Roll Call Information 7/4/22-7/10/22

Brittany Update:

Link to “The Daily”:

Click Here to View the Daily Updates

 

Wing of Wonder/Free Flight Aviary:

• Wings of Wonder:

  Below you will find the schedule for who has signed up for the Wings of Wonder Bird Experience.  It looks like we do not have any coverage this weekend.  If anyone would like to help with the show this weekend, it would be appreciated.

• Free Flight Aviary:

Below you will  find the July calendar for Free Flight.  Thank you to the Volunteers who have added this to their calendar.  Below you will see the coverage that we need for the week.  If you have extra individuals on your schedule and you think they would be interested in trying out a new area – please encourage them.  We also have available 1 hour shift every day, if you have an afternoon Rover, please ask them about covering this time frame before they start roving.  If you believe you can cover this, let me know and I will block off the time.

• Tuesday:
  • Lunch Coverage Needed – 12:30-1:30pm
• Wednesday:
  • Lunch Coverage Needed – 12:30-1:30pm
• Thursday:
  • Lunch Coverage Needed – 12:30-1:30pm
• Friday:
  • Need Coverage for the am shift and lunch shift
• Saturday:
  • Coverage Needed for Both Shifts
• Sunday:
  • Fully Covered

Resources/Materials Update:

• Bug Spray – In carts in Elephant and Gorilla.
• Fans – Available at my desk if needed

Heat Advisory Information:

• Make sure to care for yourself and stay cool and hydrated during the heat advisory this week.  The safety of all ambassadors needs to be a top priority.  If and volunteer needs to skip a shift this week or leave early, it is absolutely no problem.
• If Visitors show concern for our animals during a heat advisory,  I would suggest some version of the message below:
  • “The health and safety animals is a top priority, Animal staff has specific protocols to make sure that our animals are safely cared for in any type of extreme weather.  All of our animals have access to cover and can escape any unfavorable conditions while in their outdoor habitats.   Our keepers also have close relationships with our animals and they can easily recognize if they are stressed or uncomfortable and will take immediate action for their safety.”

Mask Policy Update:

• Masks are required in the Education Building at all times, KN95 masks are preferred by the Education Team.  Please feel free to talk with your team and discuss the idea of moving roll call updates outside if you team is uncomfortable wearing masks in the building.

7th & 8th Grade & Teens joining the Ambassador Teams:

• 7th & 8th Graders are still joining the Ambassador Teams in the Habitats on Tuesday and Wednesday.  UPDATE – The Campers will meet in the Habitats at 9:45am.  Please try your best to get there by 9:45 so they can make the most of the time they have with you.
• Teens will continue to join the Ambassadors on Fridays in Gorilla at 10am.

 

 Construction Updates:

• Elephant Trek – Shut Down to Zoo Traffic

• Bear Line – Pathway modification this week of 11^th. Still waiting for date confirmation as work is weather depending.

• Powerhouse at Children’s Zoo – Material should arrive this week. Pathway will then be blocked for a day for some underground utility work. – Exact date and further coordination forthcoming.

• Future Week Look Ahead (Week of 7/18) – Swan Lake, Future Carousel Location – Drain/Construction Start

Zoo Area Closures:

• If a Habitat is Closed and it is not listed on “The Daily” – Send me an e-mail so I can contact Visitor Experience and make sure we add it.

Animal Updates: 

• Africa

  • No Additional Updates

• Elephant

  • Sabu is still  in Musth
• Musth- a normal periodic condition in bull (male) elephants, characterized by a large rise in reproductive hormones, temporal drainage, and dribbling/trickling of urine. Musth is not a disease or ailment, and therefore there is no “cure.” If a bull elephant goes into musth, it actually means he is healthy.
• Testosterone levels in an elephant in musth can be as much as 6 times greater than normal.
  This rise in hormones causes the animal to feel more restless, aggressive, and frequently acts
  unpredictable.
• Bull elephants in musth lose their appetite, and it is not uncommon for a bull to lose up to 1000 pounds by the end of the musth cycle. This is completely normal and quickly returns to his normal weight.
• Musth typically lasts between 2-3 months and occurs in three stages – a 3-4 week pre-musth condition, a 4-5 week peak musth, and a 4-5 week post-musth condition.
• Elephants in musth discharge a thick tar-like secretion called temporin from the temporal ducts on the sides of the head. Temporin contains proteins and lipids.
• The elephant’s aggression may be partially caused by a reaction to the temporin, which naturally trickles down into the elephant’s mouth. Another contributing factor may be the accompanying swelling of the temporal glands. Elephants sometimes try to counteract this pain by digging their tusks into the ground or pushing on trees.
  • There is no definitive reason why bulls go into musth, but some theories prevail:
    1. Expelling of other bulls from an area in order to maintain territory.
    2. Giving a physically weaker bull strength and energy to reproduce/gain dominance.

• Gorilla

  • New Sustainable Palm Oil App.
    • https://www.waza.org/news/waza-palm-oil-scan-app/
    • I am working on getting an additional display to add to the Gorilla Habitat with a QR code you can scan to download the App.  I hope to have this ready and in the cart by Wednesday.
  • Habitat Closings Wed-through the End of the Week
    • Message from Primate Center:
      • “We will have several days Wednesday through the end of the week where Gorilla World will be closed down for gorilla management purposes.”
    • I have been told that I will get advanced notice of when this will be happening.  Please be prepared to shift individuals toward the end o the week.  We have openings in Free Flight, and we can talk about a plan for Visitor Experience Areas that need some helping hands as well.
  • Information from the Primate Center Team
    • A few Ambassadors mentioned some observations during their shifts so I asked the Primate Team for some Clarification.  Below you will find their responses.
      • Increased Glass Banging and Aggressive Behavior from Mshindi:
        • “Although I have not seen this behavior consistently from Mshindi, it will happen from time to time.  He tends to be more protective over Tulivu and Bandia when they are going through their monthly estrous period.  Most likely that is what the volunteers were seeing.  Of course, I wouldn’t rule out him banging the glass at a loud group of people as silverbacks generally likes things quiet.  So he is just doing his job when he is letting everyone know who is boss.  I do appreciate the volunteers not encouraging guests to get him even more worked up.  Always letting visitors know that this is their home and to be respectful is always appreciated.”
      • “Plucking”/Hair Pulling Behavior from Mona
        • “The visitors have witnessed a “plucking” behavior from Mona.  This is a behavior that we don’t like to see/ highlight and do everything we can to try to reduce this behavior with more enrichment and those kinds of things.  This often occurs in kids growing up and trying to figure out their role as a growing gorilla.  So it can be caused by some uneasiness as she is figuring out how to be an adult.”
          • Take Away: Do not draw attention to the behavior if it is witnessed.  If a Visitor asks about it, let them know that the Primate Team is aware of the behavior and have been monitoring it, and helping Mona find ways to become interested in other things.

 

• Gorilla Troop Configurations:
  • M’Linzi & Mara
    • M’Linzi & Mara are continuing with Howdy Mesh and visual interactions with Ndume
  • Chewie, Gladys, Mona & Elle – “The Chew Crew”
  • Mshindi, Bandia & Tulivu
•  Miscellaneous
  • Red Crown Cranes have been moved to Mast Farm to prepare for pond construction.

 Daily Special: