APRIL 2020 VOLUME 23, ISSUE 2
P U B L I S H E D F O R F R I E N D S O F R O G E R W I L L I A M S PA R K Z O O
We miss
you!
welcome! By Jeremy Goodman, DVM Executive Director, RWP Zoo and RI Zoological Society
I often talk about the Zoo staff, animals, donors, members and visitors as a family and refer to Roger Williams Park Zoo as YOUR Zoo. Now more than ever I want to reiterate those sentiments. As a Zoo family, we are tackling the many challenges we are facing during the COVID-19 health crisis. The Zoo will remain closed until we are confident that it is safe to have all of you begin visiting with us once again. With the Zoo being closed as we enter our peak attendance season – a time that is vital to our operational budget – we know we will have additional challenges ahead. If you and your family are able to make a gift to our emergency fund, the extra support will make such an important difference at this critical time. Our two most important considerations are for the health and safety of our animals as well as the health of our staff and their families. Our amazing veterinary and animal keeper teams are at the Zoo daily attending to the needs of each animal and our wonderful operations team continues to work hard ensuring all systems and buildings at the Zoo are working and well maintained. Our staff, many working from home, continue to bring you video and posts of our animals as they go about their daily routines. Whether a one-time gift or a monthly donation, our zoo family really needs you now. It will give our animals everything they could ever need, will keep our staff employed, and will make sure the Zoo is ready for you when we can open again. If you’re able, please help. A gift of any size will make a difference. We truly hope to re-open as soon as we are permitted to do so. We have a wonderful summer ahead with a white alligator exhibit and the opportunity to enjoy, through virtual reality, life under and on the sea. All of us at the Zoo know this is a stressful time for you, your family, and the community. We hope that once we are all safe you will come back to the Zoo to relax, spend time outdoors, and enjoy all that wildlife and wild places like Roger Williams Park Zoo have to offer. I look forward to seeing you at the Zoo.
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A TRIP to
It was the opportunity of a lifetime – a trip with Lou Perrotti,
Panama The Panamanian
Roger Williams Park Zoo’s director of conservation to visit the
golden frog is
rainforest of Panama. Together a group of 30 travelers learned
a species of
about the plight of endangered species as well as the work
toad endemic
Lou and his partners in Panama are doing to save endangered
to Panama.
species.
They inhabit the
Take a look at some of what they saw in the week the group explored Panama.
streams along the mountainous slopes of the
Geoffroy’s tamarin - small
Cordilleran cloud
monkey found in Panama and
forests of west-
Colombia. It is predominantly
central Panama.
black and white, with a reddish
This amphibian is listed as critically endangered, but may in
nape. This diurnal animal spends
fact have been extinct in the wild since 2007. Individuals have
most of its time in trees, but
been collected for breeding in captivity in a bid to preserve
does come down to the ground
the species. While habitat loss, climate change and pollution
occasionally. It lives in groups
all contribute to the threat, researchers have found that a
that most often number between
fungal disease known as Chytridiomycosis (chytrid) is proving
three and five individuals, and
exceptionally deadly and is believed to be the major cause of
generally include one or more
amphibian’ decline. Experts agree that the only way to prevent
adults of each sex.
the most threatened of these There is nothing like
species from becoming extinct is
seeing a wild sloth
to breed them in captivity, until the
in the rainforest.
chytrid epidemic either runs its
This is a true thrill
course, or methods can be found to
for travelers. The
eradicate it.
next best option
Between 2007-2010 Perrotti led
is to visit our two
efforts to establish a program
sloths, Fiona and
to efficiently breed and provide
Wesley who are
invertebrates as an excellent food
expecting their first
source to help save the golden frog
baby in the zoo’s
and other species of amphibians.
rainforest.
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Roger Williams Park Zoo is committed to the plight of all endangered species. Enjoy this video and then watch PBS Nature on April 8 to see how we are working to save the New England Cottontail Rabbit.
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Kids’ Corner SPONSORED BY
Kids eat Free every Tuesday (with the purchase of an adult meal)
During the cold winter months, when temperatures drop and food sources are in short supply, some animals have a way of dealing with the changes. Hibernation is a deep sort of sleep that helps animals conserve energy and survive in the wintertime. These trivia questions may teach you a little bit more about hibernation! Black bears are known to gain up to 30 pounds per week before hibernating. Why do animals pack on the pounds before hibernation? a. They can’t sleep without having a good meal first b. They use the stored fat to keep their bodies energized while they hibernate c. Gaining weight keeps them warm enough to fall into a deep sleep d. They want to get as large as possible to fill up and insulate their dens
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Some animals like salamanders, crocodiles and some types of hedgehog rest during the hot and dry summer months, and not during the winter. Similar to hibernation, this is called: a. Invernation c. Estivation
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b. Opposation d. Snoozation
Which of these things generally happen to an animal’s body while it is hibernating? a. b. c. d.
Their heart rate slows down Their body temperature decreases Their rate of breathing slows down All of the above
Since snakes are cold blooded, they need the warmth of the sun to keep their bodies at a healthy temperature. During cold months, some snakes will gather together in groups (sometimes thousands and thousands of them) and rest. This is known as: a. Brumating c. Dormanting
Celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd) with this fun collage! Use magazine clippings and scraps to make it your own!
b. Slitherating d. Serpentating Answers located on bottom of page.
• Cardboard • Scissors • Old magazines • Pencil • Glue • Parental Supervision
Directions: 1. Start by cutting out a piece of cardboard for your background about 12-inches by 14 inches. On top of this, place a cardboard circle around 10 inches in diameter. 2. Using a pencil, sketch part of the world onto your circle. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Use a map to help you if you’d like. 3. Look through old magazines and tear out (with permission) pages that have lots of black, green and blue on them. 4. Trace your circle Earth onto your cardboard background then remove it. Tear little pieces of the black colored magazine pages and glue them around your cardboard backing, leaving the circle empty in the middle for your planet Earth. 5. Glue down scraps of blue and white magazine paper to your cardboard planet Earth until it looks the way you want, then glue the cardboard circle in place on the black board.
Try this: Try to make other planets using the same methods—you could even create a whole paper collage solar system!
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Each Spring, the natural world wakes up from the chill of Winter and many animals wake up from hibernation or return from their long migration journeys. Can you identify the animals pictured below? Answers located on bottom of page.
Wild Trivia Answers: 1: B • 2: C • 3: D • 4: A; Guess Zoo Answers: 1. Black Bear 2. White-Tailed Deer 3. Ducklings 4. Eastern Gray Squirrel 5. New England Cottontail 6. Honey Bee 7. Lamb 8. Skunk
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(from iheartcraftythings)
Supplies you will need:
HIBERNATION TRIVIA
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Earth Day Collage
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WELCOME SSA
New Food Service Vendor Providence, RI has long been known as one of the top food cities in the US. Now some of that culinary magic is coming to the Roger Williams Park Zoo! We are pleased to announce we have a new food service partner, Service Systems Association, better known as SSA, who will be providing very tasty, food experiences for our guests. For those of you who enjoyed sitting and watching the elephants at the Serengeti Café – wait until you taste the sumptuous offerings at the newly refurbished Tuskers Café. SSA is also re-inventing the Sweet Shop – think, pizza. Nourish 401, formerly known as Wilderness Café, will offer appetizing healthy food. Equally delicious will be offerings from a host of food carts throughout the Zoo, appealing to everyone from little ones to their great-grandparents. People dining in the Zoo will be treated to meals with fresh ingredients prepared just for them. Also, in the Zoo’s on-going effort to further our green practices, meals will no longer be served in disposable packaging with disposable cutlery. Instead SSA will use eco-friendly flatware and dinner ware. In your feedback you, our valued members and guests, said that we had to step up our game and provide enjoyable, healthy and diverse food offerings. We listened, and you will be pleased with the changes. Make sure to try them out and let us know what you think! Your Zoo has always been a great place to spend time with family and friends as well as for education and conservation. Now we are also a place where you can enjoy some edible delights! Bon Appetit!
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ANNUAL MEDIA SPONSORS!
Please follow us online and share your photos and stories! Roger Williams Park Zoo is supported and managed by the Rhode Island Zoological Society and is owned by the City of Providence Editorial Roger Williams Park Zoo Department of Marketing and Public Relations Corrie Ignagni Diane S. Nahabedian Beth Mattera Pincince Sam Vaccaro
Designer Sara Beatrice Tandem Designworks Photo Credits Roger Williams Park Zoo
WILD is an online publication of the Rhode Island Zoological Society, Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island 02907-3659 For membership information call (401) 785-3510 x375 or visit rwpzoo.org.
2020 RHODE ISLAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Officers Maribeth Q. Williamson, Chair Howard Merten, Vice Chair Sandra L. Coletta, Treasurer Margaret Ferguson, Secretary
Liz Rollins Mauran Jeffrey Mello John J. Palumbo Steven M. Parente Dr. Karen E. Silva
Board of Trustees Kristen Adamo Nancy Allen Douglas Caniglia Barbara Cottam Teresa A. Crean, AICP Sarah Denby Dana L. Goldberg Marta Gomez-Chiarri Patrick T. LeBeau, CFP® Kimberley M. Little
Trustees Ex-Officio Jeremy Goodman, DVM Executive Director Rhode Island Zoological Society/Roger Williams Park Zoo Wendy Nillson Superintendent of Parks Providence Parks Department
Chairman Emeritus Sophie F. Danforth* Trustees Emeritus Margaret E. Curran, Esq. Thomas P. Dimeo Jocelin Hamblett James S. Harper III, VMD* Bradford B. Kopp Arthur D. Little Nancy G. R. Moger Richard Nadeau Jane S. Nelson Cate M. Roberts Philip A. Segal, Jr. Robert F. Stoico *deceased
Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information visit www.aza.org
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