Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Becoming a Tiger: Social Behaviors of Amur Tigers

October 11, 2012 By admin 2 Comments

Becoming a Tiger: Social Behaviors of Amur Tigers
Amanda Westerlund
Docent, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Pittsburgh, PA

Introduction
The largest feline species Panthera tigris altaica, also known as the Amur tiger, lives in the taiga forests of Russia and Northern China. These wild cats are primarily a solitary species, where individuals sleep, hunt, and travel their territory completely on their own. The one exception to this normal solitary behavior is when mothers are raising their cubs. Cubs remain with their mothers for up to 3 years, learning how to be
a tiger. Observing how each cub interacts with their mother could aid in successfully reintroducing orphaned, rescued cubs, and young tigers into the wild by teaching the cub in a similar way to the mother’s style. The Amur tiger population is critically endangered; with only about 500 Amur tigers remain in the wild and a 50-75% mortality rate among cubs. The wild population is put in danger due to human encroachment/habitat loss, poaching, and prey loss.

For this ongoing study, I have been observing the relationships between an Amur tiger mother and her three cubs. This particular family consists of a mother, Toma, who throughout the study was ages 12-14 years old. Toma has had 6 surviving cubs in three litters (two her first, one her second, and three her third). This current litter consists of two females and one male. Over the course of this study the cubs were ages 5 months to 2 years. Max is the male cub, and Nikita and Simsa are the females. Simsa was hospitalized and partially hand-raised at an early age, due to an infection at the base of her spine. She was successfully reintroduced to Toma and her siblings. Simsa grew up with them.

Methods

For the study, different behaviors were set up to be observed. These behaviors were not human-centric and were strictly the bare minimum action. These are not interpretations of the individual’s actions. Each behavior can simply be given a yes or no occurrence, with no doubt whether or not an action occurred. These behaviors also had to be redefined as the cubs aged, for the behaviors either changed or new ones appeared. For example, playing as cubs meant that two cubs were engaged in a nonaggressive interaction where they both were comfortable with the biting. As the cubs
aged, the play became more violent, with one individual sometimes showing signs of discomfort (teeth bearing) during the interaction.

During the study, I recorded each individual’s twelve common behaviors which occurred on their own. These behaviors were chewing, sleeping, walking, running, stalking, sitting, lying, watching, grooming, chuffing, flehming, urine marking, and playing. Twelve common behaviors with specific individuals were also recorded. These were also the same as listed above. Finally, the habitat was broken up into the five
areas. I recorded which areas they preferred to reside.

Two separate sections of the family’s life were observed. This occurred when the cubs were 4-9 months old, and from 17-24 months. Data was taken at least twice a week in half-hour increments to allow for a “snap-shot” of the family’s life. This short time of watching was needed for two reasons. First, the cubs at first tired easily, so long naps were common after the play. Later on, the cubs are not as interested in interactions.
Secondly, as the study went on, the cubs began to interact with me, which caused an issue for accurate observations. Watching the family during their active state is critical to see the social interactions, and then followed with who they like to sleep next too for naps.

Time budgets were created for each individual to create a percentage of time spent with whom, doing what, and where. To calculated time budgets, the tallies of the occurred behaviors were counted up and totaled. Finally by creating pie charts, a percentage of their time was then found. These percentages were then compared to other members of the family.
Results

For the time frame of the cubs being 4-9 months old:

The time frame of the cubs being 17-24 months old is still occurring, so the data will be discussed during the presentation. During this second time frame, the cubs are now beginning new behaviors, such as urine marking, flehming, and aggressive fighting.

Discussion

Based on the results of 4-9 months old, Toma preferred to interact with Nikita and played with her cubs. She however was typically the target of the stalking cubs. Max liked to interact with his mother the most, along with lying around. He chuffed not once during the first set of observations. Nikita loved to interact with Toma and Simsa. She also liked to stalk and play most of her time. Simsa had a well-rounded interaction with her family, but also allowed time for herself. She also was an active cat, always on the move.

Conclusion
The family has dynamic social interactions and each individual has their own favorite behaviors. These interactions are changing now that the cubs are gaining more independence.

You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Til It’s Gone – Polar Bears Love Trees! Do You?

September 13, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Til It’s Gone –
Polar Bears Love Trees! Do You.
Kathy Schaeffer
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Pittsburgh, PA

Docents are a different breed. That’s a good thing. Conservation is part of our being. The general population is becoming more conservation aware. But the prevalent mind set follows the Joni Mitchell song lyrics “That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone’. People react to crisis levels.

Docents have the awesome task to motivate people to make changes to their life pattern. A good starting point is with the zoo visitors. Hopefully they have some level of caring about the animals since they have chosen to be at the zoo.
I have had the opportunity at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium on various occasions to do a presentation on Polar Bears, trees and people. Today I will share with you the components of what I did and offer you some handouts so you might adapt it for an activity at your zoo. Spreading this far and wide in any form will help Polar Bears and us all.

As with most projects, the task of not letting the tangents go too far at one presentation was challenging. There are so many directions you can go with reducing carbon. Ultimately I decided on eating the carbon with trees.

Carbon footprint is being bannered around more often recently as a buzz phrase but the subject of carbon is large and only a fragment is being expanded upon. There is a need to know what some of the things carbon does, good and bad.
Carbon is the second most abundant element in our bodies. Oxygen is tops. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates all contain carbon, when the body breaks down that food you breathe out carbon dioxide.

Carbon based compounds make up our tissue and bones along with animal shells and bird wings. Frozen carbon dioxide is dry ice. Heating baking soda or baking powder when baking releases carbon dioxide; this gives baked goods their light fluffy texture. Carbon dioxide is commonly used in fire extinguishers. The hardest form of carbon is diamond.

This illustrates carbon is not like DDT that can be eliminated. Carbon is vital but needs controlled and monitored.

Facts are not going to motivate people. This is where the soulful eyes of the polar bear provide the opening.

The lead in is to show the pictures of polar bears intermixed with landscaped yards. Spark people’s curiosity. They want to know the connection between the subjects. Have conversations. We are teachers, it is easy to flip into teach mode. Buy-in works better as a conversation – make the zoo visitor feel part of the process, rather than a recipient of your information. You have their curiosity, your opportunity opens. “Yes, planting trees at your home will help the polar bears in their far away home”.

Planting trees is one of the cheapest, most effective means of drawing CO from the atmosphere. A very large portion of the carbon going into the environment occurs in the populated areas not the Arctic. It only makes sense that we begin to reduce it in our very own yard. The US Forestry Service and the Urban Forest put the figures out that a person generates approximately 2.3 tons of carbon in a year and a large healthy tree stores about 13 pounds of carbon annually. An acre of trees stores about 2.6 tons.

One of my brief career moves was a landscape designer for a nursery. 90% of the people coming to purchase a tree had little idea of how to actually plant a tree. If people invest time and money into planting a tree and it dies or damages their house they are less likely to attempt it again.

Polar Bears need trees and they need them NOW! We, as docents have the ability to spark the movement for individuals to take up the cause with immediate action. The statement “Plant a tree” is just a bit too vague and daunting for the majority. They will put it on the back burner to do someday.

One of the questions the posters at our presentation asked – “ Polar bears in the wild or only in zoos.” If we hesitate in getting healthy trees in the ground, we may be answering our great- grandchildren’s questions about what it was like when polar bears lived in the wild; they will likely never know that world.

Today you will get information on how to plant, where to plant and what to plant to succeed in eating carbon and keeping ice for polar bears.

We give mixed signals. We tell how strong the polar bear is, how their paws enable them to be good swimmers. We tell of shrinking ice. Many a zoo visitor (mostly macho males) have remarked the polar bear will learn to swim longer distances to get to ice; the survival of the fittest syndrome. A single line drawing showing the ocean shelf, where the seals feed in relation to the shrinking ice, gives them a visual sparing in-depth conversation on deaf ears. Less ice, seals can’t feed, and there goes the polar bear’s food source.

The Polar Bear has the awesome power combined with cuteness but that isn’t enough to entice the homeowner to plant. Now it is our spot to explain the Win-Win part for the homeowner to make this investment. Curb Appeal, Yard Crashers, Jamie Durie Outdoor Room are a few of HGTV’s yard improvement shows extolling the value added to the properties with trees and landscaping. Some homeowners associations have fines if the yard does not meet neighborhood standards. A recent study indicated that trees added $9,500 or more than 18% to the average sale price of a residence in Rochester, NY.

Even more incentive in this financial climate is the benefit of saving on energy costs. Homeowners that properly place trees in their landscape can realize savings up to 58% on daytime air conditioning. In a 1993 “Sacramento: Argument for Land Conservation Document”, it suggests that three mature trees for every unshaded single family home could save over $2 billion in energy costs per year; imagine what that translates to as energy costs have gone up in the eight years since then.

The sun is hottest on the south and west sides of the house. Planting in these locations is instrumental in reducing cooling costs. The evaporation from a single large tree can produce the cooling effect of 10 room size air conditioners operating 24 hours a day.
Any side of the house exposed to wind benefits from trees planted to act as a wind baffle. A zig zag tree line rather than a straight line works best for this. This allows air movement through the trees but not at clockable miles per hour. Also at maturity the trees will not intermingle and create dead sides.

Limiting the exposure to the ravages of wind and the beating sun can help to keep the exterior of the house from looking worn, saving maintenance expenses. The furnace or heat pump will not run as long. The USFS estimates the annual effect of well positioned trees on energy use at 20-25% when compared to a house in a wide open area.

Especially in the warmer climates with water conservation pricing, as well as other areas of the country with water restrictions, there needs to be a rethinking of the expanses of green lawns that are prevalent.

Everyone needs to follow the ‘new thinking’ before they too come under water restrictions. The lush green lawns are the elephant in the room. New construction has mandates for low flow fixtures and water efficient appliances. Many people are making these upgrades in older homes. Yet the Great American Lawn as the ultimate front yard still exists. Multiple trees in the front yard are a beginning to making the change. The result will be a more striking curb appeal than lawn plus add useful carbon eating trees to the environment. A tree or shrub once established will need minimal watering. A lawn
will continue to have unending water demands.

An eco friendly way to water the trees is to buy a dollar store bucket and drill multiple holes in the bottom. Bury the bucket at the crown line of the tree; roots are corresponding diameter in the ground as the leaf canopy you can see. Pour your gray water into the bucket; it will slowly and deeply water the tree. 2-liter soda bottles with the bottom cut off and the lid off buried neck down will also work. You will need several depending on the size of the tree. Screening or netting across the top of the opening will keep any small critter from falling in. If you get any amount of regular rainfall, buckets and bottles can be removed once a tree is established. That is one or two calendar years- if planting is done in the
fall the following fall (or occasionally the second one if it was a rough, unusual weather year) or spring to spring.

Fall is a great time to plant, all the tree’s energy can go into forming a great root system since the demand for flowers and leaves is past Trees are carbon sinks. Carbon sinks are places where carbon is stored because more carbon dioxide is absorbed that emitted. In the tree’s case it is stored as cellulose in the trunk, branches, leaves and roots. Half of a trees dry weight is carbon. Carbon storage is related to the size of the tree. Growth rate is also a factor. Large trees with a slow growth rate and small trees with a fast growth rate in the first few years can have the same carbon storage capabilities.

One of the frequent questions the zoo visitor asks is “How can a tree growing locally help the level of carbon in the Arctic atmosphere”. Fossil fuel use is much greater in the populated areas; have the trees eat the carbon where it is produced. Emissions are approximately 5 billion metric tons/year; I can’t begin to get my head around the concept of how big that is but anything with billion is large. Carbon in the atmosphere comes mainly from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. The Arctic is not contributing to the issue at anywhere near the pace we are creating/enabling the issue here. If each area of the country, city, neighborhood develops carbon sinks here, we will contain our own carbon. The
Arctic won’t have our pollution in their neck of the woods, so to speak, if we increase or trees here and now.

The following chart shows parts per million by volume of carbon dioxide in Mauna Loa Hawaii. This area has no manufacturing jobs. The rise is mainly influenced by fossil fuel use.

Polar Bears — Keeling Curve Chart Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide 1960-2010

An important part of carbon sinks, when the tree is cut down not only is it no longer absorbing carbon, all the carbon that was stored in the tree is released into the environment. Reforestation is a step, but a new sapling is hundreds of times smaller than the tree that was removed. The sapling will need to grow considerably to absorb the released carbon along with new carbon we are adding each day. Playing catch up won’t work as long as people continue to add more carbon than there are trees. Multiple well- spaced saplings are needed for each tree removed.

There are several typical bloopers of tree planting. One is when a newly purchased tree looks small, people eyeball placement rather than use a tape measure not allowing for the mature tree size: result, the tree grows too close to the house. Correct location in the landscape is important to eliminate the double whammy of future removal of the tree as it matures.

The single most common reason a tree dies is from being planted too deeply. This death occurs several years after planting when the tree finally dies of asphyxiation. People don’t see the cause and effect so they are perplexed and discouraged from planting again. The cure is simple but it is the most neglected piece of information- more often than not it isn’t mentioned to the tree purchaser. Never cover the collar of the tree. The tree must breathe and this is a crucial point of transfer. Too deep in soil is a sure killer. Too deep in mulch will result in a scraggly tree at best and it still will likely die.

A simple flyer with this diagram along with a few points about tree behavior can be handed out. A tree that drops its leaves when planted is not dying, it is self-preservation; putting the energy into the roots. New leaves will appear. Also in the flyer you need a few really cute pictures of polar bears to help prod them along and keep them excited about their ability to help. We have been extolling the advantages for the human aspect, but we don’t want to lose sight that the win-win will keep the polar bears in the wide open Arctic. Zoos can never replace the wild.

People like knowing they are making a difference, but exercise is about the only component of people’s lives that ‘no pain –no gain’ is a buy in. As docents we can facilitate this becoming a much simpler process.

Pass out lists of tree suggestions for your area. There are a few examples on the table for you to pick up if you haven’t already done so. Show pictures of landscapes and eye-catching trees. A few suggested sources: Garden Gate and Fine Gardening magazines, Better Homes & Gardens series of books, Successful Planting A-Z and What Plant Where and the companion book Tough Plants for Tough, Places. Tons of info available. There are many tree books at the library and the bookstores, very few are pared down to your own region of the country. You begin by looking at an overall map to determine your planting zone, this is based on temperature in an area of the country. Google ‘zone planting map’ will get you several choices. USDA is a one with good detail and accurate information. Surprisingly arborday.org was
disappointing, giving a wide zone range and was not accurate. My area is 5b, this site stated 6-7. Most trees for zone 7 would not survive a winter in my area.

If you give tangible plans with plenty of suggestions so that everyone does not create the same exact landscape, you will get results. If the information is vague, the noble thought remains just that and does not make it to roots in the ground. More than planting the idea, your help in doing the planning and up-front leg work can make the difference. Instead of an overwhelming concept, you are giving steps that bring results. This does not have to be a job for professionals. Remember, Noah’s Ark was built by amateurs. The Titanic was built by professionals.”

Do the majority of your neighborhoods have overhead power lines. For that situation a tree maturing to 25’ would be recommended unless the homeowner really wanted a yearly pruning task. We don’t know what we’ve got until it’s gone’ also applies to the scalping the utility companies give to trees when the growth is into their lines – sometimes hard to recognize the tree.

Trees for back yards and yards with underground utilities are only dictated in size as to what is appealing to the balance of the house and landscape. Look through books and magazines for ideas, being aware and careful to not choose landscapes with a great deal of counterintuitive paved surfaces.

The trees are to be carbon sink. The paving is a heatsink. Heat is a contributor to the unbalance, be cautious to not lose sight of the carbon eating results that you are striving for. Limit massive paving areas.
We all forget things; that is why we use memo boards and post-it notes. When items are forefront we are reminded to act on them. Looking at the trees in the yard will be the memo to turn off a light, or unplug an appliance after use or any of hundreds of other ways to help conserve.

How many trees to plant. There are as many guidelines for number of trees per household to plant as there are groups promoting them. It is comparable to having your furnace and air conditioner sized /rated based on the square footage of your house. First said, a single tree is an improvement. But one tree alone can only do so much. A general minimum guideline is one medium to large tree for every person in your household. Sometimes it is stated as all bodies in a household then that can include our pets. The balance is to offer a pleasing yard environment, so that the trees are not cut down in the future. Back at the beginning you heard the figure of 2.3 tons of carbon generated per person per year.

At that rate we need an acre of trees per person. So we must continue to improve at conservation while we are planting trees. It is the best hope for the Polar Bears and the rest of our world. And it doesn’t cost billions, depend on legislation or industry, it is something each person can do and pass forward to the next person to do.

Those of us that live in northern climates and those who visit in the snowy months are aware of the intense glare of the sun off of the white snow. In the book On Thin Ice, Richard Ellis elaborates on important aspects of the snow glare. 1 the Arctic Sea acts as a giant mirror reflecting the sun back into st space. Then as warming diminishes snow and ice cover, there are more dark surfaces. The darker surfaces absorb more solar radiation resulting in more warming and more ice melt. Just as we wear light colors in the summer to minimize absorbing heat, the Arctic needs to have white covering for the same reasons.

As much as the polar bears pictures and the piece of fabric to feel (representing the dermal bumps on the pads of the polar bear’s feet- involve multiple senses-see, hear, touch) were a draw, there was another segment of this presentation that provided the most feedback from zoo visitors. Goes to show that after 19 years as a docent and I’ve found that you learn you can never gauge the parts of your talks or posters that will have the most reaction.

As the Joni Mitchell song says: Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. They paved over paradise to put up a parking lot.

The most interaction was on shopping centers and parking lots. Parking lots occupy 10% of overall land in US cities with the downtown sectors as much as 30%. Parking lots for regional malls can be as large as 60 acres.

When shopping was done in small towns many were tree lined streets. Then the first rounds of shopping centers popped up. This was the beginning of paving over more of paradise. If there were any trees included at all, they were a few around the edge, similar to parsley around the pig.

As the economic down turn continued, stores closed and shopping centers began operating with 30% occupancy. Land developers, without respect or knowledge about our planet, decide a new shopping area will be an economic fix. Another paradise is paved over and the old shopping center with all its acres of parking remains as a heatsink, with runoff complications. People from every area of the surrounding Pittsburgh and eastern Ohio areas had conversation after conversation on this very aspect of too much pavement / too few trees. Many spoke of activities previously enjoyed in the old treed neighborhoods that are totally lost now. Much disgust was expressed that the shopping center owners
are not accountable on their own or aren’t held accountable by the governing body of that area. The eyesore of acres of unused pavement was unsettling. The price of doing business was to turn a blind spot to the blemish in their neighborhoods. People were quite passionate in their outrage that companies have no accountability for what they leave behind. Some of the richest companies built a new store down the road and leaving the acres of pavement and original building as heatsinks and eyesores, this repeatedly was stated as discouraging and upsetting.

It can be changed, some places have included specifications in the building permit that mandates that in 15 years (as a tree reaches maturity) each shopping center needs to have 20-50% of the paved area be treed. Anyone in any of the building or engineering trades knows that specifications are merely items that are signed back as exceptions. It takes time and a lot of push to get good ideas to become standard practice.

People do understand that changing political elements to influence the business community takes time. We need trees now! This brings you back to the task at hand, excite them to be picking out trees and digging holes before the month is over. Sooner and more are even better. Impel them to take the action they can control – their own.

When a neighborhood converts to a tree Mecca with trees, trees and more trees, this may do more to prompt actions to have businesses follow suit than anything else. Lead by example. Many times is it stated on the closing scene of the Curb Appeal show, someone stating now that part of neighborhood is treed and landscaped they need to do the same to keep pace with the neighbors. You can stir them to create the first step by spelling it out, eliminating the maybe ifs; ready to put one foot on the shovel and plant the tree.

All the changes we make conservation-wise in the future may be for naught if we don’t eat the carbon already in place. The polar bears will thank you and you will thank yourself. When the question is raised ‘why did the population not implement the single most cost effective way to eat carbon when they could.’, you can proudly say you did spread the message and planted your own trees.

Beauty increases, stress eases, utility bills stop skyrocketing, property values increase and carbon eating is in progress. You planted trees! You encouraged others to plant trees. When you look into those Polar Bear eyes, you will know you have made a difference to their future.

References:

Prow, Tina, “The Power of Trees”, Human Environmental Research Laboratory at University of Illinois.
Nowak, David J., “Benefits of Community Trees”, Brooklyn Trees, USDA Forest Service General Technical Report.
American Forests, “The Case for Greener Cities”, Autumn 1999.
McAliney, Mike, Arguments for Land Conservation: Documentation for Sources for Land Resources Protection, Trust for Land, Sacramento CA, December 1993.
USDA Forest Service pamphlet #FS-363.
American Forests, “How Trees Fight Climate Change”, 1999.
Colorado Trees, “Urban Forests Improve Our Air”.
Nowak, D.J., USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1994.
Schneider, S.H., The Changing Climate, American Scientific, Sept. 1989.
University of Washington, College of Forest Resources, Fact sheet #15.

Zoo Teens: A Summer Volunteer Program At The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

September 4, 2007 By admin 3 Comments

Zoo Teens: A Summer Volunteer Program At The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Laurie Machen and Jim Adams, Docents, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

The objective of the Zoo Teen program at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is to provide a fun and fulfilling educational experience for teens ages fourteen to seventeen. The teens volunteer one day per week doing a
variety of jobs in various areas of the zoo. The Zoo Teen program started over 35 years ago with approximately 50 Teens, and it’s grown and expanded tremendously through the years.
The Zoo Teen program is an eight week volunteer program that begins in June and ends in August. From experience, high absenteeism made it more practical to end the program the second week of August and cancel the program on July 4th. The program runs seven days a week with the Teens working the same day each week with as allowance of two absences. Their day begins at 9:30 AM with a one hour lunch time. Each week there’s a behind the scenes tour of a different animal department or a class on animal handling or enrichment.

This allows the Teens to see how the zoo works away from the public and gives them an opportunity to talk to the animal keepers. During the last week, we throw a pizza party at lunch to thank the Teens.

The program is based primarily in the Kids Kingdom. Kids Kingdom exhibits mostly North American species with play areas interspersed throughout the area. The Teens rotate through a variety of duties each day.

Activities include helping to clean and care for the animals used in docent programs, helping care for the Education department’s animals, and helping to prepare and staff the Kid’s Kingdom’s contact yards (deer, kangaroos, goats and sheep). The Teens also help with Zoo Camp (children’s summer program), the Stingray touch tank in the Aquarium, exhibit guiding, touch tables, and animal handling. Special projects may be assigned when asked by the staff. The Zoo Teens have helped with observations during animal introductions or births. Zoo Teens are also invited to help staff our Haunted House during Zoo Boo (our Halloween extravaganza).

Our work begins on January 2nd and because of the popularity of the program, we don’t actively recruit for the program. The program seems to be advertised through “word of mouth” or by seeing our Teens at work. When asked about the program, prospective teens are told to call on January 2nd as the program fills quickly. The number of phone calls is tremendous and the program is often filled by January 3rd. The prospective teens call our Volunteer Coordinator who takes their name, address and age. When the list is compiled, it is given to the Zoo Teen chairperson. In 2007, we sent out 97 letters to prospective teens and had a waiting list of over 60 names by the end of the first week. Letters are sent out explaining the program and the commitment the prospective teens are asked to make, and who to call to set up an interview appointment. We have a Saturday in March set aside for interviews.

During this same period, letters are sent out to the current Zoo Teens asking whether or not they are returning to the program. Once the returning Zoo Teens have called in, we know how many new teens can be accepted into the program. We would like to keep our numbers between 100 110.

During the interviews, the teens are asked to fill out a number of forms that include: a general questionnaire to gauge their interests, a Release form, and a personal information questionnaire. Once the forms are filled out, the teens are interviewed by a docent.

The docent goes over their forms and gets more information where necessary. In the interview, the docent gets them to talk about their interests, why they want to be a Zoo Teen and what they expect to get out of the program. The docent gives the teen more information about our program, what is required (The Zoo Teen must purchase a T-shirt.), what their duties will be and answer any questions the teens may have about the program.

There are also docents in the waiting area answering any questions the parents may have. Many of the prospective teens are fourteen and this is their first experience applying for a job. They are nervous and shy. Our docents are very good in drawing the teens out, making them comfortable and getting them to talk about themselves and their animals. During the interview, we also check for allergies and other medical conditions that may interfere with their working at the zoo. If there is a question, a doctor’s written permission is required. After the interview, the docents give a brief evaluation of the teen and if there are any questions about their being a Zoo Teen, the Zoo Teen Chairperson or Volunteer Coordinator will talk to the parents or teen at greater length.

After the interview, letters are sent out to the prospective Zoo Teens saying they are accepted into the program. Enclosed with the letter are a uniform order form and a request for their two choices of days to work. When the order form is returned, uniforms are ordered, the schedule is made up and any handouts needed for the Orientation are copied.

A few weeks before the program begins, there is mandatory Orientation for all the Zoo Teens. At the Orientation, the Teens pick up their manual, T-shirts, purchase a zoo membership if they are not already members and fill out an emergency information card which is kept at the zoo. At this time, the schedule is given out. In 2007, we had approximately 130 Zoo Teens and we have found through experience that it is easier to make schedule changes when all the Teens are in the same room. Cookies and soda are served while the teens are getting organized. We’ve found that they don’t get as restless while waiting for everyone to finish.

After the Teens have received their uniforms and filled out the paperwork, we begin the Orientation. We go over the manual which includes the contact information of staff and docents they may need to contact, monographs on all the animals they will be working with, animal handling protocols, a map of the zoo and the Zoo Teen rules. The Zoo Teen rules have developed through the years from problems or issues that have arisen in the past. They also include zoo policy on uniform standards, use of body jewelry, etc. Two infractions of these rules could result in dismissal from the program. We also go over general information on where to report for work, changes in the program, and any other topics pertinent to the year’s program. After the Orientation, the returning Teens are dismissed and the new Zoo Teens and their parents are taken on a tour to show them the Docent’s office (Their headquarters for the summer.) and the Burrow, the docent animal holding area.

Once schedule changes are finalized, it is given to the Volunteer Coordinator. She makes up the Zoo Teen sign in book and makes the work assignments for each day. We have docent day captains assigned to each day who’s duties include supervising the Teen’s animal handling and getting the Teens to their behind the scenes tours.

During the first week of the program, an animal handling class is given to the Teens by an Education animal care person. It is a good refresher for the returning Teens and helps get the new Teens started.

We have created a popular program that is sometimes challenging and have found that by working together, the Zoo Teen committee, Volunteer Coordinator, docents and staff can overcome any problems and create an enjoyable and fulfilling experience for everyone. The Zoo Teen program at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium continues to grow and we hope that by providing this opportunity to the Teens, our goal of promoting conservation and animal awareness continues after the Teens have left the program. Several past Zoo Teens have gone on to be docents, zookeepers, animal or conservation educators and veterinarians.

From Birthwatch To Birthday Parties A Celebration Of Successful African Elephant Breeding At The Pittsburgh Zoo And PPG Aquarium

September 4, 2005 By admin Leave a Comment

From Birthwatch To Birthday Parties A Celebration Of Successful African Elephant Breeding At The Pittsburgh Zoo And PPG Aquarium
Cathy Gialloreto and Betty Borgman

Docent involvement with birth watches at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium began in the early 1990’s with the much anticipated birth of a reticulated giraffe. Our docent organization willingly made the commitment to help in any way possible. Our help was enlisted to birth watch in spans of time when keepers were not normally on duty.

We were not sure what the response from our docent membership would be, since this would involve duty during late nights into the morning hours. Schedules were prepared by the Volunteer Coordinator and the call went out for help to the general members of the Docent Council. The results were gratifying.

Docent Council members stepped up the plate, to staff a rigorous schedule of birth watching. Two docents were assigned per shift. The shifts were as follows:
4:00 -8:00 PM
8:00 PM – 12: AM
12:00 - 4:00 AM
4:00 -8:00 AM

Approximately a month before the anticipated birth, the watches began. At this point, docents were primarily serving as extra eyes for the Zoo staff. The training process was minimal. It included simple instructions on signs to watch for, and a list of emergency numbers to be called. Docents were set up in the giraffe building, sitting on lawn chairs and merely observing the giraffes in their sleeping quarters, during the evening and nighttime hours. A lot of coffee and hot chocolate helped volunteers make it through their shifts.

We hope that it was through some of our efforts, that the Zoo experienced four successful giraffe births.

Subsequent to the giraffe watching, we also helped with a watch on a bongo antelope.

In 1997, we began our experience with African Elephant birth watching after the arrival of a bull of breeding age, at our Zoo. With this acquisition, our Zoo was fortunate to begin a breeding program. With three viable females on site, hopes ran high for a successful pregnancy and birth. With the docent experience and dependability in the previous birth watches, a proven commodity, the Zoo knew they could once again depend on us for any help we could give.

Well, it worked! Our Zoo employed a natural breeding program using the “old fashioned” method, no high tech insemination techniques utilized here, for which the Zoo’s breeding bull, Jackson, was eternally grateful. Now the long wait, as the approximate 22 month pregnancy began. About two months before the expected birth, docents were once again called into action.

New observation methods and techniques were becoming available and docents were asked to play a role. A mandatory training procedure was established for any docent wishing to do elephant birth watching. Workshops were provided by the Zoo’s veterinary staff and keeper staff, giving us a much more sophisticated slant on what to watch for. Additionally, the observations would now be made via video monitor, so that there would be no disruption to the elephants’ normal nighttime activities. Extensive record keeping was employed, detailing all the movements and activities of the pregnant elephant every hour. Also, it was important that a video record was kept for keeper/veterinarian review the following day, and docents were responsible for starting the cameras rolling at the appropriate times. Emergency call procedures were enlisted to notify the veterinarian, Willie Thieson (Elephant Manager), General Curator, etc.

Everyone’s efforts were rewarded with the birth of a female calf (Victoria), born on September 12, 1999, who weighed in at 204 pounds. The public’s reaction was wonderful. About two weeks after Victoria’s birth, she and her mother, Moja, were put on limited display in the elephant building. The Zoo did not want to overwhelm either the new mom or calf, so the visiting public was escorted into the building in small groups by docents.

Understandably, the public’s interest was high, and very long lines ensued. Docents became ambassadors to those standing in the lines, attempting to make the wait a bit more bearable. We gave elephant facts, talked about the birth, helped with crowd control, anything to keep people interested. The wait was often over an hour long. With rare exceptions, good natured folks waited patiently to see our wonderful new addition to the herd.

Docents were also asked to continue on baby watch after the birth for approximately three weeks, to keep an eye on the new arrival and be prepared to summon assistance if a problem arose.

On September 19, 2000, we were once again fortunate to experience another successful birth with the arrival of Callee, a male calf, weighing in at 257 pounds. Once again we served on birth watch prior to birth, and providers of information after the birth, at both the outdoor and indoor exhibits.

Docents have served through three elephant birth watches, two of which resulted in successful births. A picture is worth a thousand words, and we would like to share a short video to illustrate what all the excitement was about.

With two elephant births one year apart, both in September, the Zoo celebrates both birthdays together. A baby elephant birthday party is held each year. The Zoo includes many exciting activities that day (Radio Disney, birthday cake for the public, Touch Tables, etc.) Docents once again serve. We’ve done everything from cutting cake for the public, to hosting special Touch Tables with elephant information and artifacts.

The highlight of the day is the presentation of a special birthday cake to the two calves. The special treat doesn’t last long and is thoroughly enjoyed by the youngsters.

The calves are now five and six years old and we feel extremely proud of the role docents played in helping the Zoo realize this rare achievement.

As a note, Jackson, the calves’ father, is back, after spending several years at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Hopefully, we will once again be called into service for birth watches in about two years.

PITTSBURGH ZOO & PPG AQUARIUM ELEPHANT HERD

Natasha (Tasha)
Born approx. 1979 in Africa
Matriarch
9,000 lbs.
(Female)

Savannah (Nan)
Born approx. 1982 in Africa
Mother of Callee
7,000 lbs.
(Female)

Moja
Born 1982 at the San Diego Wild
Mother of Victoria
6,200 lbs.
(Female)
Animal Park

Victoria
Born Sept. 12, 1999 at the
The first second generation
2,700 lbs
(Female)
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
calf born in US

Callee
Born Sept. 19, 2000 at the
2,700 lbs.
(Male)
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Jackson (Jack)
Born 1981 in Zimbabwe
Father to both calves
10,000 lbs.
(Male)

Willie’s Baby Elephant Birthday Cake
2 cups flour
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup apple butter
½ cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
4 cups of shredded carrots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix ingredients in the order listed. Pour into 2 greased
cake pans. Bake for 35 minutes. Cool completely and frost with your favorite icing.
(Tasty for people and elephants)

ZOO BOO: A Halloween Spook-Tacular

September 4, 2004 By admin Leave a Comment

ZOO BOO: A Halloween Spook-Tacular

Increased Participation Through Adaptation
Laurie Machen and Susan Weil
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, Pittsburgh PA

The Haunted House for the Zoo Boo event at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium has progressed through a huge evolution over the past 16 years. To date, it has become the major draw of the Zoo’s final and largest docent fund raising event of the year. At times, creativity seemed to take second place to a “mandatory” attitude for this event, however, by combining updated themes apart from normal Halloween traditions and with the enjoyment of the entire family in mind, the Pittsburgh Docents have continually set a new path to make this mundane project exciting for volunteer involvement.

To begin, Halloween is VERY big in Pittsburgh, so looking back, it should be no surprise to anyone that in 1987, when several docents decided to get together and celebrate Halloween at the Zoo, that it had the possibility to turn into the 15,000 to 20,000 person extravaganza that it is today. Beginning as a one afternoon event in the then Children’s Zoo, it has expanded into a six to eight evening spectacular involving such areas in the zoo as crafts for the kids in the Discovery Pavilion, train rides and a docent decorated train yard (not scary for the very little kiddies), Aquarium events, a docent sponsored raffle (proceeds helping to cover costs), local celebrity story telling and many other exciting events. Candy and treats are also handed out at various locations throughout the Zoo (not Docent sponsored).

This year, to continue with Zoo Boo’s ever-constant evolution, the entire zoo will be open (for the first time) for the enjoyment of all scary creatures. Considering the fact that many people have not had the opportunity to experience the zoo with darkened skies over head, we are hoping this drastically adds to the drama and creepy Halloween experience.

In the beginning, the only place available to decorate was a small concession stand at the back of the Children’s Zoo that was closed for the season. Approximately 20 docents performed their first Zoo Boo setup on that cold October night, transforming an empty popcorn machine into a monster’s habitat, `digging’ a small graveyard, and incorporating every inch of unused space into some sort of scary encounter. The first Zoo Boo was a hit not only with the zoo, but also with the public and fellow docents.

For several years, Zoo Boo prevailed in that lonely concession stand, expanding slightly to include a small red barn. When Dr. Barbara Baker joined the Pittsburgh Zoo, as it’s new director, she saw the possibilities of Zoo Boo becoming a large event and a zoo tradition. The Pittsburgh Docents were then given permission to use the current Zoo Boo haunted house location, the Niches (Reptile) Building.

It took many years of trial and error, of gaining and losing help and actually testing the public and the EVENT itself to try and gain a comfortable level of control on the ever-growing Zoo Boo Event. Docents were used everywhere at first, from manning the ticket booths, to handing out candy, to working the haunted house.

Organization was lacking and finally, it became evident that someone had to have total control of different aspects and events. It was decided that the Docents would have total control over the Haunted House and decorating the Train yard, and the Zoo would staff the ticket booths, supply vendors and hand out candy.

The Haunted House has resided in the Niches (Reptile) Building for many years now, in which its naturally creepy, dark interior lends itself wonderfully to many a variety of themed areas. Turn the lights out in this building, and even the bravest of adults have reservations about proceeding forward. At first, the building was decorated with Halloween decorations, which was a large undertaking compared to the small venue of previous years. The “themed areas” idea had not yet emerged there was way too much to think about in the size adjustment alone of the now rather large project.

Over the years, the Docent Zoo Boo Committee became much more organized. When the group became accustomed to the size and scope of work, they began once again to spread their “creative” wings and gave the house a “Theme”. The House was broken down into 10 or so different areas that were designed, built and totally funded by the Pittsburgh Docent Council.

The physical aspects of creating the Haunted House cumulate in October with the setup of the Haunted House lasting 3 days, 9am to 9pm. The event runs for two weekends, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, with an occasional rental or two during the week thrown in. Tear down of the house goes much quicker with it being 1 day, 9 am to 4 pm. The hardest part about obtaining commitment to participate in Zoo Boo setup is getting the volunteers to take time off from their `real jobs’ during the daytime. Understandably, a lot of people do not want to sacrifice their highly valued vacation time for a volunteer project. We always seem to get enough help to get by, but it is always a bit of a worry.

For many years the Haunted House was much scarier and gorier than the House of today. For a while they accommodated the little kiddies by having a special night (Thursday) in which they left the lights on in the Haunted House and used less frightening costumes. Docent tastes seemed to vary: some liked the scary Haunted House and scaring kids, others had a definite mind set that scaring little kids was not a good thing to do. So there it was a volunteer group divided. How do we accommodate everyone?

Our next endeavor, after carefully watching the age group of the Zoo’s clientele for this event, was to switch to “light-fright” themes, which was overwhelmingly praised and applauded by parents, patrons and zoo members. Locally, there are many haunted houses at Halloween time around the greater Pittsburgh area. However, we seem to have a captive audience with the fact that we are the only Haunted House geared solely for the twelve and under age group, which means little to no gore or distasteful decorations.

Although the Zoo was given accolades of praise from parents and the public for the “light-fright” switch, some fellow docents initially resisted, with the thoughts that a Haunted House had to be more traditional and scary.

Some did not want to participate. Patience and perseverance prevailed, and we have come up with what we think is the perfect mix to keep everyone happy. The Committee’s new goal became to expose the kids to a healthy mixture of old time Traditional Halloween, an Artsy and whimsical Halloween and a Fun Halloween.

Examples of how the House now includes a mixture of these areas are: Traditional/ scary (ex: Graveyard, Dracula’s Castle), Artsy/ whimsical (ex: Nightmare Before Christmas, Cirque Du Soliel type areas), and Fun (ex: Ugly Beauty Pageant, Scooby-Doo, The Grinch, Honey I Shrunk the Kids) in its yearly design. We assign a `theme’ each year, which really is only loosely followed it is used more as a marketing tool to motivate and promote docent involvement.

We rarely seemed to be short of help when it came to working the Haunted House in costume. It seems that a large majority of our volunteer group had some sort of mask, cape, old wig or jammies just lying around waiting to come to life. However, some of us wanted more than that. For some, wearing a rubber mask and standing in a dark hidden area waiting for their opportunity to jump out of darkness is great. The public loves it, it works well, it’s easy, and we still use this technique. However, we wanted to incorporate more than that, and we sensed other people might like another option also. This option came in the form of `pumped up’ acting, more elaborate costuming and adding the use of theatrical makeup (SO much better than the five and dime store type that everyone was SO frustrated with in trying to apply). We are now in the process of encouraging people to “go all out” with their costuming and “hamming it up” when it comes to their acting. One way we’ve found to get people to let loose is so simple, yet many do not realize, “Guess what? You have a costume and makeup/ or mask on…. No one knows you!”

To create more interest and provide motivation towards the event, we decided to further promote the theatrical makeup application techniques. First we tried advertising a makeup class to be held at the zoo. Very little interest arose, so we did not hold the class. Much more interest arose at the event itself, when a handful of `Docent actors’ did use the new makeup, we heard allot more of, “I want to learn how to do that.” So, knowing that convenience is the key to making something happen, we got permission to `makeup’ some of our fellow Docent creatures during one of our general meetings. This way we knew we had a captive audience, no one had to make a special trip and it also provided some entertainment during a meeting. Even if it sparks the sincere interest of even one `victim’, it was well worth the effort.

To provide adequate `costumed coverage’ for the haunted house, we have found that a minimum of twenty docents works, but thirty or so is better. The Pittsburgh Zoo and Docent Council also allows kids from the summer’s Zoo Teen’s program to participate in costume in the haunted house, with more stringent rules applying to the `younger goblins’. A seasoned veteran docent is never far away when Zoo Teens are in the Haunted House, keeping a watchful eye over them for their safety and the publics’.

Motivating fellow docents to either stay involved or to become an integral part of the process, as you can imagine, has been somewhat of a challenge throughout the years. The biggest two factors in keeping fellow volunteers happy, seems to be: keeping involvement in the event fun, and keeping everyone busy. No one ever seems to complain about working too hard our biggest complaints have been from idle hands and minds showing up at setup and saying, “What can I do? Or, “We don’t know what to do.”

The new Docent class is also a very important asset to the Zoo Boo Event every year. Fresh minds bring in new ideas, but more importantly, they are lacking what many veteran Docents have: Zoo Boo Burnout. The new class is given a half hour presentation, which includes an explanation of what Zoo Boo is all about, motivational handouts, photos, costume examples and a map of the current years design. They are highly encouraged to get involved in any or all stages of the event. Last year, we had over 50% participation from both the new class and the entire Docent group as a whole. That is truly phenomenal, considering that some years people ran in the other direction when you said those 2 words ZOO BOO.

With Pittsburgh weather having a record of being constantly unpredictable in October, the Zoo Boo event is unfortunately, at the mercy of Mother Nature. Some evenings in October could be 65 degrees… others 25 degrees. The weather is one factor that we, even the most dedicated of Zoo Boo creatures cannot control. Zoo Boo is a total weather driven event, and attendance reflects that fact. But here’s the difference we’ve noticed the past few years —— with all the changes we keep on making —–all the progressions we, the Zoo Boo Committee, has promoted and endured, must be noticeable. We say that because we have noticed, that even on our one rain day last year, we saw a much higher than normal level of attendance (for a rain day) than we had previously seen. Patrons have actually said to us, “I know it’s raining, but we heard how great this was and just had to get down here to see this!” That to us means, as we say with ZOO BOO pride, “We must be doing something right!” Our attendance for the 2003 event was up 8% from the previous year, even with the rain day.

It has also now become apparent that docent participation and attitude towards the Haunted House has increased due to the “mixed light-fright” switch. We now have greater participation in all aspects ranging from committee membership (I actually had someone ASK to be on the committee this year!) to the design, build, tear down, acting, and home projects phases. We are very happy to currently report that instead of the usual begging for help at the Docent general meetings, we actually are now having people signing on for the next years event before the current years event is even over!

The bottom line from all of our trials and errors is: We have found that Showing and Doing works much better than Telling and trying to Convince. But the Most Important Factor we have found in getting repeat help from year to year for ZOO BOO is: We Make it fun… and we have fun… creating and interacting with each other
and the public. Add the fact that we are helping to raise a lot of money for the enrichment of the Zoo and the animals that we all care so much about….

And so we ask you,

“How does it get any better than that?”