Oct /Nov Ocelots Dinner Program. Mexican Vaquita Project

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1 The Oceletter Oct /Nov 2016 Our Mission The Ocelots enthusiastically support the efforts of the Zoological Society of San Diego through active involvement, commitment to education, and fund-raising. Ocelots Dinner Program When: Thursday, Oct 13, 2016 Where: Mombasa Pavillion, Safari Park Who: Samantha Young What: Community Based Conservation Mexican Vaquita Project In This Issue. Head Ocelot Report. 2 Mark Your Calendars 3 A Review of Our Last Dinner Meeting. 4 Three Opportunity Drawings. 7 Ocelots Grants Program. 8 Grant Recipient Thank Yous. 9 Ocelots Merchandise. 10 About the Ocelots. 11 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. Check-in outside at Safari Park main gate. 6:00 p.m. Pavillion open for seating selection. 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Cocktails and Opportunity Drawing, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dinner and program.

2 Visit our website Page 2 By Kim Bidermann Head Ocelot Head Ocelot Report Can you believe it is fall already? The holidays will be here before you know it! Can you imagine having a dinner planned for over 90 people with a wonderful guest speaker coming, and finding out that day that the speaker was in a plane accident in Africa (banged up and bruised, but okay) and wouldn t be able to speak? That happened to the Ocelots at our August dinner, but with HUGE THANKS to our Advicelots, Rachel and Jenny, we had an amazing speaker, Georgeanne Irvine, pinch-hit at the last minute. What a wonderful team we have working with us at SDZG! And for you giraffe lovers, we are already in contact with David O Connor hoping to get a date set for Thanks to all the Ocelots for understanding. A big Ocelot welcome to the newest Ocelots who attended the August dinner: Sharon Daly, Jack and JoAnn Ferguson, and Cat and Nick Monroe. Take time to say Hi to our newest members and welcome them to our group. Grant season is upon us. Please donate what you can so that we can fund as many requests as possible. Supporting our keepers, animals, researchers and conservationists is what we are about! May you have plenty of treats and no tricks this Halloween season. S

3 Visit our website Page 3 Mark Your Calendars You won t want to miss a single Ocelots event this coming year! October 13: Dinner Meeting Photo Contest. Mombasa Pavilion. Samantha Young community based conservation: Mexican Vaquita Project. December 15: Holiday Dinner. Zoo Party Area. Megan Owen polar bear research. Dates, locations, speakers, and topics are subject to change. Contribute to the Oceletter! We invite you to submit articles and photographs for the Oceletter. All content should be submitted electronically to the Oceletter Editor, Paul Brooks, at pbrooksphotos@hotmail.com. The deadlines for 2016 Oceletter submissions: November 14 Contact Us The best way to reach a member of the Steering Committee is to use the following address: ocelotsbymail@yahoo.com. This account is monitored frequently, and questions can be routed to the member of the Steering Committee who should handle it. The following people can be reached directly: Kim Bidermann Head Ocelot (619) kim@bidermann.org Theresa Low Grants/Logo Wear (858) lowtm@earthlink.net Paul Brooks Oceletter Editor (619) pbrooksphotos@hotmail.com Y

4 Visit our website Page 4.. A Review of Our Last Dinner Meeting Animal Ambassadors for the August dinner were an owl and a serval. The Eurasian Eagle owl, Julio, is the minivan of birds, flying at 35 mph versus the peregrine falcon s 240 mph. The African serval, Zuri, is a good hunter with a remarkable leap; servals typically hunt for rodents and birds. By Mary Falwell Programs Grants Committee Chair, Theresa Low, shared thank yous from several of the grant recipients and a video about the creation of the orangutan paintings that are available for a December drawing. We observed a moment of silence in memory of Conrad Prebys. Mark shared stories of Conrad, including how he d go to the Zoo at low times in his life and on one occasion purchased a VERY large polar bear plush that rode home in the front passenger seat of his car. Mark announced that San Diego Zoo Global is working with elected officials and other organizations to end extinction in San Diego County. We have more bird and plant species than any other county in the United States the goal is that none of these become extinct. Our original speaker, David O Connor, was involved in an accident he s okay but wasn t able to attend the dinner. Cont. on next page Event photos coutesy of Lonnie Kaufman

5 Visit our website Page 5 Georgeanne Irvine, Associate Director of Communications, Development Department, gave a great presentation on Telling Stories through Pictures. She has been with the Zoo for more than 38 years, originally in public relations, now development. George loves travel, photography and adventure. She uses her photos for her books and research every photo tells a story. She presented tips on how to tell the story effectively. With the photo contest coming up in October, it was great timing! Take extra memory cards. Make sure the memory card in is the camera and look at the screen to be sure you ve taken a photo. Use a camera strap or wristband so you don t drop or lose your camera. If hiking, use a camera backpack or bum bag to carry camera equipment. When someone is taking your photo, smile and don t talk always use your PR smile. Keep a safe distance from wildlife, for example, a charging elephant. However, If you re going to die anyway, you may as well take pictures. That photo was great! When shooting photos for a story, get a variety of shots to put them in context, such as close-up and wider shots. With animals and people, focus on the eyes. Pay attention to how you frame your photos. Landscape photos are especially beautiful in early morning and late afternoon light. Watch the light and beware of backlighting when photographing your subject. Backlighting can be beautiful if used appropriately. Beware of the candid shot, they are not often flattering. P P P P P P P

6 Visit our website Page 6 Use flash more often, especially on people photos (also animals if the flash won t disturb them). This is George s favorite tip. If you go from a warm environment to cold or vice versa, your lens might fog up. Give it time to acclimate to the temperature change. For good story telling take a variety of photos, close-up, wider, context shots. Photos of signs and maps can enhance your story. Have fun! It s okay to be silly and playful in photos. George illustrated each of these tips with remarkable photos, telling a very effective story of her many adventures. It s time to get out there, take some photos and enter the Ocelots Photo Contests all proceeds go to Grants.

7 Visit our website Page 7 Three Opportunity Drawings FIRST: The beautiful Opportunity Baskets specially created for Ocelots by our amazingly creative Karen Power. The drawing for these swimmingly fun baskets will be done at the October dinner. Please visit the Opportunity Drawing table before the dinner program begins! Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Pals with a Porpoise A menagerie of fun items including a cute porpoise plush. Surfin the Succulents Enjoy a tabletop sea-scape garden complete with a blown glass porpoise. Diving into Fashion Update your SoCal seasonal wardrobe with a splash of warm color and a few new accessories. This treasure chest includes a gorgeous giraffe themed scarf, beaded clutch purse, pin and a vintage piece of reclaimed jewelry. SECOND: Orangutan Janey & Friends Art. Artwork by our Zoo animal friends is always desirable and something to treasure! Not only are our orangutans fun to watch, they are talented and have a special taste for painting. There will be a total of three paintings, each created by one of our orangutan friends--janey, Karen and Aisha (with help from mom, Indah). Tickets for these paintings will be available at the dinner meetings and on the dinner reservation forms, with the drawing at the December dinner. The first ticket drawn will have first choice of painting Janey, Karen or Aisha. You need not be present to win but must be present to have a choice of painting. Tickets are $10 each--what a bargain for the opportunity to have an original painting from one of our very own and very special orangutans! THIRD: Visit-A-Job. This once-yearly drawing offers a lucky Ocelot member the chance to spend time with a Zoo, ICR, or Park employee. It is an opportunity to learn first-hand what working at SDZG is really like. The winner need not be present, but must be an Ocelot member to enter. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Drawing will be at the December dinner. With this variety of items available for the drawings there is an opportunity for every taste and interest to support our wonderful grants program which does so much to assist the various departments of San Diego Zoo Global. All of the proceeds from the opportunity baskets, orangutan paintings and Visit-a-Job go to grants. Opportunity drawing items from our last dinner meeting

8 Visit our website Page 8 Ocelots Grants Program San Diego Zoo Global s employee grant proposals are in! After a month of anxiously waiting for the first grant proposal to arrive, I am happy to share my inbox is overflowing. Once the proposals are reviewed and consolidated, a list will be shared with you in early October. Moments of Gratitude Since our August dinner, we have received thank you notes, photos and a video from elephant keepers at the Zoo and Safari Park showing their appreciation for enrichment items, a thank you and photo of an African crested porcupine named Pokie in her new travel crate, and a video of Shiley using his treadmill. As you may have heard, our larger-than-life 50-year old Asian elephant Ranchipur and easy going cheetah Shiley both recently passed away. While their deaths are sad news, we can be grateful to both magnificent animals for being wonderful ambassadors for their species helping educate and connect people with conservation. Their stories and message live on. Opportunity Drawings There are many wonderful opportunities to share monthly drawing baskets, orangutan art and a personalized experience. Please look for details in this Oceletter. Tickets for all opportunities may be purchased with your dinner reservation and at our dinner gatherings. Logo Merchandise Last call for 2016! If you have been thinking about purchasing a new polo-style shirt or warm sweatshirt with an embroidered Ocelots logo, please order now! The October dinner event will be the final evening merchandise will be available for pre-order this year. To place our custom order, we need 10 more purchases. If you are interested in seeing the merchandise, please drop by the logo merchandise table. If you have questions or would like additional information, contact me. lowtm@earthlink.net Thank you for supporting the Ocelots grants program throughout the year!

9 Visit our website Page 9 Grant Recipient Thank Yous 2015 GRANTS Elephants Z02.2 Electric Winch Hi, Here are some pics of the winch/hoist Ocelot s purchased for us. It is mounted in one of our holding areas at the ECC. This area is viewed by guests and buses and sometimes we are challenged keeping the elephants busy when they are in there. Since several of our elephants perform undesirable repetitive behaviors when they are separated from the herd or have nothing to do, this hoist is valuable. We can hang toys or feeders from it and occupy the elephants and give the guests an improved perspective to observe elephant activity. I will be asking for another one for next year. Thank you for all you do! Ann 2015 Grants P25.1 ($1950) Safari Experiences Stainless Steel Travel Crate for African Crested Porcupine Pokie Hello, We have purchased a new crate for our porcupine. Pokie (as well as her team of care takers), is very grateful! With much thanks, Tami Tamara Bankson Senior Operations Manager, Safari Experiences Cont. on next page

10 Visit our website Page Grants P07.1 ($4860) Kronos Clock Here are some pictures of our new Kronos clock!!! First off, let me say that we are so appreciative of all your generous gifts every year. But this one is beyond appreciated! All of the trainers are so thrilled with the time saved not having to walk to the nearest clock. It truly does make more time for the animals. Every trainer saves a good minutes and on any given day we have 12+ trainers working. That is 3 hours minimum every single day that goes directly to the animals. It means more sessions, more bonding, more projects. So I just want you to know how much it means to our staff and the animals. Thank you again! I think I owe you some pictures for some of our other items, but wanted to get this one to you immediately (it took several months of ordering, installing shade, getting it connected, etc. but well worth the wait!). Thank you, Susie Susan Jones Ekard Animal Training Manager San Diego Zoo Safari Park 2015 Grants P02.2 ($225) Elephants Gold Infield Sand Piles To Ocelots Grants, Here are a few photos (and one video) of our elephants from the Safari Park enjoying the Gold Infield dirt that your grant provided for us. More to come and thanks again for your generosity. Curtis and the Elephant staff (and elephants!) Curtis Lehman Animal Care Supervisor - Elephants San Diego Zoo Safari Park

11 Visit our website Page 11 Ocelots Merchandise Polo Shirt Embroidered Logo $35.00 Zip-Front Hooded Sweatshirt Embroidered Logo $50.00 Crewneck Sweatshirt Embroidered Logo $40.00 Long Sleeve T-Shirt Embroidered Logo $25.00 Cotton Blend Scarf Embroidered Logo $20.00 Zippered Nylon Tote-Bag Embroidered Logo $20.00 Canvas Tote-Bag Silk Screen Logo $10.00 Ocelot Car Decal $ 1.00 All proceeds benefit Ocelots Grants Program

12 About the Ocelots Ocelots enjoy a special relationship with San Diego Zoo Global. While having fun at many educational dinners and other special events at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, Ocelots raise money to support the Ocelots Grants Program. Departments within the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research are eligible to apply for these grants. the ocelot, pictured above, Diego was purchased for the San Diego Zoo by the Ocelots in Diego is a working member of the Education Department! Dafyd the ocelot, pictured above, lives at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in an enclosure funded by the Ocelots in 2011.