1. Why Zoos?: People and Animals Working Together

2. About Me!
Student Programs Coordinator for Hurvis Center for Learning at Lincoln Park Zoo
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Bachelor’s Degree in Integrative Biology
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (with a concentration in Child Psychology)
Past:
Brookfield Zoo as a Keeper and Researcher
Disney’s Animal Kingdom as an Educator, Animal Researcher and Safari Guide
Shedd Aquarium as an Educator

3. About Lincoln Park Zoo Established in 1868
Free (only three in the country)
Only free zoo that is privately operated
1,100+ animals at the zoo; represents ~200 species

4. Mission
We are dedicated to connecting people with nature by providing a free, family-oriented wildlife experience in the heart of Chicago and by exhibiting leadership and advancing the highest quality Animal Care, Education, Science and Conservation.

5. How We Do It -Integrating Parts of Our Mission-
The Guest Experience
Animal Care
Education
Conservation and Science

6. But first, let’s back up a bit
Why Zoos??
The world is changing quickly!
About 21% of the world's mammal species, about 12% of the bird species and about 33% of all amphibian species are threatened with extinction
By educating the public, we can get more people to care
Visitors feel more strongly connected to nature
Zoos employ experts that learn from the animals in their care
Experts then take this knowledge and apply it outside the zoo walls

7. Facts and Figures Field Conservation Education
700 species are benefiting from zoo conservation efforts
188 endangered
39 threatened
121 countries
221 facilities
$186,000,000 spent
Education
2760+ educators employed
23,000 volunteers
2,000,000 hours of service
91,000,000 participants

8. AZA
VISION
The Association of Zoos & Aquariums and its members envision a world where, as a result of the work of accredited zoos and aquariums, all people respect, value, and conserve wildlife and wild places.
MISSION
The Association of Zoos & Aquariums provides its members with the services, high standards, best practices and program coordination to be leaders in animal welfare, public engagement, and the conservation of species.

9. AZA
To be Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a zoo must…
Be dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation
Maintain a code of ethics that all membership zoos pledge to uphold.

10. How We Do It -Integrating Parts of Our Mission-
The Guest Experience
Animal Care
Education
Conservation and Science

11. Animal Care Use experience and research to:
Provide naturalistic habitats
Provide proper nutrition
Provide suitable enrichment to stimulate natural behaviors
Provide veterinary services
Provide enrichment

12. What is Enrichment?
seeks to enhance the quality of captive animal care by identifying and providing the environmental stimuli necessary for optimal psychological and physiological well-being

13. Nutrition and Vet Services

14. Education We provide memorable experiences that:
AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums play a vital role in educating over 180 million visitors, including 51 million students, each year.
We provide memorable experiences that:
Connect people to animals and nature
Inspire and empower people to act as stewards of local ecosystems and the global community

15. Education Hurvis Center for Learning Student and Teacher Programs
Child and Family Learning
Guest Engagement
Learning Exploration
Evaluation and learning Research

16. Conservation and Science
Modern zoos don’t just display/entertain
Study & manage animals in their care
Study & conserve animals in the wild
LPZ in top 3-5 largest zoo conservation programs
40 full-time scientists plus grad students, interns and others

17. Conservation and Science
Five Centers in
Conservation and Science
Urban Wildlife Institute
AZA Population Management Center
Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology
Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology
Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes

18. Population Management Center
PMC
LPZ hosts the Population Management Center (PMC) in partnership with the AZA
Monitors births, deaths, and population sizes
Analyzes pedigrees and avoids inbreeding
Selecting breeding and non-breeding animals
Preserves threatened and endangered animals
Plans for Species Survival Plan® (SSP) species
AZA
All AZA zoos
Lincoln Park Zoo

19. Initiatives and Projects
Timing Animal Reproductive Cycles
Birth
Pregnancy
At the Zoo:
We are interested in what is going on “inside” our animals. But we want to study their physiology without disturbing them. So we use fecal samples to monitor our animals’ stress and reproductive hormones. For instance, we can determine when the female takins are pregnant. This is important because pregnancy tests (like the human urine test) don’t work on any species, but apes. So we work closing with the animal care staff to determine pregnancy so that their management and prepare the staff for the offspring’s arrival.
We also help determine when a female is in estrus/heat so that the animal care staff know when to introduce a male and female together….like our black rhino which are normally solitary and very territorial.
In the wild:
Rwanda’s fabled mountain gorillas have faced a number of conservation challenges. Habitat loss, poaching and human conflict have impacted these majestic apes, which are native to the Virunga mountains.
Lincoln Park Zoo is working with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and Zoo Atlanta to conserve this endangered species. Zoo scientists are analyzing fecal samples collected in the wild to study the relationship between gorilla stress levels, environmental pressures and potential tourist pressures. Researchers hope to evaluate how the last two factors impact the health of the region’s famous gorillas.
To date, more than 9,000 samples have been sent from Rwanda to Lincoln Park Zoo’s endocrinology lab. The resulting data will help scientists in the field better conserve this complex social species.

20. Initiatives and Projects
Space Use studies
Flamingos prefer smaller areas and larger groups. Flamingos in the wild are a prey species for a lot of animals. Because of this, they prefer smaller spaces and larger groups so that if a predator comes around looking for lunch, maybe they will eat my neighbor instead of me! They feel safer that way and less stressed in that type of environment.
Another great example is in the Regenstein Center for African Apes. That building was actually specially designed specifically for those two species. Our researchers studied the space use of gorillas and chimps and then used that information to inform how their ideal habitat could be built. We learned that chimps like to have many different levels in their habitat, to choose to be on the ground or up high off the ground. We also learned that gorillas really like to have lots of corners to rest their backs in, so their habitat has many angles and corners to get cozy in.

21. Initiatives and Projects
Ape Token Exchange
Ape Cognition
One of these studies is our token exchange project which happens with our chimpanzees. This looks at how much work the chimps are willing to do for different rewards. By exchanging a token (or this little plastic tube), they can earn a carrot piece (a pretty good reward) or a grape (a REALLY good reward). We also look at social dynamics within the group – for example, one chimp loves to steal the tokens from others and cash them in for herself!
Another study that has taken place is one using touchscreen computers to understand gorilla memory. This memory game is a fun form of enrichment for them and let’s us better learn about this amazing species.

22. Initiatives and Projects
Chicago Wildlife Watch
A network of 65 “camera traps” records ape behavior in the Republic of Congo’s Goualougo Triangle. By analyzing this footage at the zoo, our scientists are revealing new findings about how chimpanzees and gorillas live in the wild.

23. Initiatives and Projects
Serengeti Health Initiative
Serengeti National Park
In the Serengeti, people have dogs as well, but these dogs are working dogs. Their jobs are to guard the family’s livestock from lions, hyenas, and other carnivores that live in the Serengeti.
Since they are out in the fields, watching over those animals, they can come into contact with those large carnivores too, and when they do, they can transfer diseases. What we have found out is that canine distemper and rabies are two diseases that have been hurting the populations of carnivores in the area. So, Lincoln Park Zoo developed a program called the Serengeti Health Initiative to vaccinate domestic dogs in order to prevent this spread of disease. We’ve created a mobile vet clinic that drives around to all the different villages in the area and vaccinates dogs there.
Since it began in 2003, the project has vaccinated over 1 million dogs and has pretty much gotten rid of the diseases in the area!

24. Positive Impact on Chicago, Positive Impact on Earth
The Guest Experience
Animal Care
Conservation and Science
Education

25. Thanks! Questions?