the calls of the male alligator

and will often bellow alongside an acceptable mate.

A couple of years ago keepers decided to try to stimulate

this behavior. The plan was simple: Get a bass guitar and

ANIMALS & NATURE

Pete’s Plant TipsAs springtime approaches, we all get anxious to get our plants out of the house and back out on the patios or decks. But

before you get in to too much of a hurry, let’s look at those plants first.

First of all, let’s make sure that the nighttime temperatures are going to stay above 50 degrees. If the temps are predicted to drop below 50, be ready to move the plants back into the garage or cover them with a light cotton sheet. Try to avoid using plastic drop cloth type sheeting as it doesn’t insulate as well.

Next, when you’re relatively sure that spring has really sprung, be aware of the plant’s increased water needs. Inside your home the light levels are considerably lower and there is less wind. Both of these factors are going to increase when the plant goes back outside, so watering will also need to be increased. Try to avoid getting into the habit of watering on a schedule. Water when the plant is beginning to dry out. Using your index finger, poke around in the soil about an inch down. If it is dry, then water thoroughly. If the plant is small enough, the weight test can be used. You can tell by lifting the plant if it needs water. This is a learned method and you will have to find out how much the plant weighs when it doesn’t need water.

Poking around the soil also gets you up close and personal

with your plant, which is important. More times than I can count, I have found other issues while I was checking the plant for water needs. Pests such as fungus gnats will be evident as you are checking the soil. Fungus gnats cause little damage to your plants, but who wants these little things flying around the plants? While you’re down there, remove any leaves from the soil surface. No need to give bugs a nice place to hide their eggs. Look on the underside of the leaves for pests too. White flies, scales, mealy bugs and spider mites all call this area home. The damage they cause will be irreversible. Plant pests and insects are a part of being a gardener. If their numbers are kept at a low enough level, the damage they cause will be negligible, and that should be the goal.

Next issue, I will write on how to identify the most common pests and the simplest control methods.

About Pete Logsdon: Pete has worked at the Zoo since 1999. He

has worked in the horticulture field since he was 16. He says that

“Plants teach me patience. I like the idea of planting for what the

Jungle (or any landscape) will look like in 10–15 years.”

amplifier and try to mimic the low, popping bellow of the

Chinese alligator. With a little trial and error the keepers

found the right note and technique to elicit bellowing. Since

then, every spring we bring in the bass guitar and usually

once in the morning and once in the afternoon we plug it in,

turn it up, and initiate a round of bellowing.

It’s tough to say why this works. When you hear the two

sounds, us playing and the animal calling, they are quite

different. Close enough, it seems, to trigger the behavior.

Also, are we “fooling” these animals? Do they actually think

that there is another animal nearby that they must answer?

They never leave the water or approach the area of land

that we are playing from. Is our playing simply a stimulus

that triggers a response with little or no thought regarding

the sound’s origin? Leaving aside a debate of crocodilian

cognition, bellowing is a truly amazing behavior to see and

hear. And, it is our hope that by triggering that activity in the

animals it will help to nudge them along the way to further

courtship and eventual breeding and reproduction.

About Jon Rold: Jon has

been at the Sedgwick

County Zoo since 2012, but

has worked in zoos for about

10 years. Why he enjoys

working with crocodilians?

“I think they tend to be

poorly understood. Oftentimes they are seen as either a

scary, menacing animal or a boring exhibit because ‘it just

lies there.’ In reality they are fairly intelligent animals with

social hierarchies and an amazing range of displays and

vocalizations used to communicate mood and intent. They

can show great gentleness, as in the act of a mother carefully

using her jaws to open an egg to free a struggling hatchling.”

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CONSERVATION

Trash to Treasure!Trash—no one likes it but we all produce it, and lots of it. It’s estimated that 95 percent of all trash sent to landfills could be recycled or composted. Paper and plastics make up more than 50 percent of most landfills, and both these products are recyclable. Yard waste and food make up another 2 percent; again, these products could be composted at home. Simply reducing those four items (paper, plastic, yard waste, and food) could reduce our landfills by 75 percent. That is amazing!

Other items are not as easy to recycle—have you wondered what to do with one flip-flop after the mate fell apart? The Sedgwick County Zoo now has the answer for those hard-to-recycle items! We have partnered with TerraCycle to bring our community a creative way to reuse and recycle some of the more unique items. Now you can recycle that lone flip-flop and other items at the Cargill Learning Center. We will also accept cereal bags, clean cheese bags (shredded or block), printer cartridges, cell phones, and empty drink pouches.

How a partnership with TerraCycle worksTerraCycle’s goal is to eliminate waste by creating collection and solution systems for anything that is currently sent to a landfill. They do this by creating national recycling systems for things that are traditionally thrown away. TerraCycle converts the collected waste into useful products by upcycling or recycling. More than 30 million people from 20 countries are actively involved in keeping billions of pieces of trash out of our landfills and more than 5 million dollars has been raised for charities.

Most of us are familiar with recycling: creating a new product using the raw materials of the old product, like a recycled fence product made from drink pouches. But upcycling may be a new word to many. This process takes a used product and makes it into a new product without changing the original form. If you are in the market for a new book bag for your child, you can purchase a bag made entirely from individual drink pouches.

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So what is your next step? Save your flip-flops (they don’t have to be a pair), your clean cheese packaging (shredded or block), cereal bags, cell phones, printer cartridges, and empty juice pouches and bring them to the Zoo. Our drop-off bins are in the Cargill Learning Center, which has direct access from the parking lot. Once we collect enough of each item, we will ship them to TerraCycle so your former trash can begin its new life as a useful product instead of ending up in our landfills.

Other ways to help We always encourage you to reduce your consumption.

• Look for products that don’t use excessive packaging.

• Purchase reusable bags to use at the store AND remember to bring them with you.

• If you do not need an item, do not purchase it.

• Go to www.terracycle.com the next time you need to purchase a gift and purchase something that has been upcycled.

Accepted Waste:Ink Cartridge Brigade accepted waste: any brand inkjet cartridges.Flip-Flop Brigade accepted waste: Rubber flip-flops of any brand.Cereal Bag Brigade accepted waste: All plastic cereal bags and cereal bag liners of any brand.Cell Phone Brigade accepted waste: flip phones, messaging phones, smart phones and iPhones. Cheese Packaging Brigade accepted waste: Large flexible cheese packaging, individual slices or cheese stick outer packaging, solid cheese block packaging, and foil cheese packaging.Drink Pouch Brigade accepted waste: aluminum drink pouches and plastic drink pouches.

• Call 26 6 - 8252 to plan a Jungle Birthday Party in the Plaza Beastro (all ages)

• Call 26 6 - 8213 to plan a Safari Birthday Party in the Cargill Learning Center (ages 3–9)

Visit www.scz.org for more information on all birthday party packages!

You’re invited to celebrate with some real party animals! Let Sedgwick County Zoo staff help you choose a fun birthday party package for your child. We’ll provide all the party supplies. All you have to do is have fun!

are a wild time at the Zoo

BIRTHDAYSPLANNING YOUR VISIT:Visit scz.org to purchase tickets or renew your membership.TAKE YOUR PICK! WE’RE OPEN 364 DAYS A YEAR!Plan a trip to the Zoo with family and friends! Speed up your rate of entry by purchasing any additional tickets online at scz.org for family or friends who don’t have a membership. You can print tickets at home and everyone can enjoy the Zoo adventure that much quicker!

Regular AdmissionAdults (ages 12+) $13.95Senior Citizens (62+) $11.95Children (ages 3–11) $8.95Children ages 2 and under Free FREE Tram TourEnjoy a FREE narrated tram tour of the Zoo! You can hop on or off at any of the five designated tram stops. Using the tram to get around the Zoo allows you to see more of the Zoo during your visit! And it’s FREE! All aboard! (Weather permitting.)

Wheelchair Rental:Push wheelchairs: $5 per visitElectric wheelchairs: $25/3 hours, $5 each additional hour Stroller Rental:Single stroller: $6Double stroller: $9 Giraffe Feeding Station:Open 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (staff & weather permitting)Just $2 per person/per feeding

Summer Hours:March–October

8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Winter Hours:November–February10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

To inspire discovery, appreciation, and respect for animals and nature

Let Your Imagination Run

WildWe'll Take Care of the Details!Whether you are planning a group event for 20 or a spectacular party

for 2,000—we have the capabilities and resources to offer a truly

unique social experience. From the drama of The Downing Gorilla

Forest to the serenity of the Cessna Penguin Cove, we have a variety of

venues that are sure to create an atmosphere your guests will never

forget. We're here to help you customize your experience and

give your guests an event they will always remember.

For more information visit the Group Events page at scz.org.

Dates are filling up fast for spring and summer dates!

Call Today—316.266.8252