1 Every year we think things couldn’t get better, and then they do! The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium continues to be the number one attraction in central Ohio thanks in large part to the tremendous support from our community. The tax levy funds we receive from the generous Franklin County residents help us to grow and expand our programs, offer family memory-making opportunities for our guests and guarantee the exemplary care our animals receive. Our partnerships with local businesses are critical to our continued success as well. We are also grateful to our core visitors – members who come on a regular basis and support us through their memberships. In 2011 we exceeded our previous record of family memberships and now can boast that over 70,000 families have memberships to our Zoo. We constantly strive to “hit it out of the park” with outstanding services to our guests. From comfortable places to rest in the shade to sparkling clean restrooms– we want guests to enjoy every aspect of their visit to the Zoo. Please look for our newly formed “Nationwide Zoo Crew.” During our busy season, Zoo Crew members roam the park looking for ways to make guests’ experience even better by playing games with children or helping guests with their trays at the Congo River Grill. When we consider our credo – touch the heart to teach the mind – we want to continue to give guests an experience that opens their eyes and helps them to see and care about our natural world. With that in mind we offered many opportunities to get up close and personal with our animals. All of our animals at the Zoo are ambassadors for their relatives in the wild. At our Animal Encounters Village, visitors enjoyed up close and personal visits with everything from a blue-tongued skink to pink Chilean flamingos. Guests can even get nose to nose with penguins taking a dip in their especially designed pool at Animal Encounters Village! There is always something new to see at the Zoo and in 2011 we welcomed many new arrivals to our animal family. Hank “the Tank”, the largest Asian elephant in North America, joined us in December. Orphaned moose calves rescued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game arrived over the summer. Three fishing cats born in late July delighted crowds with their kitten-like antics, splashing in and out of the water under the very watchful eye of their mother. The triplets were the first born to our pair of fishing cats and added important diversity to the world’s fishing cat gene pool. We were excited to welcome three baby kiwis; flightless birds about the size of a chicken and native to New Zealand. Only seven kiwis have been hatched in North America in the last five years and three of those at our Zoo! As we said hello, we also said goodbye. Three young rehabilitated manatees that were in our care were returned to Florida and three new manatees in need of extra attention and rehabilitation are now being cared for by our animal experts. The moves were part of the Zoo’s participation in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Program. Participating in animal conservation programs is part of our vision – we strive to support these important programs so our children and grandchildren can see these animals in person, and enjoy learning about them too. We were so excited about the launch of a new show, “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown” on ABC every Saturday morning across the country. The award winning “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild” is a continued source of pride for us. Jungle Jack Hanna’s Base Camp is a newly built addition in Asia Quest and is featured in our television shows which are filmed here in central Ohio and throughout the world. We try to be ready for anything, but nothing could have prepared us for a phone call we received on October 18, 2011. Law enforcement and citizens call us on a daily basis looking for advice on caring or handling exotic wild animals, but this was like nothing the world has ever seen before. The exotic wild animals that were released by an irresponsible owner put our team to the test in Zanesville, Ohio. We are proud of how the team handled the situation as they tried to make sense of this tragedy that affected people around the world. On behalf of zoos across the state, we have participated in educating government officials so legislation could be written to prevent this tragedy from happening in the future. We are honored that our community looks to us for advice and expertise in this area, and we look to always be the source for accurate information on the animals of the world. We are looking forward to 2012 and the opening of Stingray Bay - a fun, interactive experience featuring those gentle creatures; stingrays. Located in Jungle Jack’s Landing, Stingray Bay will give guests the opportunity to touch cownose and southern stingrays. Looking farther down the road, exciting plans continue to evolve on Safari Africa! opening in 2014. We want to again say thank you to our generous donors, partners, members, visitors and neighbors. Without them, we couldn’t do what we do – thank you for all you do for the Zoo! Sincerely, Dale Schmidt Jack Hanna President and CEO Director Emeritus 2 ANIMALS 1 aNIMAL CARE Hellbenders The eastern hellbender is widely regarded as a species Neotropical Migratory Birds in decline and is listed as an endangered species in Ohio. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium collaborates Nineteen non-releasable songbirds were received from with Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Wilds, wildlife rehabilitators and found a new home in our North Oglebay Good Zoo and field researchers to re-establish America Songbird Aviary. Since 1998 more than 220 non- Ohio populations of eastern hellbenders. In 2011 efforts releasable songbirds have come to roost at the Columbus focused on successful larval rearing as a first step towards Zoo and Aquarium. reintroduction and release in 2012. Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Freshwater Mussel Conservation and Research Three young manatees estimated to be 1 ½ years of age Mussels are propagated and studied at the Columbus were transported to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Zoo and Aquarium’s off-site Freshwater Mussel November. Cold stress affected two of the animals and the Conservation and Research Center in partnership with other one was orphaned. Three of our existing manatees the Wilds, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ohio Department were rehabilitated and went back to Florida to be released. of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and The Ohio The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of eleven State University. In 2011, we conducted our third release manatee facilities nationally (one of two facilities outside of of around 2,000 northern riffleshell mussels in Big Darby Florida) to rehabilitate and release manatees back into the Creek. This is the largest release of a federally listed wild. endangered species in Ohio. Ape Surrogacy Program The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium continues to be a leader in ape surrogacy programs. We have produced and distributed birth management, hand rearing, and surrogacy procedures and protocols to zoological institutions worldwide for gorillas, bonobos and orangutans. Eastern Plains Garter Snakes Thirteen state endangered eastern plains garter snakes were released in 2011, bringing the total number of releases to 207. This is the first state program for a reptile species. SECORE Significant Births and Hatches SExual COral REproduction is an organization that 3 North Island brown kiwis collaborates with other zoos and aquariums throughout 2 Humboldt penguins the world towards coral conservation and particularly 6 American flamingos focuses on sexual reproduction of the coral as the 1 Malayan sun bear best method to preserve genetic diversity. SECORE 1 black duiker also provides tools and information for coral livestock 3 fishing cats management for zoos and aquariums. In 2010 a coral 32 eastern plains garter snakes conservation facility was constructed in Curacao. 4 Turkmenian markhors (ANIMAL CARE CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE) Significant Acquisitions 1 female western lowland gorilla 3 female Caribbean manatees 1 male Asiatic elephant Caribbean manatee Markhor kids “Hank” the new Asiatic elephant 2 (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE) North Island Brown Kiwi The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is the first institution in North America to successfully hatch three North Island CLASS SPECIMENS SUSBPSEPCEIECSIE/S ENDSAPNECGIEERSED CITIES I CITIES II brown kiwi in one year. We were the third North American MAMMALS 480 88 11 23 26 zoo to successfully hatch kiwi since the first hatching at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in 1975. The Columbus BIRDS 414 126 3 9 29 Zoo’s conservation commitment is demonstrated through REPTILES 312 78 7 7 33 the operation of a dedicated propagation facility and FISH 4880 156 0 0 0 support of field conservation efforts. AMPHIBIANS 106 11 0 1 2 Additional Research Projects INVERTEBATES 4018 49 2 1 3 A variety of research projects approved by the Zoo CORAL/ANEMONES 69 2 in 2011 reflect the diverse animal population. The TOTALS 10, 210 577 23 41 95 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium staff led or participated in seventeen new research projects including collecting biological samples, conducting behavioral observations, aNIMAL PROGRAMS assessing reproductive variables and evaluating nutritional data and husbandry techniques. Provided husbandry and enrichment to more than 150 animals. aNIMAL HEALTH Conducted 1,219 promotional programs. Assisted Jack Hanna with over 70 speaking engage- Animal health staff members are collaborating with Ohio ments and public appearances. State University College of Veterinary Medicine faculty in Presented 319 outreach programs reaching 35,900 teaching zoological medicine courses, training students students. and conducting graduate research at the Zoo and the Assisted in the coordination of the “Jack Hanna’s Home Wilds. Currently, graduate students are conducting for the Holidays” and “A Look at the Wilds” television research on raccoon ecology at the Zoo, metabolomics in specials produced by WBNS 10TV. freshwater mussels at the mussel facility, and mathematical Appeared on local and national television over 100 modeling of disease ecology at the wildlife /domestic times. animal interface at the Wilds. Operated the Animal Encounters Village for a third Columbus Zoo veterinary staff provided surgical support season and added features from shows to penguin for the USFWS radio-tracking research of spectacled encounters. eiders in Alaska to learn more about the seagoing ducks Assisted the Wilds in the creation of an Animal En- migration habits. counters Tour by bringing animals, including one of the cheetah ambassadors, to the Wilds each week. Kicked off our first annual Fighting Faces calendar featuring kids with terminal illnesses and Columbus Zoo animal ambassadors. Provided another successful season of Animals on Safari shows . Grizzly bear enrichment Penguins at Animal Encounters Village North Island brown kiwi chick 3 CONSERVATION and nestling in the Americas. It was also the first active harpy eagle nest ever recorded in Belize. Thought to be Powerful Partnerships locally extinct in Belize and extirpated from Mexico and By collaborating with like-minded organizations, the Zoo most of Central America north of Panama, harpy eagles are can maximize funding, expand communication, and benefit designated as “near threatened” by the IUCN and are listed from the expertise of others while sharing our own. The Zoo as “critically endangered” in Belize. provides annual support to: Amphibian Ark; Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG); Human-Wildlife Conflict Conservation Highlights Collaboration (HWCC); International Elephant Foundation Year of the Turtle (IEF); International Iguana Foundation (IIF); International In recognition of 2011 Year of the Turtle, the Rhino Foundation (IRF); International Rhino Keeper Conservation Committee established the Turtle Association (IRKA); Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership Conservation Fund. In addition to our on-going support (MRP); Ohio Wildlife Center (OWC); Pan African Sanctuary for the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), an additional grant Alliance (PASA); Polar Bears International (PBI); Snow was awarded to prevent the extinction of the Sundarbans Leopard Trust (SLT); Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA). mangrove terrapin in Bangladesh. Recognized as a distinct species in 2007, the Sundarbans terrapin was immediately Valued Partners Visit the Zoo determined to be dangerously close to extinction. Nesting Dr. Lisa Dabek, the founder and director of the Tree is extremely rare, with only a few scattered survivors. The Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) in Papua New Zoo’s contribution is helping to establish a captive breeding Guinea, visited the Zoo and met with employees, volunteers program in Bangladesh in cooperation with the Bangladesh and Colo Club members. The Zoo has supported Dr. Forest Department. Two breeding ponds have been Dabek’s work with local communities on the Huon Peninsula constructed in a National Park near Dhaka. since 1998. The TKCP recently reached a major milestone with the official announcement of 187,000 acres of community-owned forest protected in perpetuity by the Papua New Guinea national government. The future is now bright for the endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroo and the rich diversity of wildlife and habitats found on the Huon Peninsula. Rapid Response When assistance is needed quickly, the Zoo can respond in less than one week through our Emergency Conservation Protecting Icons of the African Savanna Fund. Grants in 2011 provided emergency funds to Partnering with the International Crane Foundation (ICF), the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental the Zoo is supporting on-going work to stop population Education (BFREE) based in the Maya Mountains. When declines of the grey crowned crane and the black the BFREE avian technician team discovered an active crowned crane. Cranes are loved across the world, yet harpy eagle nest in late 2010 in the Bladen Nature Reserve, their special value leads to increased demand for display they turned to the Zoo for support to begin immediate and illegal removal from the wild to supply this demand. monitoring of the most northerly known nest, breeding pair Once considered the most secure of African cranes, their populations have declined by 50% and 25% respectively. Although habitat loss is a significant threat for these species, trade in live cranes from the wild to facilities around the world is believed to be the main cause for their dramatic decline. The Zoo also supports ICF work in Russia to protect important wetland habitat for the red-crowned crane and white-naped crane. (CONSERVATION CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE) African lion Polar bear Iguana 4 CONSERVATION/ EDUCATION 5 Partners (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE) in Training and Capacity-Building for Species Conservation CONSERVATION Each year, Zoo staff attends and participates in numerous international conferences and meetings. The Conservation The annual Rwandan Fête benefitting Partners in Committee also provides travel grants to colleagues in Conservation (PIC) raised a record breaking $245,000. All developing countries whose contributions to the global proceeds support conservation and humanitarian projects conversation about wildlife and habitat conservation are vital. in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) During 2011, grants and sponsorships were provided for: that included the following results: Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation Paid annual salaries for both Rwandan and Congolese (launched in Columbus in 1995) hosted in 2011 veterinarians that provided live-saving field care for the by the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle – sponsored endangered mountain gorillas. participants from Guatemala, Borneo and the U.S. Funded annual salaries for gorilla trackers and members International Sea Turtle Symposium, San Diego – of anti-poaching teams. sponsored participants from Guatemala and Sri Planted 100,078 trees as part of a reforestation project in Lanka the DRC at the cost of only 13¢ per tree. Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) annual Funded a beekeeping project that is providing 1,325 meeting of sanctuary managers, U.K. people with modern hives and beekeeping equipment. Training in Human-Wildlife Conflict The hives enable beekeepers to be economically Transformation by the Human-Wildlife Conflict independent so they do not use forest resources to feed Collaboration (HWCC) – sponsored participants their families and modern equipment makes it possible from Uganda and U.S. for beekeepers to no longer accidentally start forest fires. Beekeepers are now part of the conservation initiatives Ohio Amphibian Research and Conservation that are saving the forest and wildlife that live there. Conference Funded a livestock program for 255 men that gave them Giraffe: The Forgotten Megafauna – held in an economic alternative to poaching. Namibia, Africa Funded a program to remove 800 pounds of trash from AZA Otter SSP Education Outreach Development the mountain gorillas’ habitat in the Virunga mountains Meeting, held in Columbus, Ohio of Rwanda. Members of an ex-poacher association were Vernal Pool Education and Conservation – hosted hired to remove the trash. by the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) – held Provided annual operating expenses for the Ubumwe in Columbus, Ohio Community Center that enables physically and mentally International Otter Colloquium – held in Italy challenged children to reach their full potential. International Conference on Bear Research and Management – sponsored participant from Malaysia Borneo Carnivore Symposium – held in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo For a complete list of field conservation projects supported by the Zoo in 2011, visit the website at: http://contribute.columbuszoo.org/ conservation/conservation_reports/default.aspx North American river otter Green sea turtle Performance at the Rwandan Fête 6 education Zoo Day was held for participants and their family members in the Chase Classroom Safari programs conducted at various Columbus City Schools. Here’s a bit of what was new in the Education department in 2011: The second annual Zoombezi Science Day reached 1,288 students. Adult Workshops S pecial Scout Days 183 adult volunteers donated 2,124 hours of service to the Zoo. Family Workshops Family Night Hikes Led one teen trip to Costa Rica with nine students and Conservation Challenge (three local schools raised over one teacher trip to Australia in conjunction with Ashland $3,000 for conservation) University for 11 teachers. ZooTots Stroller Program Zoo Adventurers School’s Out Camps – includes Columbus Day and Martin Luther King Day Gift certificates New registration system ZooKids Headstart Interactive stories Little Explorers Base Camp Puppet shows Worked with The Ohio State University to lead a Certified Wild Encounter Tours Interpretive Guide workshop; students who participated were certified through the National Association for Interpretation. Other items of note: Offered programs for 71,158 people. The Zoo Biology course, in partnership with The Ohio State University, took place during January and February with Zoo From Memorial Day through Labor Day the interpretive staff members taking turns teaching each week. staff had 231,233 guest interactions. Two staff members participated in National Network for 307 puppet shows were performed at My House, Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation. interacting with 22,609 people. Hired two interns through Together Green Youth, a Scholarships were awarded to 14 children in the amount partnership between the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, of $1,885. National Audubon Society and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife There were 381 teens in the ZooAide program who Service. volunteered for over 24,338 hours. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Distance Learning program was awarded the Center for Interactive Learning & Collaboration Pinnacle Award for outstanding educational programming through videoconferencing. Under the new Chase Classroom Safari structure, 5,459 students in Columbus City Schools were reached. Students arriving for a Zoo field trip ZooKids Baby gorilla 7 ZOO ADMINISTRATION 8