Page 2. Head Ocelot Report

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1 The Oceletter Feb / Mar 2018 Ocelots Dinner Program When: Thursday, February 8, 2018 Where: Hunte Pavillion, San Diego Zoo Safari Park Who: Ronald Swaisgood, Ph.D. What: Restoring the extinct-in-the-wild Alalā to the wild Our Mission The Ocelots enthusiastically support the efforts of the Zoological Society of San Diego through active involvement, commitment to education, and fund-raising. In This Issue. Head Ocelot Report. 2 Mark Your Calendars 3 A Review of Our Last Dinner Meeting. 4 Ocelots Special Event at Birch Aquarium. 6 Grants Program. 8 Ocelots Pet Photo Contest. 9 The Bath Elephant Intarsia Wood Art. 10 February Opportunity Drawings. 11 Support the Ocelots Grants Program All Year. 12 About the Ocelots. 13 Alalā photos by Ken Bohn 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. Check-in outside at main gate. 6:00 p.m. Dining area open for seating selection. 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Cocktails and animal ambassadors 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dinner and program.

2 Page 2 Head Ocelot Report In many ways 2017 was a year of records for the Ocelots. At the end of the year we had 182 members, by far the most ever. For the December dinner, we had 154 members and guests make reservations, which was another record. By Bill Kolb Head Ocelot Over the past few years we have had more and more people attending our educational and social dinner events. At both the Zoo and Park we now routinely have 100 or more people attending each dinner. Because of these large numbers, the venues available to us are limited. So, for the past few years, the Ocelot dinners have been and for the foreseeable future will be held at the Zoo Party Area (ZPA), with or without the tent, and the Hunte Pavilion at the Park. In 2018, we will split our time between the Zoo and the Park with three dinners in the ZPA and three in the Hunte Pavilion. And speaking of 2017 records, the Grants Program this year was the biggest ever by a mile. We had more single line item requests, more total dollars requested, and more money awarded to grants than ever before. For more details, please see the article in this Oceletter written by Theresa Low, our grants coordinator. So, 2017 was an all-around record setting year for the Ocelots. Let s hope 2018 will be as good.

3 Page 3 Mark Your Calendars You won t want to miss a single Ocelots event this year! February 8: Hunte Pavillion. Ron Swaisgood Re-introduction of Alalā April 12: Hunte Pavillion. Lisa Peterson, Safari Park Director. Pet photo contest. June 7: Zoo Party Area. Bruce Rideout Disease Investigations. August 9: Zoo Party Area. Russ Van Horn Andean bears. Photo Contest. September: Special event at Walkabout Australia Details TBD October 11: Hunte Pavillion. Maggie Reinbold Community based conservation. December13: Zoo Party Area. Nicholas Pilfold Leopards. Holiday Dinner. Dates, locations, speakers, and topics are tentative and 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. 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: Bill Kolb Head Ocelot (619) kolb@prodigy.net Theresa Low Grants/Logo Wear (858) lowtm@earthlink.net Paul Brooks Oceletter Editor (619) pbrooksphotos@hotmail.com

4 Visit our website Page 4.. A Review of Our Last Dinner Meeting By Laura Swauger Programs The evening began with a visit from a trio of animal ambassadors. The greeters included a tiny African pygmy falcon, a tamandua (a South American species also known as a lesser anteater) and a young male serval. Theresa Low provided a Grants report, showcasing a variety of grant opportunities for elephant specific items at the Safari Park, Zoo, and ICR. She also shared the success of the Ocelot presence at the Employee Craft Fair with a vendor contribution of over $1000 to the Grants Fund. Ollie s Minute focused on Wondrous Forms, some reflections from He noted the success of the recent alala reintroduction in Hawaii and the Pacific pocket mouse in the Laguna Coast Wildlife Park. He told a more sobering tale of the halted effort to capture the remaining wild vaquita that were to be part of the preservation project, but shared a glimmer of hope with a photo of growing vaquita cells in vitrocollected to be stored at the Frozen Zoo. Mark Stuart reported on the construction progress in Walkabout Australia at the Safari Park. He mentioned the opportunity for financial planning through gift annuities that would benefit the member, Ocelots, and SDZG. Finally, he hinted at the January 12, 2018 unveiling of something brand new, which would include an announcement about the largest gift ever to SDZG. The featured speaker of the evening was Greg Vicino, the Associate Curator of Elephants and Animal Welfare, San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG). In beginning his talk on Elephant Management and Conservation, he told the Cont. on next page members that here at SDZG it is the tale of two herds. Dinner photos by Lonnie Kaufman

5 Page 5 Cont. from previous page The herd of African elephants at the Safari Park began with wild elephants from Swaziland. Since wild elephants have to be problem solvers to survive the natural and human factors that impact their existence and they are used to responding behaviorally to signals in their environment, they respond well to modern elephant care that uses enrichment and operant conditioning for their management. The elephants at the Zoo s Elephant Care Center, however, are all products of the past care of elephants steeped in tradition, using negative reinforcement for compliance, so they haven t had the benefit of a natural elephant life. Pachyderm residents come to the Elephant Care Center for end of life care, where they are treated with respect and dignity through protected contact. The staff teaches humanized elephants how to live naturally, providing the best of care for a full life and dignified passing. As part of the care of these elephants, SDZG became involved with a group that measures animal welfare, showing that elephants with complex social structure and diverse space have better welfare. This partnership resulted in a complex dashboard that allows Greg and the keepers to read an enrichment matrix that includes all elements of the herd s day for each elephant, including items such as feeding patterns and housing experience. Greg and his staff have now taken what they ve learned about elephant management into the field in their work with partners at the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy in Samburu County of northern Kenya. At the Retiti Elephant Sanctuary keepers and other staff from the local population have been trained in care, rehabilitation, and release of elephant calves. Previously all orphaned elephants in Kenya ended up at the facility in Nairobi, so this new community-based conservation project will mean that elephants from Samburu County will remain in the area upon release.

6 Visit our website Ocelots Special Event at Birch Aquarium On Saturday, January 20 about thirty members attended the special event at Birch Aquarium at Scripps, the public exploration center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) at U.C. San Diego. Following the continental breakfast, Lisa Gilfillian, Education Specialist (and former SDZG employee), greeted our assemblage and provided historical background and told about the AZA accreditation of the Aquarium. We then split into three groups for the guided tour led by Aquarium staff. The facility provides educational exhibits that appeal to all age groups of visitors, including interactive displays of the SIO scientists research, as well as exhibits of sea creatures. Feeling the Heat shares the research into climate change, including an explanation of the Keeling Curve, the graphic representation of atmospheric CO2 designed by Charles David Keeling, a past researcher with Scripps Institution of Oceanography. An interactive exhibit highlights marine research conducted by scientists on five different vessels, with emphasis on the most recent vessel R/V Sally Ride. Guests can take a virtual tour of the research vessel and perform activities typical for the crew of that ship. Several Ocelot members delighted in the augmented reality sandbox, a clever tool to illustrate ocean floor mapping. There s Something About Seahorses provides up close viewing of these unique creatures and their relatives. As conservation is of primary concern to SIO, the aquarists have propagated hundreds of these animals to be sent around the world to reduce collection pressure on the wild population. The ultimate inclusive experience is provided in the Infinity Cube, a collaborative effort between artist and biologist that surrounds the guest with images of bioluminescence, the light produced by ocean creatures. Cont. on next page Page 6

7 Visit our website Cont. from previous page The Hall of Fishes features species from the west coast of North America as well as some tropical species from the Indo-Pacific coral reefs. The twostory, 70,000-gallon tank that houses the Giant Kelp Forest gives the guest an opportunity to view a local complex marine environment. An exception to the Pacific creatures is the rescued loggerhead sea turtle, whose injuries were too great to allow for release back to the Atlantic Ocean. She sports a 3-D printed brace to support her damaged shell. What set this tour apart from the typical guest experience was access to one of the Aquarium classrooms, which houses various biofacts used to interpret marine life and its conservation. As part of this behind-the-scenes experience, members had the opportunity to pet a young horn shark, a docile species that can be found in our coastal waters. Page 7

8 Page 8 Grants Program Thanks to you, donations to the 2017 grant requests were a record setter! Your generous gifts clearly demonstrate a desire to provide truck loads of training tools and enrichment for our animals to experience; health and welfare components that include medical and lab equipment, mister systems, scales and cameras; and new tools and equipment to assist staff with quieter, smarter, and safer work practices. Your gifts will be appreciated locally and globally: in China, Cameroon, Hawaii, Rota, Peru, the Arctic, Hudson Bay, Kenya, Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Fiji too! The grants request list was also a record setter with 406 items totaling over $555,000 providing a plethora of items to choose from. On behalf of the Grants Committee, I am extremely pleased to share that the Ocelots met Mark Stuart s unprecedented match challenge of 2 to1 up to $50,000! Together, with the $100,000 in matching funds and your support throughout the entire year, Ocelots raised over $185,000 for the Grants Program!! From your membership dues, to supporting our wonderful opportunity drawings, one-of-a-kind works of art the Lion Plaque and Carol the Asian Elephant Painting, to participating in photo contests, buying Ocelots logo merchandise, inviting guests to dinners and our Africa Rocks event, and funding grant requests, YOU are making impactful contributions to conservation, science, education, plants and wildlife! Well done Ocelots! Join us at the February dinner for even more details about our phenomenal year!

9 Page 9 Ocelots Pet Photo Contest We will be holding our 3 rd annual pet photo contest at the April dinner meeting. The photo contest is just for photos of pets! Just like our other Photo Contest, all proceeds go to the Grants Fund. Entry Instructions: 1. Photos of domestic animals or pets WILL HAPPILY BE ACCEPTED. 2. Photos should not be larger than 5 x 7 inch prints. 3. The entry fee is $10 per photo. There is no limit to the number of photos you can submit. 4. Please PRINT YOUR NAME on the back of each photo you submit. 5. Send your photos with payment no later than Thursday, April 5, to: Marcia Schofield, P.O. Box 686, Solana Beach, CA Checks should be made payable to ZSSD Ocelots. Contest Rules: 1. Photos will be displayed between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. at the April 12 dinner meeting. 2. Each dinner guest will receive two voting tickets and will vote for their top two choices. 3. A prize will be awarded to each of the top three photographers receiving the highest number of votes. No more than one prize will be awarded per photographer. 4. Submit all questions to ocelotsbymail@yahoo.com

10 Page 10 The Bath Elephant Intarsia Wood Art By Allan Price 27 x 37 The Bath is an elaborate example of scroll saw Intarsia--basically a jigsaw puzzle with many different types of wood selected for their natural wood grains and colors to create a picture, like a wood wall quilt. It took Allan Price over 6 months to create The Bath and won two top awards at the 2017 San Diego County Fair: 1st Place Scroll Saw Club Award and 2nd place SD Fair Award. Allan Price is the father of Ocelot Suzanne Price. He generously created and donated this art piece especially for the Ocelots. A limited number of tickets are available for this one-of-a-kind piece of art. Ticket sales will be limited to 100 tickets and can be purchased for $25 each. Tickets will be sold starting at the February dinner with the drawing at the June dinner.

11 Page 11 February Opportunity Drawings Be still, my beating heart! Opportunity Drawing items this month are geared towards pleasing your Valentine: #1 Jewelry Kookaburra earrings by Lorena Walton are paired with a necklace by Karen Power. #2 Chocolate Hershey s Kisses are transformed into a stunning 36 rose bouquet. It even comes with a handmade card. #3 Fun & Games A basket full of fun & games AND chocolate. Three great opportunities to score points with your Valentine while helping Ocelots fund grant requests at the end of the year. A winning deal all around! Tickets are $5 each OR 5 for$20. Opportunity baskets from the December dinner meeting

12 Page 12 Support the Ocelots Grants Program All Year It is a New Year! Looking for an easy resolution to keep? Consider setting up a monthly donation to Ocelots! By donating monthly you are showing your steadfast support of SDZG s mission and enabling the Ocelots to fund much-needed requests across all departments at the Zoo, Park, and Institute. All monthly donations go to support our Grants Program. The following options are ways you can make your donation: Ask your company if they offer a matching charitable contribution program. You will get credit for the additional donation, although it will not appear on your tax receipt. Visit your bank s Online Bill Pay service and set up your monthly payments. Please be sure to reference Ocelots Zoo Grants Account in the Memo/Account field. Credit card payments may be made monthly by calling our Adviselot, Jenny Bonomini, at , or JBonomini@sandiegozoo.org. If you prefer checks, mail them to: San Diego Zoo Global C/o Jenny Bonomini, Development Department P.O. Box San Diego, CA All grant donations are confidential. (Consult with your tax professional about tax benefits.) A letter listing the amount of your donation, along with a special Ocelots decal will be mailed to you. Thank you for supporting our Grants Program!

13 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, lived at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in an enclosure funded by the Ocelots in 2011.