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UPCOMING EVENTS ZtoU ZtoU brings you news about issues important to the Cleveland Zoological Society and people, like you, who support us.

Cleveland Zoological Society3900 Wildlife WayCleveland, Ohio 44109-3132

ClevelandZooSociety.org

Awesome. Wonderful. Amazing. Beautiful. These are just some of the words Zoo and Zoo Society staff heard over and over again this summer as mem-bers, donors and guests got their first taste of African Elephant Crossing.

The exhibit has garnered rave reviews from experts and visitors alike - Dr. Larry Killmar, Director of Collections & Vice President at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, pro-nounced African Elephant Crossing “the gold standard for elephant exhibits.” He predicts that other zoos will come to Cleveland to “see how it’s done.”

“Everyone is reacting very positively to the new exhibit,” said Zoo Director Steve Taylor. “We have guests spending several hours just watching the ele-phants. The meerkats and mole rats are also favorites.” Visitors linger in the exhibit taking in the vistas and watching the herd explore their new and ever-changing environment. Twice each day guests gather at the Elephant Crossing gate to witness the size and grace of the largest land mammal during their migration from range to range. “The Elephant Crossing is another favorite. Guests often ask when the next crossing will be and then work their visit so they can be there to watch” said Taylor. Continued on pages 4-5

ZtoU FALL 2011 02 WHAT’S NEW AT THE ZOO? Inside Information

03 ADOPT THE GRIZZLY CUBS! You bearly need to think about this one!

04 FROM THE FIELD The summer of African Elephant Crossing07 IN THE CIRCLE Behind-the-Scenes Tours and SO much more!

08 WHAT’S THE BUZZ? Dates to Remember

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Help us welcome two of the Zoo’s newest residents— brother grizzly bears! Grizzly bears are powerful, top-of-the-food-chain predators, yet much of their diet consists of nuts, berries, fruit, leaves, and roots. The bears’ brown fur can appear to be white-tipped, or grizzled, lending them their traditional name. In the wild, grizzlies hibernate through the winter, but for now our two youngsters just need a daily nap!

Cody and Cooper don’t quite live up to their scientific name yet (ursus arctos hor-ribilis), but these little guys are growing fast and will someday reach their adult weight of nearly 800 lbs.

Double your fun by adopting both brother bears and you’ll help provide the best pos-sible food, care and environment for our bears and the thousands of other animals that call our Zoo “home.”

ADOPT BOTH GRIZZLY CUBS FOR jUST $100, AND YOUR GIFT PACk-AGE WILL INCLUDE:

•“Official ZooParent” collectible key chain

•Two collectible plush toys•Personalized adoption certificate•Color photo of our grizzly cubs•A terrific T-shirt or tote bag•Fun fact sheet all about grizzly bears•Invitation to ZooParents’ Night 2012 - a fun VIP family event (mailed separately)

•Name recognition on Zoo grounds and on ClevelandZooSociety.org

Bear down and move up to the $250 adoption level and get all the benefits above AND an invitation for you and a guest (16 years or older) to go on a tour, where you’ll experience one of our Zoo’s most popular exhibits from behind-the-scenes!

Donations are fully tax-deductible and make some of the grrrr-eatest gifts around!

Adopt a Grizzly!YOU bEARLY NEED TO ThINK AbOUT ThIS ONE!

What’s New at the Zoo?INSIDE INFORMATION

MARY MCMILLANDirector of Finance and Operations

There is wild adventure at your Zoo all year round. Fall days are cooler, the crowds are smaller and the animals are as fascinating as ever. No matter the season, there is always something new to learn at the Zoo, so come on over anytime!

ThE ZOO IS hOT FOR bETTYPassionate animal advocate and television icon Betty White visited the Zoo in June before her red carpet appearance at a local premiere party for the TV show, Hot in Cleveland. Zoo Marketing Manager Sue Allen said White thoroughly enjoyed her private tour which included meeting the Zoo’s giraffe, koalas and eastern black rhi-noceros. “I’ll tell you what’s really hot in Cleveland, your Zoo” said White, “Please enjoy your Zoo, it’s a gem.”

NEW EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES The Zoo and Project Dragonfly at Miami University are partnering to bring an excit-ing new Master’s degree program to the Cleveland area. The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is an inquiry-driven learn-ing experience allowing participants to take classes in person at the Zoo and online from

Miami University. AIP Master’s candidates use inquiry not only as a tool for integrated learning, but also as a powerful agent for student achievement, public engagement, and ecological stewardship. Applicants elect to enroll in either a Master of Arts in Teach-ing in Biological Sciences or a Master of Arts in Zoology from Miami University. Participants take 21 credit hours at the Zoo plus 14 credit hours online through Miami University. Up to 7 credit hours from an Earth Expeditions global field course may also be counted toward the degree. For more information, log onto clemetzoo.com.

bROThER bEARS This summer the Zoo welcomed two brother bears. The grizzly cubs, dubbed Cody and Cooper, were born spring 2011. Curator of Carnivores and Large Mammals Andi Kor-nak worked with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to bring the cubs

to Cleveland. “A man searching for shed ant-lers near Helena, MT, was threatened by a grizzly bear and killed it in self-defense, leaving the two cubs orphaned,” said Kornak.

“The man notified the authorities and the bear cubs were taken to a wildlife rehab facil-ity to await a more permanent home.” As the Zoo had recently lost long-time resident grizzlies Warren and Lester, Kornak felt the two cubs would be a welcome addition for the Zoo. The Zoo has historically been a good place to see bears, showcasing six spe-cies, more than most other zoos.

Pictured: betty White and Steve Taylor

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MARY MCMILLANDirector of Finance and Operations

From the FieldThE SUMMER OF AfricAn ElEphAnt crossing

Continued from page 1“This exhibit was designed with the best interests of animals as the top priority, and it’s wonderful to see how well it works and how much our visitors appreciate the Zoo’s dedication to animal well-being,” said Zoo Society Executive Director Liz Fowler. Zoo Society members and guests have come out in droves to experience African Elephant Crossing. From five ElephanTuesdays to ZippityZooDoo, the focus of summer events in 2011 was an easy decision. “The elephants and their new home are a major hit” said Fowler.

“Cleveland can be very proud of what has been accomplished here.”

The Zoo’s colony of naked mole rats and 15-foot African rock python are thriving in the Underground Savanna. This area is quickly becoming a draw for our youngest visitors. The male and female meerkat are getting along well and are exhibiting nat-ural behaviors. The Zoo hopes to see our

Opened in 2011 with great fanfare, the newest, big-gest thing in Cleveland is drawing record crowds, fascinating visitors and easily fulfilling expectations.

very own “mob” in the near future. The Zoo’s nine spe-cies of African birds, includ-ing t u racos and golden weavers, are al l adapting nicely to their new home in the Aviary.

Although less obvious to guests, the Animal Care staff has noticed changes in the relationships among the five elephants. The success-ful addition of Willy and Shenga to the herd has cre-

ated a more natural social structure and improved overall herd dynamics. Most days, the herd can be seen stripping bark, playing with logs or rolling in the mud. The herd interacts with each other in a more complex and changeable environment. Said General Curator Geoff Hall, “The elephants are using all of the exhibit’s amenities includ-ing mud, water and sand. The Wilber Night Range, to which the elephants have access each night, is being used quite a bit and we are seeing lots of evidence of the elephants laying down to sleep.”

The impact of African Elephant Cross-ing doesn’t stop in Northeast Ohio. The National Elephant Center (TNEC) in Florida and elephant conservation ini-tiatives in Botswana, Kenya, Namibia and Tanzania represent just a few of the projects supported by the Zoo and Zoo Society over the years.

TNEC is the result of a unique collabo-ration among zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

(AZA) and individuals and organiza-tions that care deeply about elephants. Today nearly 290 elephants are cared for in North American zoos accredited by the AZA, each animal serving as a vital, living link to elephants in the wild.

For many years, curators, keepers, veter-inarians and others associated with ele-phants at AZA institutions wanted a facility to provide short- and long-term solutions to help manage the nation’s elephants. In 2004 the idea of creating a national elephant center came as the result of an AZA Elephant Management Stra-tegic Planning Meeting. Shortly thereaf-ter, dozens of AZA-accredited zoos, including the Zoo and Zoo Society, donated critical funding support to explore options for establishing TNEC, which will be an important tool in elephant manage-ment and conservation.

TNEC is not a zoo nor is it attempting to replace the important education and con-servation roles AZA-accredited zoos fill every day. TNEC is being developed to help to manage the zoo elephant popula-tion in North America and to create a sus-tainable future for elephants through research and conservation efforts by ani-mal care experts.

A member of the TNEC Board of Direc-tors, Taylor commented, “Because of their large size and intelligence, elephants are a challenge to house and maintain in zoos. The Zoo experienced this when we were looking for a place for Jo, Moshi and Martika during the construction of Afri-can Elephant Crossing. With the addi-t ion of TNEC as another tool for

managing the North American elephant population, zoo goers can be assured that elephants will always be in our zoos.”

Internationally, the Zoo works to sup-port the conservation of animals in the wild. As we celebrate the opening of the state-of-the-art African Elephant Crossing, we have a unique opportunity to raise awareness of conservation chal-lenges in sub-Saharan Africa, and to connect Cleveland-area visitors with the wider world. African Elephant Cross-ing is an ideal setting for field trips and families to pause for a conversation about choices and resources and how humans and wildlife can share the planet sustainably.

As part of the comprehensive capital campaign for African Elephant Cross-ing, the Cleveland Zoological Society is developing a Conservation Fund for Wildlife & Wild Places that will enable the Zoo to strengthen its presence regionally and globally. Project goals include funding vital conservation work for endangered species, increasing the breadth and depth of flagship conserva-tion programs and forging strong links between our conservation and breeding programs in the Zoo and our partner-ships around the world, and educating the greater Cleveland community about the unique role of zoos in saving endan-gered species.

African Elephant Crossing is a testa-ment to the power of generosity and big dreams. After only a few months, it’s hard to remember the Zoo without Willy, Shenga, Jo, Moshi and Martika. Those of us who were privileged to enjoy the “Summer of African Elephant Crossing” (and all that went into it, before, during and after) can be proud of the amazing place we have built for our city, our region, our families, and, most importantly, the elephants.

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$250 AND AbOVE

A DATE WITH THE APESOctober 11 & 13

Get a fascinating opportunity to see our pri-mates and others enjoy fun enrichment activities. This evening is a chance to explore the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building in an intimate setting as keepers will be on hand to answer all your questions.

In the Circle2011 bEhIND-ThE-SCENES TOURS

Donor Spotlight$12.5 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR AfricAn ElEphAnt crossing COMPLETE

Thanks to the support of this generous community, African Elephant Crossing is one of the best new zoo exhibits in the nation. It represents a significant com-mitment to animal care, sustainable practices and innovative science education, and will have a positive impact on the quality of life in Northeast Ohio for many years to come.

Up close and personal takes on a whole new meaning when you’re a member of the ZooKeepers’ Circle. Enjoy access to behind-the-scenes tours, VIP invita-tions and exclusive gatherings. As we wrap up the 2011 tour season, we would like the thank all of you who participated in the ZooKeeper’s Circle program. It is because of the generous support of donors like you that your Zoo is one of the best in the nation.

FIONA GREENManager of Capital and Special Gifts

TARA TURNERDirector of External Relations

$500 AND AbOVE

GONE FISHINGNovember 1, 3 & 9

Visit the Zoo’s Primate, Cat & Aquat-ics Building and see a Cleveland ’s ONLY aquarium including our new Great Barrier Reef exhibit. Have the opportunity to see the sharks being fed and learn more about the Zoo’s expan-sive aquatic collection.

The Cleveland Zoological Society is proud to announce the completion of the largest capital campaign in the organization’s his-tory. The African Elephant Crossing Capital Campaign committee, chaired by Zoo Society Board President Rob Rogers and Zoo Society Trustees Mike Cogan and Pat Mullin, raised $12.8 million from more than 3,800 donors — three times the funds, from nearly 11 times as many donors, as any previous funding effort.

African Elephant Crossing is the result of a successful and healthy public/private partnership between Cleveland Metroparks and the Cleveland Zoological Society. Funded half by Cleveland Metroparks’ general fund and half by the Zoo Society’s Capital Campaign, the $25-million exhibit represents 10 years of joint planning and challenging work.

Impressed by the Zoo’s accessibility and broad audience, in 2009 the Kresge Foun-dation selected the Zoo Society’s Capital Campaign for African Elephant Cross-ing for a significant challenge grant. This prestigious grant guaranteed that all dol-lars raised through the completion of the campaign would be matched. With the completion of the campaign, the Zoo Society accepted $725,000 in matching funds from the Kresge Foundation.

“Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is beloved by Northeast Ohioans and the community support that we received for this cam-paign is awe-inspiring,” said Liz Fowler, Executive Director of the Cleveland Zoological Society. “We are thrilled to share this transformational exhibit with our members, guests and in particular

our community’s children.” Any addi-tional gifts the Zoo Society receives for this campaign will be directed to mis-sion-related projects in its core focus areas of animal care, conservation and education programming.

The passion and commitment to elephants in Northeast Ohio is clear, but the Zoo and Zoo Society’s investments in elephant care and conservation extend far beyond Cleve-land’s borders. A new Conservation Fund for Wildlife & Wild Places will continue the Zoo’s excellent work on behalf of elephants and other species as part of an institutional commitment to wildlife conservation.

$1,000 LEVEL AND AbOVE

ZOOkEEPERS’ CIRCLE DINNER November 16

A special evening for our Naturalists’ Club members features a Thanksgiving-style dinner in the wonderful surround-ings of The RainForest. Dinner is by invitation only.

NEW ThIS YEAR - $5,000 LEVEL AND AbOVE

THE SCIENCES OF CONSERvATION AND COOkINGOctober 18

Spend an evening with Zoo leaders while enjoying a food demonstration featuring food and wine paired and served by the Zoo’s Executive Chef Vinnie Gaikens. Dinner is by invitation only.

Please note the specific tour benefits that are available at your level of giving. Zoo-Keepers’ Circle members at the $250 level may enjoy two tours a year; those at the $500 level and above may attend four tours (except for the $1,000-level tours); and $1,000 level members may enjoy up to six tours (from any level) per season. All tours start at 6:00 PM (except where stated) and last approximately 90 minutes; l ight refreshments will be served. Tour dates are subject to change and will be updated at Events.ClevelandZooSociety.org.

INSIDE INFORMATION

BOO AT THE ZOO Presenting Sponsor: October 20-23 & 27-30 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The only scary part of this event is missing out. Boo at the Zoo is a neighborhood of safe Halloween entertainment, with a spooky delight around every corner. Members: Boo at the Zoo tickets for anyone covered by your membership are $1 off when pur-chased in person at the Zoo Box Office (open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) or at clemetzoo.com. Supporting Sponsor: Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS February 9, 2012 6:00 – 9:00 The RainForest

Things will be hot and steamy in The RainForest as we celebrate the 10th annual Animal Attractions. Join Zoo animal keepers and curators to learn about some hot and heavy mating rituals while sam-pling delicious dishes from some of Cleve-land ’s f inest restaurants and sipping sensational wine from Jacob’s Creek. With support from Whole Foods. Tickets go on sale December 1. For more information, visit ClevelandZooSociety.org or call (216) 661.6500 x4421. Adults 21 and over only.

Wolf Awareness Day

OCTObER 15

America Recycles Day

NOVEMbER 13

Noon Year’s Eve

Presented by Dollar bank DECEMbER 31

December Days

DECEMbER 19 – 24 & 26 – 30

What’s the buzz?2011 DATES TO REMEMbER

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Design: Nesnadny + Schwartz, Cleveland + New York + Toronto | Contributing Photographers: Roger Mastroianni and Dale McDonald; all other photos courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

ZtoU is an exclusive publication of the Cleveland Zoological Society for those who advance our mission of promoting the conservation and propagation of wildlife—particularly endangered species—through support of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Thanks to you, we are able to advance our Zoo to the top tier of zoos nationally, and strengthen our commitment to research and environmental education. For more details about all our events, please visit ClevelandZooSociety.org

This publication was printed at an FSC-certified printer (Certification No. SW-COC- 002929). The FSC Logo identifies products that contain wood from well-managed forests certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council. Soy-based inks; elemental chlorine free, acid-free, recycled and recyclable papers were employed throughout this publication.

Thanksgiving at the Zoo

NOVEMbER 24