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Mission Statement of the Abilene ZOOlogical Society:The Abilene Zoo is a place of learning and adventure, where families make memories, share the joy of discovery and become inspired to preserve wildlife.
Abilene ZOOlogical Gardens HoursOpen daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admittance at 4 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Summer: June, July & August: Thursdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Last admittance at 8 p.m.
PhoneZoo Main Line: (325) 676-6085
ZOO StaffAdministrationDirector: Bill GersondeAdministrative Coordinator: Sandra TurnerBusiness Operations Manager: John BlackMarketing & Development Coordinator: Kelly ThompsonMembership & Volunteer Coordinator: Kim BakerSpecial Events Coordinator: Flavia FernandesEducation DepartmentEducation Curator: Joy HarshEducator: Paige RudasicsEducation Keeper: Hannah JonesEducation Keeper: Amanda WheelerAnimal Department:Zoo Behaviorist & Registrar: Liz KellermanAnimal Care Supervisor: Tony BaezAnimal Care Supervisor: Denise IbarraAnimal Care Supervisor: Ryan KingAnimal Keeper: Carin YatesAnimal Keeper: Kylie DonchAnimal Keeper: Ariana KellerAnimal Keeper: Philip NigroAnimal Keeper: Blaine Peluso-MillerAnimal Keeper: Peter PurvisAnimal Keeper: Krista RaderAnimal Keeper: Jessica ScherryAnimal Keeper: Kegan StormsAnimal Keeper: Matthew StrongCommissary Keeper: Kimberly BoydCommissary/Night Keeper: Amy SimontonNight Keeper: Rob LloydNight Keeper: Cameron ThompsonVeterinary Staff:Veterinarian: Dr. Stephanie CarleVeterinary Technician: Ana DavisVeterinary/Rehabilitation Keeper: Alexa CushmanHorticulture DepartmentHorticulturist: Jon SharpGardener: Diana DailyGardener: Hank ChristiansonGuest Services Department:Gift Shop/Admissions Manager: Linda CamachoConcession Manager: Vickey ByersMaintenance Department:Maintenance Supervisor: Roy GreerBuilding Maint. Specialist I: Brad ParksBuilding Maint. Specialist II: Mike DownsBuilding Maint. Specialist II: T.J. Yates
Web Address: www.abilenezoo.orgGeneral email: [email protected]
This time of year it is fun to look back at the phenomenal year we haveenjoyed at the Abilene Zoo. The blessing in looking back is that it gives us the opportunity to savor the special year we just experienced. It also allows us to celebrate all the hard work that went in to the past 12 months and its positive impact on our community. From new exhibits to special events to new babies, we have journeyed through some very exciting times in 2016. All of it was made possible because of the contributions from our zoo family: the staff of the Abilene Zoo, support from the City of Abilene, as well as the Abilene Zoological Society Board of Directors, Grover Nelson Park Zoological Foundation, donors, members, volunteers, and zoo fans. Words cannot express the thanks we have for each person who helped.
After four years of hard work, we happily opened Giraffe Safari this year. The results have been remarkable. The grand opening experience, the interaction with the giraffe, the excitement that filled our community and the growing number of visitors to the zoo has been outstanding. That excitement was capped off by the birth of a new giraffe baby this fall. We even added a live giraffe cam on the website, so the friends of the zoo could watch and keep up with his growth. (Check it out at abilenezoo.org.)
Zoolute to Dyess and Boo at the Zoo helped bring record numbers through our gates. These are wonderful, long-running annual events that bring the community together, as well as help us honor our treasured military families.
This summer, we celebrated 50 years at Nelson Park with a MusicFest underwritten by the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, and in the fall we hosted a festive Golden Zoobilation to help raise funds for future projects.
Our attendance for fiscal 2016 was a whopping 249,667 visitors, nearly 30,000 more than last year. An impressive 53 percent of those came from cities outside of Abilene and up into Oklahoma. More than 16,000 students and faculty from 82 Texas school districts visited the zoo this year, and our field trip program is still growing.
All of these efforts help us accomplish our mission to create happy memories and inspire people to preserve wildlife. We hope the 6.3 million visitors we’ve entertained during the past 50 years still have fond memories of their trips to the zoo, and we now look forward to creating new happy experiences, teaching more science education, and building more blessings for the Abilene community through our work. The best is still in front of us.
Craig Fisher is the current president of the board of directors for the Abilene Zoological Society. His “real” job is director of Alumni Relations and Annual Projects at Abilene Christian University. Craig received a B.B.A. from ACU and a master’s degree in education from the University of North Texas.
Expressing thanks for a golden year
CRAIG FISHER | Board President,Abilene Zoological Society
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ABILENEZOOLOGICALSOCIETYOFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:Executive Director: Bill GersondePresident: Craig FisherPresident-Elect: Dr. Ralph McCleskeySecretary: Jennifer NicholsTreasurer: David WierAssistant Treasurer: Ronda Hillis
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anne Benson Dr. Troy CarterStan Chapman Tim CroweClaudia DiltzCraig FisherKeith GarnerCarol Haynes David HernandezRonda HillisDr. Roberta KalafutDr. Kim LewisRegi McCabe-GossettDr. Ralph McCleskeyDonald McDonald HOW TO REACH USMAIN NUMBER:325-676-6085ADMINISTRATION:325-676-6086EDUCATION DEPT:325-676-6487GIFT SHOP:325-437-4683MARKETING/DEVELOPMENT:325-437-4692MEMBERSHIP:325-676-6451GUEST SERVICES:325-676-4683FACILITY RENTALS: 325-437-4908
BILL GERSONDE | Director
Mike McDonaldChris McNairKathy MoreheadJennifer NicholsKim OsborneJohn Pennington Marianne Pool Chris RileyGail RusseyJoe Russey Gaile ThompsonSherri StatlerThora SuttonDavid Wier
In the last edition of Zoo News, I shared with you our many plans for the upcoming year. From a new members’ express admission window to swan paddle boats, we promise to continue our efforts to make your visits fun and stress free. I’d like to give you a glimpse of what you can look forward to in just a couple of years.
As many of you know the ongoing growth and improvements made at the zoo are guided by our 2014 zoo master plan. Projects were prioritized and in con-junction with our business plan, we assigned construc-tion phases. The wildly successful “Giraffe Safari” was phase I. The projects being completed in the upcoming year are all part of Phases II. So what’s next on the listin phase III? Can you say fossa?
The current Karibu Outpost , ocelot exhibit and fishing pier along with the surrounding area will be transformed into a unique environment ex-hibiting a variety of species native to the island of Madagascar. Home to the fossa, a cat like carni-vore and the largest meat eating mammal on the island, this new zoogeographic area will also be home to endangered lemurs, radiated tortoises and a variety of invertebrates including the wonderfully creepy hissing cockroach.
Of course the completion, as was the case with Giraffe Safari, will be contingent upon the continuing generosity of foundations, businesses, clubs and individuals. We know we can
once again create an educational, entertaining and wild experience for our zoo visitors.
Wishing you the happiest of holidays!
Bill Gersonde is Director of the Abilene Zoo and the Executive Director of the Abilene Zoological Society. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the wonderful world of zoos. He serves as a current Vice Chairman for the AZA’s Wildlife Conservation Management Committee.
Abilene Zoo’s next stop: Madagascar!
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COVER STORY
Memorial benches are a wonderful way to honor your friend or loved one, as well as create a tangible and comfortable place for them to be memorialized. Each bench is 6’ long and made of recycled plastic lumber. Up to three lines of text can be engraved with the donor’s personalized message. Each bench sponsorship is $1,500. Contact Kelly Thompson at 324-437-4692 for more information, or email [email protected]
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Horticulture 2016 reviewBeloved mulberry makes way for magnolia grove
What a year it’s been for horticulture! We have had our share of unexpected losses and gains this year: We had to remove the large 50-year-old mulberry tree that graced the lawn in front of the American Black Bear exhibit. We had a great community response, with some tears shed, but it was all necessary for the safety of the public. The majestic tree was rotten to the core and a potential safety hazard.
But not to worry! We are replacing the deceased shade-tree with Magnolias! In a few years, the grove will be an impressive sight: the dense, dark green canopies covered in large, white, heavily-scented blooms, which smell a bit citrusy.
We have also seen very good growth on our Pearl Millet-Napier hybrid grass from A&M University -- all in a few short months! This is very encouraging for next spring, as this means the grasses will potentially reach heights of 14 feet! This hybrid grass has become a great substitute for the highly invasive Asian grass, Arundo donax, which grows in our African areas and around Nelson Lake, and is slated for removal and replacement. On a similar note, Texas Parks and Wildlife will be implementing a plan this spring to systematically remove these giant Arundo reeds along the lake shore, and replace it with Texas native species. This will be done in an effort to curb the giant reed’s monopoly of the shoreline, and reintroduce biodiversity for the benefit of native species.
Winter tips for mesquites, mulchAlso this year, watch out for Powdery Mildew, a fungus, on your mesquite trees! It forms a fuzzy white film on the leaves, which affects the aesthetic value of severely infected trees, but seems to have little effect on long-term health. If you are going to attempt to control the powdery nuisance, simply use a fungicide made for use on ornamental trees, and follow label directions.
And finally, don’t forget to mulch!! A thick layer (3-4 inches) is sufficient to insulate the crown of most plants, and it provides a weed barrier and greatly reduces moisture loss due to ground-evaporation.
So, mulch it all, and hopefully we will have another fantastically mild winter!
Jon Sharp helped launch the zoo’s Horticulture Program five years ago as the zoo’s first horticulturist on staff. He has a bachelor’s of science degree in biology from McMurry University.
Jon Sharp | Horticulturist
The inside of the mulberry’s trunk showed that the tree would become a safety hazard soon.
Retired AISD teacher Patricia Bogar and her former 4th grade student, businessman Scott Senter, pose with the mulberry tree this summer. Bogar’s students planted the tree in 1966.
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New Boo layouttames wild lines
It is the season to be thankful! We have a lot to thankful for at the zoo -- especially for all the awesome events and activities we had all year! Thank you for all zoo fans who came out to have fun! Thank you for our awesome volunteers that helped us to make this possible and a special thank you to our sponsors and donors that made it all possible.
Boo at the Zoo is a great example about how community support helps the zoo make events grow even bigger and better. More than 8,000 guests had fun thanks to our 31 Treat Stop sponsors, 361 volunteers and volunteers from groups like the Cooper High School Student Council, Abilene High , Tri-hi-Y girls from the YMCA and the West Texas Girls Scout Council. If your group wants to volunteer next year, let us know.
Boo’s new layout added a roomy new area that alleviated lines and crowding: Trick or Treat Town. One complaint about Boo at the Zoo in the past is that it’s so much darn fun that large crowds create lines. We think we solved that problem this year! This was possible because of Boyd Fence & Welding, who generously enclosed a grassy area to incorporate it into the event. This was a great idea that the Boo at the Zoo Committee wanted to implement last year, but rain vexed those plans. We hope to make Trick or Treat Town a tradition from now on, weather permitting.
Another thing that helped the zoo alleviate lines was the purchasing of advance tickets. Fans snapped up more than 1500 tickets early, making it easier on everyone to get into the zoo the big day. Thank you to Abilene Teachers Federal Credit Union, La Voz Radio and Hispanic Life Magazine for partnering with us to sell advance tickets at their locations.
To reward the most creatively dressed kids, First Bank of Texas stepped up to be the Costume Contest underwriter. We awarded 45 prizes that day to winning costumes, and everyone had a blast looking all the characters.
FLAVIA FERNANDES | Event Coordinator
The animals and the animal staff extend a special thank you to Extreme Exteriors, who donated more than 100 pumpkins of all sizes for animal enrichment that day. All the animals had a blast with this big treat – and the humans had fun watching.
Innumerous are the things that made each event special. This we all have to be thankful for. The Abilene Zoo’s staff and Abilene Zoological Society members.
This month, the Abilene Zoo will host its annual Breakfast with Santa. Make sure you guarantee your family spot on this sweet event on December 10 and 17. Reservations are available at the Zoo Store.
Flavia Fernandes is the Special Events Coordinator at the Abilene Zoo, a new position created for this exciting year. She is a native of Brazil, where she graduated from Unoeste and Faculdade Casper Libero. She has being studying English since childhood and is happy to practice on zoo guests!
Zoo keepers and a helpful Zoo Teen get the pumpkins ready for the animals at Boo at the Zoo.
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Junior Keeper Experience -- a gift worth putting under the treeThe Abilene Zoo’s Education Department is offering a limited number of “Junior Keeper” experiences as gifts this holiday season. The program is open to all children 8 years old and older.
Junior Keepers get to work a one-on-one shift with an education department zoo keeper providing care to the zoo’s animal ambassadors (including snakes, lizards, and chinchillas … oh my!). Participants will have the opportunity to feed, handle, and of course, clean alongside the adult zoo keeper. Pictures will be taken throughout the process and provided digitally after the program. One adult is welcome to attend with the child, but
not required.
Any Junior Keeper experience purchased before Dec. 22 will come with an easy to wrap gift certificate and a stuffed animal -- along with the promise of a memorable 90 minutes.
These Junior Keeper shifts are only available on select days. Choose from a 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays or Fridays in January through May, or for homeschool students, a morning shift of 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on week-days is available.
Youngsters need to book their Junior Keeper Experience two weeks in advance. Times are subject to availability. Cost is $35 for zoo members; $40 for non-members.
For more information, contact: [email protected] and telephone: 325-676-6487. Junior Keeper experience gifts packs also can be purchased in the Zoo Store before Dec. 22.
Joy Harsh is Education Curator at the Abilene Zoo, where she has directed the zoo’s education programming for 10 years. She is a graduate of ACU with a bachelor of science in biology.
Animal: Southern Black Howler MonkeyScientific name: Alouatta carayaNative habitat: Tropical rainforests of Central America South of the Amazon basin
Diet: Flowers, fruit and leaves and occasional termites
Other information: • Howler monkeys are among the largest primates in the Americas with a body length ranging from two to four feet. Their tails are about the same length as their bodies and are prehensile. The monkeys use their prehensile tails as a fifth limb to grip tightly to tree branches or food.
• Their throat is especially designed to have a resonating chamber with which they make their communication howls to keep track of other troops. Their howl can be heard over two miles away! Ours at the Abilene Zoo often vocalize when there are loud noises in the area such as a lawnmower or other power tools! Everyone likes to gather and listen.
• This monkey species is sexually dimorphic, which means the males and female are different colors. As adults, the males are black and the females are a light brown!
The troop at the Abilene Zoo includes a breeding pair: Dante is a 7-year-old male and Springer is his 13-year-old mate. Their offspring include an active two-year-old male named Yoder, and an 16-month-old female named Hazel. Yoder’s fur will turn black as he matures.
joy harsh | Education Curator
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Zoo Members get the VIP treatment2016 has been a great year to be a member of the Abilene Zoo! Record numbers have joined the zoo this year, and we’re glad to have them in the family. They flocked to the Member Sneak Peek evening for the new Giraffe Safari exhibit, and they’re in line to see future new exhibits first. Our members are the zoo’s VIPs.
To underscore that VIP status, the zoo is currently constructing an express window for members! You may notice that work going on near the main gate over the next few months. Know that it’s being built to improve your zoo experience!
Other member fun this year was the annual picnic. In October, 625 zoo members came out for theAnnual Membership Picnic and Appreciation Night. That’s a record! Of course, we have more than 2500 families as members, so it’s just a small fraction of the many folks who were welcome to attend. If you missed out, you missed indulging in a free picnic dinner, free carousel and train rides, keeper chats and lots of entertainment. It was a good time.
Member Discounts Handy for Holiday ShoppingAs we approach the holidays and new year, don’t forget to take advantage of all your zoo membership offers -- from discounts on education programs, discounts in the gift shop, free or discounted admission at over 150 reciprocating zoos as well as discounts on our VIP tours.
While doing your holiday shopping, remember zoo memberships make the perfect gift! Gift certificates for membership can be purchased in the gift shop during normal business hours.
As always, be sure to bring your membership card and ID when you visit the Abilene Zoo! Kim Baker is the Membership and Volunteer Coordinator at the Abilene Zoo, where she has worked for five years. She earned a bachelor of arts in Theatre from McMurry University.
Kim Baker | Membership and Volunteer Coordinator
Holiday Hours:Thanksgiving Day – Closed
Christmas Day – ClosedNew Year’s Day – Closed
The Abilene Zoo is open 9 am to 5 pm daily! Acquisitions:
0.1 Mexican Lance head
ed rattlesnake
0.4 Ornate box tu
rtles, b.a.z.
1.0 West African Green M
amba
0.1 Roadrunner
0.1 Tayra
0.2 Colobus Monkeys
1.0 Blue duiker
1.0 Giraffe, b.a.z
.
0.2 Patagonian ca
vy, b.a.z.
Dispositions:
1.0 East African G
reen Mamba
1.1 Pata
gonian cavy
Legend: Males.Females
Sex unknown
B.a.z.= Born at Zoo
The zoo’s education department hosted its first-ever Homeschool Day on Nov. 7 – and more than 350 students from around the region attended! Students enjoyed learning life sciences, got some behind-the-scenes activities and enjoyed fellowship with other homeschoolers from throughout the Big Country and beyond. One family traveled from as far as Kermit!
COLLECTIONANIMAL
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Kenyan Soapstone – This happy “head” box can hold trinkets and keepsakes. Available in several colors.
An outfit for your favorite little tiger.
This handmade clay pot was glazed and fired to give it a smooth, glossy sheen. Featuring a colorful toucan, it is signed by the Nicaraguan artist.
Party Animals from Kenya – These whimsical revelers are hand carved out of mahogany by artisans in Machakos, Kenya. Fair Trade.
Learn all about the hundreds of animal diets created in our commissary and other interesting tidbits in an Animal Care VIP tour. Abilenezoo.org
Llala weavers from the province of KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa, created these gorgeous Zulu baskets – revitalizing an age-old tradition and preserving their handcrafting heritage. Tiny baskets are perfect for small treasures.
These colorful stuffed animals are ornaments made by hand on the island of Madagascar.
Kenyan Soapstone – This unique chess set was carved by artisans in Kenya. Like most of the zoo’s imported products, these are certified as “Fair Trade” items by the Fair Trade Federation.
jamtown – Made in Peru using natural materials like gourd and goatskin, these instruments are perfect for that loved one who marches to the beat of his own drum.
Paige Rudasics | Zoo Educator
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Conservation kiosk voters pick ocelots as favorite program
2017 Quarters for Conservation Choices:
In October of last year, the Abilene Zoo was excited to announce its new Quarters for Conservation project. Through this project zoo guests now donate 25 cents of each admission to the zoo’s conservation fund. To represent this donation guests receive a metal washer that they can use to “cast their vote” for one of three selected conservation organiza-tions. Over the course of the year, visitors rooted for projects benefiting turtles, ocelots, and Attwater’s Prairie Chickens. Guests cast more than 33,000 votes and raised almost $40,000! $17,500 in donations were recently distributed to the three projects, and the remaining funds will go towards supporting other conservation projects at the zoo.
The three featured organizations of the 2016 Quarters for Conservation project were the Friends of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Ref-uge, which was awarded $10,000 for their work with the last remaining ocelots in Texas, the Turtle Survival Alliance, which was awarded $5,000 for their goal of keeping turtles from extinction, and the Friends of the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge was awarded $2,500 to help protect the most endangered bird in North America. All donations were decided by you, our zoo guests, and how you voted!
Paige Rudasics serves as chair of the Abilene Zoo’s conservation committee and has worked in zoo education for 6 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Purdue University and is is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education psychology.
October starts another exciting year for the Abilene Zoo’s Quarters for Conservation project! We have selected three new organizations to feature this year and once again zoo guests will get to vote for their favorites! What organization will get the most votes? It’s up to you!
Black Rhino - The Black Rhino is a critically endangered species. Approximately 65,000 rhinos roamed throughout central and south Africa in 1970. Now, however, these numbers have dropped to around 5,000 individuals. The biggest threats to rhinos include poaching and habitat loss. Conservation funds will go to the Chipembere Rhino Founda-tion to help support rhino conservation efforts in Africa. The Chipemebere Rhino Foundation specializes on strong anti-poaching efforts, which even include a highly trained K-9 team! To learn more go to http://www.chipembere.org/ Lion - In the past two decades Africa’s lion population has de-creased 42 percent. Expanding human populations have resulted in the growth of agriculture, settlements, and roads. Due to this growth, lions are being forced into closer quarters with humans, resulting in many lions losing their lives to human conflict. Conservation Funds will go to the African People and Wildlife
Dr. Hilary Swarts talks to local media while visiting Abilene recently. Swarts leads ocelot conservation efforts in South Texas through her work with U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Reserve.
Foundation, whose focus is to involve local communities in the conservation of local resources and wildlife. The Living Walls
project helps keep lions safely separated from local live-stock and is estimated to save 150 lions each year. To learn more go to http://afrpw.org/Vulture - Vultures are nature’s most effective scavengers. With the help of vultures, carcasses
decompose quicker, preventing the spread of many diseases. But vultures in Africa are having an especially tough time. Seven out of the 11 African vultures are on the
verge of extinction; their populations have dropped 95 percent in the last 30 years. They are poisoned, captured for use in traditional medicine, and deliberately killed by poachers because their presence can alert authorities to
the presence of illegally killed carcasses. Conservation Funds will go to BirdLife International –
Africa. BirdLife Africa protects vultures by working with local people, governments, individual experts, and BirdLife
partners throughout Africa to create effective widespread response to the threats that vultures are facing. To learn more go to: http://www.birdlife.org/
Dr. Stephanie Carle Abilene Zoo Veterinarian
A s 2016 comes to a close, we look back on all the great things our zoo has accomplished this year. There have been several new species added to the collection, along with several births that have been such a thrill to experience – our new giraffe Mananasi being a career favorite so far for me!
Since January, the veterinary depart-ment has performed more than 90 anesthesia procedures for preventative health and medical procedures. This year, almost 800 different biological samples, such as blood, urine or feces, have been collected to ensure the health of our animals.
In this year alone, 906 prescriptions have been written for medications ranging from routine vaccinations and deworming to antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medicines for animals that are sick.
Our veterinary department has even worked with some veterinary specialists this year, including a veterinary dentist who performed root canals and dental fillings for some of our toothy carnivores and a veterinary surgeon who repaired a rambunctious young howler monkey’s broken arm. All of these animals have recovered and are doing great now!
Bird rehabilitation has kept our zoo staff very busy. In 2015, we had
our biggest year for bird rehabilitation with 307 birds admitted; however, this year has blown that record through the roof with 435 birds so far! Right now, we have 18 baby barn owls in rehab, each of which eats several mice per day. Needless to say, we are working hard to make sure these young owls continue to grow in order to release them back out into the wild soon.
As our zoo has grown, so has the amount of food needed to keep everyone hopping.
Our zoo has more than 1,100 animals -- each with their unique nutritional needs and individual preferences. We order a wide variety of fresh, restaurant quality produce and fish, hundreds of pounds of
various grains, and several types of zoo carnivore meat each year.
Since January, we have used approximately 2,300 pounds of mixed frozen veggies, 8,588 fresh apples, more than 14,000 pounds of giraffe grain and more than 82,000 frozen rodents!
Additionally, this year the zoo will be consulting with a zoological animal nutritionist to make sure all of our animals’ nutritional requirements are being met appropriately. No matter what the needs of our animals, medical or otherwise, you can be sure they will receive the best care possible to guarantee they have an excellent quality of life here at the Abilene Zoo.
Dr. Stephanie Carle is the staff veterinarian at the Abilene Zoo, joining in July 2015. She has a bachelor of science degree in biology and doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri.
Bountiful year includes a big birth, a broken bone and birds!
A veterinary dentist gives a cougar a filling.
Mississippi kites were released in a record-setting year for bird rehabilitation. Pictured: Alexa Cushman with a free bird.
No more monkeys jumping on the bed! An active young howler monkey needed a plate inserted into his broken arm.
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LIZ KELLERMAN | Zoo Behaviorist
Generous fans improvethe quality of our lives
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This has been an amazing year for the animals and staff at the Abilene Zoo. Many new animals have come to reside at the zoo, which means we have needed more enrichment items to help stimulate their minds and encourage their natural behaviors. Thankfully, we started off the year with more donations than ever from our annual Giving Tree.
Visitors generously donated almost $900 in enrichment and train-ing items for the animals to enjoy this year. With more than 1100 animals on zoo grounds, ranging from tiny frogs to long legged giraffes, each animal has its own distinctive needs that make them unique and special. Chameleons enjoy climbing on flexible vines. Tropical frogs like hiding under moss. Our macaws will spend hours shredding their colorful hanging toys. The lions will wrestle over a ball, all while the monkeys just hang around. When you visit the zoo, know that the animals are making good use of your gifts – and
guests are likely enjoying watching them play.
Please come check out the annual Giv-ing Tree located in the Zoo Store from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. The tree and the orna-ments have gotten a facelift this year. Each ornament fea-tures an animal and their special “wish” for the year. It’s a
warm and fuzzy family tradition to include your favorite zoo animal in your holiday shopping.
If you are interested in supporting the Animal Behavioral Programs at the Abilene Zoo and wish to donate items from the Wish List located on the zoo’s website, please call me at 325-437-4696 or email [email protected].
There also is a year-round wish list posted with www.amazon.com, where visitors can purchase items and have them shipped directly to the Abilene Zoo. Just search for “Abilene Zoo” in the wish list section.
Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Giving Tree and Wish Lists! Our staff and animals are truly grateful!
Liz Kellerman is the Animal Behaviorist at the Abilene Zoo, where she has worked in animal enrichment for 9 years. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and is currently working toward her doctorate.
ABILENE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY2070 ZOO LaneAbilene, Texas 79602ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
