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Conservation &
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February, 2012
IN THIS ISSUE
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SW
ECOLOGY
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The Phoenix Zoo provides experiences that inspire people and motivate
them to care for the natural world.
Species Biodiversity in Tropical Rainforests
a Key Component to Conservation
Tarsier at Danau Girang
Field Centre
Photo credit- B. Goossens
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FEATURED CONSERVATION & SCIENCE ARTICLE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURED CONSERVATION & SCIENCE ARTICLE
Species Biodiversity in Tropical
Rainforests a Key Component
to Conservation
FEATURED CONSERVATION &
SCIENCE ARTICLE.................. 1-5
Species Biodiversity in Tropical
Rainforests a Key Component to
Conservation............................. 1
Amazon Rainforest . ................. 2
Original and remaining forest
cover (world map)..................... 2
Rainforest conservation
strategies.................................. 4
Sites referred to........................ 5
SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION
ECOLOGY................................. 6
Arid Land Ecology..................... 6
References:............................... 6
LOCAL SPECIES
CONSERVATION.................... 7-9
Black-footed ferret ...................7
Springsnail.................................7
Chiricahua leopard frog............8
Desert pupfish...........................8
Narrow-headed gartersnake ...8
Gila Topminnow.........................9
Mount Graham red squirrel .....9
INTERNATIONAL
CONSERVATION
PROGRAMS....................... 10-11
In situ conservation of the
greater bamboo lemur
using non-invasive genetics
techniques.............................. 10
Condor releases...................... 11
ZOO TEEN
CONSERVATION
TEAM (ZTCT)........................... 12
Internships & Apprenticeships.12
SUPPORT CONSERVATION..... 13
Letter from the EVP—Ruth
Allard...................................... 13
Zoo Participation in Global
Conservation........................... 13
Contact Us.............................. 13
SUPPORT CONSERVATION
Stuart Wells—Director of Conservation & Science
Biological diversity is defined as the
such as food, pharmaceutical drugs, wood
full range of variety and variability within
products, genetic diversity, and future breedand among living organisms, including the
ing opportunities. Societal benefits, such as
ecological complexes in which they occur.
recreational use, research, education and
Biodiversity encompasses ecosystem or comcultural values, i.e. appreciation of animals
munity diversity, species diversity, and geand nature, are also compromised.
netic diversity. Global species biodiversity, or
By 2000, the human population reached
“species richness,” is often described as the
over six billion, surpassed seven billion
total number of species living on Earth. Acin 2011, and is expected to reach nine
cording to recent information, approximately billion by 2050. Anthropogenic, or human
1.75 million species have been identified in
caused changes, such as habitat destruction,
the world (IUCN). This number
pollution, species exploitation
includes plants, animals,
and mismanagement,
invertebrates, algae,
are the chief factors
molds, fungi and
identified for the
microorganloss of biodiisms. The
versity. There
exact number
is increased
of species
pressure on
in the world
biological
is not known,
resources due
however estimates
to the sheer
range from as low as
number of humans
three million to as high as
populating
the Earth.
Tropical rainforest map.
117 million species. In recent
Unfortunately,
the areas on
Mongabay.com
years, researchers have become
the planet that contain the
increasingly alarmed at the rate of global and highest percentage of biodiversity, tropical
local species extinction rates. It is estimated
rainforests, are also the areas that, in recent
that every 20 minutes another animal species years, have been impacted the most as a
goes extinct, which would mean approxiresult of human-caused changes in habitat
mately 27,000 species are lost per year. As
and species distributions. A closer look at
an example of a single group of animals, at
the ecology of tropical rainforests may help
least one third of the total number of known
to explain their importance in maintaining
amphibian species have been lost within the
species biodiversity.
last 25 to 30 years. The total number of all
species lost may be much higher, as some
species living in remote areas, or in microhabitats, may go extinct before they are ever
discovered. Maintaining species biodiversity
is a necessity for the long-term health and
well-being of the Earth’s ecological systems
and their inhabitants, including humans.
Biodiversity losses impact the health and
resiliency of global ecosystems, such as the
regulation of water quality, the formation of
soils, pollution breakdown, nutrient production, carbon dioxide conversion to oxygen,
Rainforests play a critical role is stabilizing
and climatic stability. Losing biodiversity can
climate change, producing oxygen and
reduce the availability of biological resources, absorbing greenhouse gases. Mongabay.com
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FEATURED CONSERVATION & SCIENCE ARTICLE
The majority of tropical rainforests are
found in areas described as biogeographical
forest realms. There are four biogeographical forest realms, which are named
according to their location in the world.
The Afrotropical forest realm includes
mainland Africa, Madagascar and some
nearby islands. The Australian geographical
realm includes Australia, New Guinea, and
the Pacific Islands. The Indomalayan realm
includes Sri Lanka, India, mainland Asia
and Southeast Asia; and the Neotropical
realm includes the largest continuous
proportion of tropical rainforests, including
South America, Central America, and the
Caribbean islands.
The world’s tropical rainforests are an
important reservoir for species biodiversity.
They cover 2.5 million square miles, which
only represents about 5% percent of the
Earth’s surface but contains 50% percent
of the species on the planet. Additionally,
rainforests regulate atmospheric gases and
stabilize rainfall, help to maintain climate
stability, and protect against desertification.
Sadly though, we are losing the world’s
tropical rainforests through deforestation
at an alarming rate. Each day an estimated
80,000 acres of forests are destroyed,
taking with them an untold number of
plant and animal species. Many of these are
undiscovered before their demise and will
remain unknown to science in their extinction. The main contributors to the rainforest
destruction are a direct result of human
uses, such as clear cutting for farming, mining, and wood harvesting. These uses have
a secondary effect of disrupting climate
control, increasing erosion, and causing
species habitat destruction, which leads to
disturbance of the extremely delicate plant
and animal balance existing in the tropical
rainforest ecosystem, and ultimately leading
to further decline in rainforest biodiversity.
Clear cutting for agriculture is a chief cause of
rainforest destruction. Photo credit Mongabay.com
Amazon Rainforest
Recently voted as one of the seven new
wonders of nature, the Amazon rainforest,
Amazonia, is the largest contiguous rainforest on Earth. The basin alone is roughly
the size of the forty-eight contiguous
United States and covers 40% of the South
American continent, including portions
of eight South American Countries:
Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia,
Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French
Guiana. The plant biodiversity in Amazonia
is prodigious, numbering approximately
40,000 species. Additionally, it is estimated
Fire is used to clear rainforests for agriculture.
Photo credit Mongabay.com
It is estimated that we are losing 80,000 acres of rainforest per day worldwide (WCMC, UNEP). Photo credit R. Allard
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FEATURED CONSERVATION & SCIENCE ARTICLE
Many species rely on the canopy cover of
the rainforest in order to avoid predation –
capuchin monkey. Photo credit Mongabay.com
that there are approximately 30 million
insect species that live in Amazonia, over
400 reptile species, one third of the world’s
bird species, and approximately 500
mammal species.
Biologist E. O. Wilson wrote as editor
of the seminal BIODIVERSITY publication
(1998) that he once identified 43 species
of ants belonging to 26 genera on a single
leguminous tree in Peru. Despite the species
richness of Amazonia, it is a remarkably
fragile ecosystem. The soil is notoriously
poor in nutrients and is easily washed away
by heavy rainfall. This coupled with fragile
seed germination, makes for a very slow
forest regeneration process. Some estimates
suggest that it might take centuries for a cut
forest to regenerate.
In addition, Amazonia is characterized
by very close plant and animal relationships. Many insect species exist on only
one specific plant, and the disruption or
elimination of that plant will spell the
end of the insect species. Some plants
require interaction with animals in order
to reproduce, and therefore the absence
or reduction in that animal species will
lead to the demise of that particular plant
species. These facts are troubling since
recent estimates suggest that much of
the Amazonia rainforest has been lost to
deforestation due to road construction for
mining access, clear-cutting for farming
and agriculture, and harvesting trees
simply to sell the wood. None of these examples are renewable resources, since the
regeneration time for the rainforest may
be centuries, if ever. There are attempts to
stabilize this rapid decline. Brazil had until
recently made a dramatic reduction in
the level of deforestation. After reaching a
peak of nearly 30,000 sq. km. of rainforest
cleared annually, the Brazilian government
declared a state of emergency and enacted
strict regulations on deforestation. In
2010, they reported the lowest rate of
deforestation in 22 years. However,
from August 2010 to April 2011 they
reported a 22% percent increase in
deforestation in the country. One
clue might be that the area with the
highest reported increase was in Mato
Grasso, which is responsible for 25%
percent of the soybean production
in the country. Even so, in October
of this year, the Brazilian president
announced that they are four years
ahead of their goal of the 80% percent
reduction in deforestation, and will
achieve that goal in 2016.
Evidence of clear cutting many years later.
Photo credit Mongabay.com
Rainforest cleared for palm, Malaysian Borneo.
Photo credit J. Miksanek
Brazil has reduced deforestation level to its lowest
point in 22 years by enforcing strict regulations.
Photo credit Mongabay.com
Aerial view of deforestation in South America. Photo credit Mongabay.com
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FEATURED CONSERVATION & SCIENCE ARTICLE
Palm oil plantations have created fragmented
rainforests, but they also supply an important
local economic boost. Photo credit R. Allard
Rainforest conservation strategies
There are many strategies for reducing
rainforest decimation. One strategy is to
encourage local community members to live
in ways that do not damage the environment, to teach them about the importance
of the rainforest ecology, and how important
it is for maintaining species biodiversity.
One organization that has received support from Phoenix Zoo Conservation Grants,
Health in Harmony, developed a novel
approach to foster community stewardship
by providing medical credits to individuals
that participated in responsible forest management. Working in the Gunung Palung
National Park located in West Kalimantan,
Indonesia, the program integrates quality no
cash healthcare in exchange for forest protection. They strengthened these incentives by
developing reforestation programs for areas
of the forest that had become fragmented,
threatening the survival of approximately
2500 orangutans, or one tenth of the world’s
remaining population.
Another organization, HUTAN, which
works in Sabah, Malaysia, is actively involved
in improving habitats for orangutan,
developing responsible palm oil practices
and legislation, working to repair fragmented
orangutan habitats, planting and protecting
trees, building bridges across fragmented
orangutan travel areas, and enlisting local
Rainforest Discovery Centre virgin forest, Malaysian Borneo. Photo credit R. Allard
Reforestation project led by HUTAN attempts to reconnect fragmented rainforests. Map credit HUTAN
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FEATURED CONSERVATION & SCIENCE ARTICLE
communities in species protection and
monitoring. Although reforestation is slow
in tropical rainforest systems, it is a good
strategy to foster community stewardship
by planting trees in areas that have been
depreciated due to harvesting. Developing
local community involvement in the protection and responsible harvesting of their local
resources can foster a deeper involvement
of the community in the protection of their
forest. The Phoenix Zoo is proud to have
provided support to HUTAN for a number of
their species and habitat conservation efforts.
There are many organizations working
to stem the tide of rainforest habitat
destruction. The Phoenix Zoo seeks out
conservation efforts that are consistent
with our mission of species and habitat
conservation, community stewardship,
and capacity building. There is no single
solution to stopping the destruction of
rainforest habitats. Restoration, community
awareness, and protection play critical roles,
but it is equally important to try to encourage corporations to invest in renewable
resources as opposed to harvesting.
One strategy for reducing deforestation
is to harness and market the enormous
pharmaceutical potential that exists in tropical
rainforests. An estimated 25% percent of
western pharmaceuticals come from rainforest
plants, while only 1% of the trees and plants
have been examined for potential beneficial
drug production. By encouraging pharmaceutical companies to invest in research into
beneficial drugs derived from tropical rainforest plants, we can reduce the temptation to
remove these important rainforest plants that
may hold the secret to important life-saving
drugs. Many companies are beginning to
examine these options. Thirty years ago there
It has become increasingly evident that
continuing to destroy rainforest habitats will
have irreversible consequences for our planet’s critically important animal and plant
biodiversity and its ability to purify water
and remove greenhouse gases. If continued,
we may reach a tipping point, a crisis of
global environmental instability from which
we may not fully recover. There may be
time to reverse these trends, and there are
many organizations already working hard to
make a difference by educating and involving local communities in conservation,
working to reduce and repair the effects of
deforestation, and protecting species from
exploitation and habitat destruction. We
join these organizations in supporting these
causes, and applaud all who are involved in
these efforts.
Sites referred to
Many rainforest plants may have medicinal uses.
Photo credit R. Allard
were no pharmaceutical companies actively
conducting research to discover medicinal
uses or disease cures from plants. Now there
are over 100 companies. The periwinkle
plant, which originated in the rainforest of
Madagascar, provides one of most powerful
anti-cancer drugs known. In addition to being
a source of important medicinal plants, rain
forests contain a wealth of fruits, nuts, and
energy producing plants. Many, such as Brazil
nuts, cannot be grown anywhere else. Left
intact these forests are far more valuable than
the land would be if the trees were removed
for farming or other uses.
In areas that have already been
deforested, and where there is little hope
of reforestation, alternative agricultural
methods can be utilized.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/
world-latin-america-13449792
rainforests.mongabay.com/1001.htm
www.hutan.org.my/Home/Home.html
http://www.healthinharmony.org/
http://proyectotiti.com/
Rainforests play a critical role in climate regulation. Photo credit R. Allard
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SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION ECOLOGY
SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION ECOLOGY
Arid Land Ecology
Jeff Williamson—Senior Conservationist
As you have just read, biodiversity and
its retention are critically important in the
context of rain forests around the world.
As you will read, species conservation is
one essential tool as we aspire to assure
the retention of diversity across ecosystem
types. Diversity is key to adaptability or
the capacity for ecological systems to be
resilient in the face of rapid change often
driven by anthropogenesis.
Here in the arid southwest and northern
Mexico, we face challenges that are quite
different than those identified in tropical
forests but fundamentally, we are working
with agencies, academics, NGO’s and
private land interests to identify ways
of coping with extended drought, rapid
habitat fragmentation, the proliferation of
non-native and invasive species, and shifts
in both land use and fire régimes.
We are currently working with federal
and state land use and wildlife agencies, major universities, the Sky Island Alliance, and
The Nature Conservancy to build into our
process resource management strategies that
incorporate scenario plans which anticipate
complex change. Those scenario plans envision unprecedented change and recommend
monitoring and adaptive management
approaches that are focused on retaining as
much effective ecological value as possible.
We are doing this so the species we focus
our recovery efforts on always have homes
in quality ecologies that support diverse life
across generations and around the world.
In the Southwest, we hope the initiative
just outlined will help conserve the ferrets,
springsnails, narrow-headed gartersnakes,
Chiricahua leopard frogs, desert pupfish
and other species that are a part of our arid
ecology and presented followings.
References:
Scenario Planning: A Tool for Conservation in an Uncertain World Scenario-Planning.pdf
From Uncertainty to Action: Climate
Change Projections and the Management of
Large Natural Areas Change.pdf
Executive Summary: The Next Generation of Conservation Practice Standards www.nrcs.usda.gov/pdf
Cerro Colorado Mountains, Pima County AZ. Photo credit BJDP
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FIELD REPORTS - LOCAL SPECIES CONSERVATION
LOCAL SPECIES CONSERVATION
Arthur L. “Bud” And Elaine V. Johnson
Native Species Conservation Updates
THE ARTHUR L. “BUD” AND ELAINE V. JOHNSON FOUNDATION Native Species Conservation Center
Black-footed ferret
Mustela nigripes
It has been an eventful summer and
fall for the black-footed ferret recovery
program. The year 2011 marked three
important milestones:
• The 30th anniversary of the rediscovery of
the once thought extinct little predator;
• The 20th anniversary of the Phoenix
Zoo’s involvement in the breeding
program to recover the species;
• The 15th anniversary of the ferrets’ return to the wild in Arizona with the first
release in northern Arizona in 1996.
Celebrations and ceremonies were held
at the original rediscovery site in Meteetse,
Wyoming, as well as many of the 19 current
release sites and at the Zoos that house breeding programs. The 2011 annual conference of
the Association of Zoos and Aquariums paid
special recognition to the black-footed ferret
recovery program. In just 30 years, using the
last remaining 18 wild animals, the recovery
team has developed a successful breeding program that has produced over 7500 animals.
Nearly 300 animals are released to the wild
each year, and about 1000 black-footed ferrets
are believed to exist in the wild today.
In early September of 2011, we transported ferrets born here to the National
Black-footed Ferret Breeding Center in
Carr, Colorado. These ferrets will be
released to “preconditioning enclosures,”
where they will learn how to live in the
ground and hunt their primary food
source, prairie dogs, before being released
to the wild. We returned with 13 new
ferrets including 10 breeders, bringing our
current number to 29.
On September 26, 2011, the actual
anniversary of the rediscovery, the Arizona
Game and Fish Department hosted a media
event at the Phoenix Zoo to highlight
the successes of the overall program and
the Arizona contribution in particular.
Representatives from Arizona Game & Fish,
US Fish and Wildlife, the Phoenix Zoo, the
Navajo Nation and others gathered to praise
the spirit of cooperation between all the
stakeholders, which has been the hallmark
of the Arizona program and brought such
success in such a short time.
Arizona’s release site in the Aubrey
Valley near Seligman in northern Arizona
also has much to celebrate. The two large
spotlighting events in March and October of
Left Photo: Black-footed ferret number 400 at 27
days. Photo credit T. Sprankle Right Photo: Mom
and her group of four BFF kits born at the ferret
breeding center. Photo credit T. Sprankle
this year documented a minimum population of 112 ferrets spread out over the entire
Valley. The population is likely even higher
since not all ferrets seen during spotlighting
are captured. The Aubrey Valley site is rated
as one of only four “successful” black-footed
ferret reintroduction sites
For the first time in several years, additional ferrets were released into the Aubrey
Valley on October 13, 2011. Arizona Game
and Fish, US Fish and Wildlife Service,
and Phoenix Zoo personnel released 23
ferrets to augment the genetic diversity of
the population. Among those released were
four male juveniles who were born at the
Phoenix Zoo’s black-footed ferret breeding
center in 2011.
Springsnail
Pyrgulopsis spp.
During the summer, in addition to maintaining our refuge population of Page springsnails (P. morrisoni), we acquired two populations of Three Forks springsnails (P. trivialis)
to protect a portion of the populations from
the effects of the Wallow fire, which had
burned through their habitat. The US Fish
and Wildlife Service approached us with a
request to provide refuge for the springsnail
populations until they could assess the effect
of the scouring and erosion on their stream
habitats caused by the reduced ground cover
due to the fire. The Three Forks springsnails
at the Conservation Center are doing well
and we expect to hold them until the habitat
assessment has been completed and they are
cleared for their return. We were concerned
about a sudden populaton decline that began
in September. However, after reviewing our
records from the 2008 population housed
at the Conservation Center, we found that
a similar pattern of decline had occurred
beginning in late August to early September.
This appears to be a naturally occurring
die-off, since a field survey completed by
USFWS and AZGD biologists at the end of
7
Left Photo: : Three Forks Springsnails on
feeder. Photo credit S. Wells Right Photo: Page
Springsnail egg. Photo credit S. Wells
September recorded a drastically reduced
number of snails observed in the streams
compared to a survey conducted in June in
the same area.
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FIELD REPORTS - LOCAL SPECIES CONSERVATION
Chiricahua leopard frog
Lithobates chiricahuensis
This spring we received egg masses from high number, as a typical year produces
both the northern and southern populafive to seven egg masses. We believe
tions in the Chiricahua leopard
that the increased number of
frogs (CLF) range. After an
egg masses was related to a
oddly slow development
study being conducted to
year, a total of 2,084
determine the effectivefroglets and tadpoles
ness of using recordings
were released to the wild
of CLF calls to find
in 2011. This brings our
frogs in the wild.
grand total to 13,738
We believe the extra
calls over-stimulated
CLF released since our
our resident frogs and
program began 1995.
resulted in the extra
Our resident populaegg masses. Another
tion was very prolific
indication of this is that
this year. We had 13 egg
a high percentage of the
masses deposited by our
The first CLF egg-masses of the season laid
three resident females. in our newly renovated Lower Anuran Con- egg masses deposited
proved to be infertile.
This is an unusually
servation Center. Photo credit T. Sprankle.
Casey Allen and Luke McRoberts tending leopard
frog tadpoles. Photo credit S.Wells
Chiricauha leopard frog pond in the newly constructed Herpetology Center. Photo credit S. Wells
Desert pupfish
Cyprinodon macularius
It has been another successful year of reproduction in our two groups of desert pupfish.
We allow them to reproduce at will for use in
reintroductions to bolster existing populations
or to help start new ones around the state. In
September, Arizona Game and Fish Biologist
Clay Crowder and staff collected 400 pupfish
from the two ponds at the Zoo as part of a
larger stocking effort at the San Pedro Riparian
National Conservation Area near Sierra Vista.
The pupfish will be heading into their winter
aestivation soon, burrowing into the mud
in the bottom of the pond during the colder
winter months, but will become active in the
spring when temperatures increase. We have
two desert pupfish populations located at the
zoo. One is located in the Arizona Trail, while
the other is located near the Giraffe Encounter.
Narrow-headed gartersnake
Thamnophis rufipunctatus
Despite successful pairings this summer
with our two oldest females, we have yet
to have offspring born. Recent ultrasound
of the largest female has revealed follicle
shaped structures about three and a half
months after the last breeding. We will
continue to monitor her condition and
development of these possible offspring.
The third female narrow-headed gartersnake
(NHGS) is approaching reproductive age
and should be ready for pairing by next
breeding season.
We have completed a new outdoor enclosure for NHGS. We hope that allowing the
snakes to live in an outdoor setting may stimulate behaviors that are conducive for breeding.
We should have the enclosure up and running
by the spring. Our goal is to move NHGS into
this enclosure well before the breeding season,
which occurs in July.
Newly completed outdoor narrow-headed gartersnake enclosure. Photo credit S. Wells
8
NHGS. Photo credit T. Sprankle
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FIELD REPORTS - LOCAL SPECIES CONSERVATION
Gila topminnow
Poeciliopsis o. occidentalis
The Gila topminnow is a small fish
species native to Arizona and New
Mexico. They are one of two subspecies
of the Sonoran topminnow (Poeciliopsis
occidentalis), the other being the Yaqui
topminnow. They do not deposit eggs,
but bear live young after about a 22-day
gestation period. Females are able to
store sperm and reproduce several broods
months after being isolated from a male.
Brood size is from 1-31, depending on the
size of the female. The males are generally
smaller than the females reaching a size
of 22-25 mm SL — nose tip to tail tip,
after about four months. During breeding
season males, obtain a black coloration,
while females do not change in coloration.
Gila topminnow were listed as
endangered in 1967 under the Endangered
Species Act, and a recovery plan was
adopted for them in 1984, and revised in
1994. Causes for their decline were habitat
destruction and introduction of non-native
fish, such as mosquito fish. This subspecies
currently resides within 14 locales in the
Gila River basin. Efforts for recovery focus
on raising their status from ”Endangered‘
to “Threatened.”
The Phoenix Zoo began housing a refuge
population of Gila topminnow in 1995, but
at that time we were not participating in a
propagation and release program. This year we
entered into an agreement with Arizona Game
and Fish and US Fish and Wildlife to establish
a breeding population of Gila topminnow at
the Phoenix Zoo’s Conservation and Science
Center. On December 7, we received 598 Gila
topminnow into our fish propagation area.
We plan to allow these fish to breed in hopes
of producing surplus topminnow that can be
released to the wild as part of the recovery plan
for this sub-species.
Mount Graham red squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis
Mount Graham has suffered two standfinally on June 27, another juvenile female
replacing fires in the last decade, as well as
was captured after her mother had been
pest infestation of portions of the remaining
predated. There was concern that she would
forest. This summer, extremely dry condibe too young to survive on her own but she
tions and the threat of lightning strikes on
began eating solid food soon after she arrived
Mount Graham prompted the US Fish and
at the Conservation Center.
Wildlife Service (USFWS) to implement an
The squirrels have adapted well to their
emergency action to collect two male
enclosures, and are getting used to
and two female Mount Graham red
their new routines. We are still
squirrels (MGRS) and place them
awaiting approval of a pilot
temporarily at the Phoenix Zoo
captive breeding program,
Conservation Center. These
which we hope will result
squirrels would serve as a
in our being able to supplerefugium population in the
ment the number of squirevent that a wildfire occurred
rels in the wild and help
and devastated a large portion
maintain the wild populaof the habitat and / or the
tion as the habitat begins to
MGRS population on Mount
recover from the effects of
The Conservation Center will
house Mount Graham red squirGraham.
wildfire and disease. In the
On June 18, after intensive rels until threat of wildfire has
meantime the Conservation
passed. Photo credit T. Sprankle.
trapping by USFWS biologists,
Center staff have developed
we received the first MGRS, which was a
husbandry techniques designed to maintain
male. Two days later we received what we be- the squirrel in as natural a condition as
lieved to be a young female, obviously born
possible, while providing critical nutrients
this year and probably just ready to leave the and sensory stimuli, essential for their
nest. We received another male after her, and well-being.
Stuart Wells transferring a newly arrived MGRS to
its enclosure. Photo credit M. Alanen
The first MGRS arrived at the Conservation Center
in late June. Photo credit T. Sprankle.
USFWS Biologists transferred four Mount Graham
red squirrels from the wild to the Conservation
Center to protect them from potential wildfire.
Photo credit S.Wells
Nuttal fire smoke plums. Courtesy of USFWS
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FIELD REPORTS - INTERNATIONAL Conservation Programs
INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
In situ conservation of the
greater bamboo lemur using
non-invasive genetics techniques
Report from Dr. Cynthia Foster,
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Nebraska
The Phoenix Zoo Conservation & Science Grant enabled
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (OHDZ), to
purchase RNAlater, collection bottles,
and tongue depressors. This interesting
combination of items was used to assemble
”Ultimate Poo Collecting Kits‘. These kits
were critical in maximizing OHDZ’s sample
collection capacity for a non-invasive
genetic study on Madagascar’s critically
endangered greater bamboo lemur, Prolemur simus.
Greater bamboo lemurs were once the
most widely spread and numerous lemurs in
Madagascar’s forests based on sub fossil evidence. Despite their initial numbers, they were
thought extinct by the 1970s due mostly to
habitat loss and hunting. Hope for this species
was revitalized when they were rediscovered
in 1986 in two locations in southeastern
Madagascar. Since then, reports have been
trickling in on populations in isolated pockets
throughout Madagascar’s humid eastern forest.
The non-invasive genetic study launched
by OHDZ aims to quantify overall genetic
diversity, identify any possible subspecific
taxa, and estimate gene flow between populations. This information will be used to
guide the development of in situ conservation efforts. One of OHDZ’s goals is to share
the preliminary genetic results in September
2012 at the next Prolemur simus workshop.
Here, this information can be applied to
developing conservation strategies with
other organizations dedicated to preserving
greater bamboo lemurs.
Greater bamboo lemurs were thought to be
extinct in the 1970s. Photo credit C. Foster
Information gained from the genetics study can
be applied to developing conservation strategies
for the species. Photo credit C. Foster
Research team picture. Photo credit C. Foster
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FIELD REPORTS - INTERNATIONAL Conservation Programs
Condor releases
Report from White Oak Conservation Center
all important factors in creating excellent
candidates for the release program in South
America,” said Mike Taylor, avian collection
manager at WOCC. Conservation Centers
In December 2010, the largest bird of
play an important role in reintroduction
the Americas took flight aboard a plane
projects providing socially and physically
bound from Miami to Bogotá, Colombia
conditioned animals as excellent
in a project organized, by White
release candidates. This species
Oak Conservation Center. Two
of vulture is found throughjuvenile Andean condors
out the Andes Mountains
spread their 10-foot wing
from Colombia to Tierra
span and soared as part of
del Fuego, Argentina.
a successful international
Primarily, the Andean
collaborative program that
condor lives in high
has been reintroducing
mountainous regions
this endangered species
and open grasslands
for two decades. One
and feeds on carrion.
bird hatched at the San
The Andean condor is
Diego Zoo Safari Park,
threatened in its northern
the other at the Denver
range and has become
Zoo. The pair was being
Two Andean condors ready for travel
to Colombia for release to the wild.
rare in Venezuela and
prepared for their release
Photo credit WOCC
Colombia. These two
into the wild while at
countries developed the
WOCC. After their arrival
reintroduction program with AZA instituin Colombia, the birds will spend a short
tions to release captive-bred birds from
period in an acclimation aviary before their
North American conservation organizations
release into a wilderness area 50 miles
back to the wild.
northeast of Bogotá. “For the past two years
Generous support of the Andean Condor
the two condors have been living in a large
Release was provided by the Phoenix Zoo’s
flight enclosure, receiving natural prey, and
Conservation & Science Grants Program.
were isolated from contact with people,
Andean Condor at White Oak Conservation Center.
Photo credit WOCC
Condor captured for release to the wild in
Colombia. Photo credit WOCC
White Oak Conservation Center researcher in Columbia. He was there to train the condor observers, shown in the background. Photo credit WOCC
11
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NEWS UPDATES
Internships and Apprenticeships
ZOOTEEN CONSERVATION TEAM (ZTCT)
The ZooTeen Conservation Team
(ZTCT) is a new component of the Phoenix
Zoo’s “ZooTeens” program that will be dedicated to Conservation efforts. The ZTCT
members will work with the Conservation
and Science department staff to learn about
the Conservation Center animal husbandry
requirements and the conservation initiatives in place for them, conduct outreach
programs for zoo guests, and participate in
on grounds conservation efforts. Members
will also be required to develop one
conservation project each year as a team.
ZTCT members may be able to participate
in field conservation efforts that occur in
conjunction with the C&S Native Species
Recovery Programs. Examples of field
conservation efforts are Chiricahua leopard
frog releases, narrow-headed gartersnake
surveys, black-footed ferret spotlighting,
desert pupfish and Gila topminnow releases
and springsnail surveys.
Recently members of the team assisted
in preparing the new Chiricahua leopard
frog pond for receiving frogs. The group
helped to add topsoil so that the area
could be planted with aquatic and land
based plants. Thanks and welcome aboard
ZTCT members.
ZTCT group working on new Herp Center. Photo credit M. Nelson
Rachel Burmeister—Conservation Research Apprentice
Photo credit S. Wells
Rachel Burmeister, a recent
graduate of Arizona State University
with a Conservation Biology degree,
has begun a six-month program
designed to provide her with
important experimental design and
research report writing experience.
Rachel will also focus on learning
all aspects of black-footed ferret
breeding management. This will
include learning how we assess the
males and females for reproductive
readiness, how we pair them up for
breeding, and how we determine
if we had a potentially successful
breeding.
12
We look forward working with
Rachel over the next six-months.
Welcome aboard Rachel.
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GET INVOLVED
Letter from the EVP—Ruth Allard
Ruth Allard—Executive Vice President, Phoenix Zoo
Zoo Participation in Global
Conservation
ab
di
tT
.S
pra
nkle
g
sin
lea
Ruth Allard re
The Zoo is not alone in demonstrating its
commitment. As a whole, facilities accredited
by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
As regular readers of this Quarterly
(AZA; the Zoo is a member in good standknow, the Phoenix Zoo has a long
ing) reported over $110 million in
track record of supporting
contributions to 1735 different
conservation projects
conservation projects across
worldwide. Stuart men116 countries in 2010.
tions a few in his feature
In addition to this
article in this issue
institutional support,
and we’ve highlighted
the AZA Conservation
many others over the
Endowment Fund has
years this publication
provided $5.3 million
has been in circulation.
in awards to conservaIn 2010, 3.78% of the
tion, research, and
Zoo’s operating budget
environmental education
lac
went to support conservak-f
cre projects since its inception in
oo
to 1991. We are proud to be a part
tion efforts, boosted in part
o
ted
h
ferret to the wild. P
by our construction of the new
of an industry that truly ”walks the
Johnson Foundation Black-footed Ferret
talk,” supporting the wildlife and habitats that
Breeding Center last year.
inspire our exhibits and fuel our passions.
Volunteer outdoors
www.voaz.org
Contact Us
Produced by:
STUART WELLS
Director of Conservation and Science
Production Support
JEFF WILLIAMSON
Senior Conservationist
RUTH ALLARD
Executive Vice President
Conservation and Visitor Experiences
The Phoenix Zoo Conservation
and Science Newsletter
TARA SPRANKLE
455 N. Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85008
Phone: 602-273-1341
SHARON BIGGS
Conservation Manager
We value your feedback about
this publication and about
our conservation programs.
Please submit comments to
[email protected]
Subscribe to Conservation
& Science Quarterly
Join us on Facebook!
Conservation Center
Conservation Technician
President/CEO of Phoenix Zoo
LUKE MCROBERTS
NORBERTO J. (BERT) CASTRO
Conservation Technician
Designed by MikeRDzign Graphic Design 2012
As I write this letter, the Zoo’s Conservation Grants Committee is preparing
for our annual review meeting where we
determine which conservation projects
we will fund for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
We received 62 completed proposals from
around the world this year, as well as six
applications from Zoo staff looking to
apply their skills and expertise to conservation projects in the field. At the end of
the meeting we will have allocated an additional $50,000 in Zoo funds to projects
and people that will help us learn more,
engage more, and protect more of the
world’s wildlife and wild places. We look
forward to sharing their stories in future
issues of the Conservation Quarterly.
13
SUPPORT CONSERVATION
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