Zoo BI 3

Question 1

Briefly describe the history of exotic animal exhibition in SF that led to the creation of the Zoo

Answer 1

Initially [zoo animals] were housed in Woodward’s Gardens (1866 - 1890) of the Mission District.
During the 1890-1943 tenure of GGP superintendent John McLaren, there were exhibits at GGP including bears, emus, beavers, sheep, kangaroos, moose, goats, elk, and bison in the park meadows as well as a two-acre aviary full of birds.
When Herbert Fleishhacker (President of SF Parks Commission starting in 1918) wanted to exhibit other animals such as lions, tigers, great apes and elephants, the zoo’s current setting was proposed. Fleishhacker[/city?] bought the land in 1922.
[Fleishhacker pool opened in 1925; pool closed in 1971; became zoo parking lot in 2002.]
SF Zoo was established in 1929.

Question 2

What was the first animal [in the collection that would become the SF Zoo]

Answer 2

A grizzly bear named Monarch. Monarch was California’s last captive California grizzly (now extinct), and he became an important symbol of the state’s evolving relationship with vanishing wildlife. (Was the model for the flag!)
In 1889, San Francisco Examiner media magnate, William Randolph Hearst, engaged one of his reporters, Allen Kelly, in debate over whether grizzlies still existed in California. Hearst challenged Kelly to go out and find one.
After nine months in the San Gabriel Mountains, Monarch was captured and lived more than 20 years in captivity; first at Woodward Gardens, then in Golden Gate Park. He never made it to the Zoo’s current location but is credited for causing Fleishhacker to find the current location.

Question 3

What is the mission (statement) of the SF Zoo?

Answer 3

“To connect people with wildlife, inspire caring for nature, and advance conservation action.”
Primary mission: conservation, and being an ambassador therefor.

Question 4

How does the SF Zoo support and advance the welfare of their collection?

Answer 4

By providing quality animal care and enrichment.
The Zoo’s Wellness and Conservation Center looks at developing techniques and implementing practices that ensure the animals are thriving.
The welfare of the collection is one of the Zoo’s main priorities.

Question 5

Name an award the SF zoo recently won

Answer 5

The SF Zoo & Gardens recently won the 2022 Sustainability Award at the Excellence in Business Awards (“EBBIES”) given by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

Question 6

Describe the AZA and what they do

Answer 6

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Founded in 1924.
Organization responsible for establishing high standards of practice and care for all facilities that fall under their jurisdiction.
Every 5 years, zoos go through accreditation process, including inspection.

Question 7

What is the AZA accreditation process? Benefit of accreditation?

Answer 7

AZA inspects zoos to ensure they are maintaining their rigorous standards for exhibits, animal care, education, conservation, and research.
AZA makes participation in programs such as SSPs (Species Survival Plans) and TAGs (Taxon Advisory Groups) mandatory for accreditation, encouraging zoos to make conservation a significant part of their operation.
Accredited zoos develop public confidence by demonstrating that the institution meets or exceeds current professional standards.

Question 8

How many AZA accredited zoos are there in the US?

Answer 8

Nearly 240
SF Zoo is one of them

Question 9

Name some AZA programs

Answer 9

TAGs - Taxon Advisory Groups
SSP - Species Survival Plans
Studbooks
SAFE - Saving Animals From Extinction

Question 10

SSP - Species Survival Plans

Answer 10

Cooperative management and conservation programs for endangered species.
Manages breeding to maintain healthy, genetically diverse, demographically stable, self-sustaining population: keeps a studbook, determines which animals should be mated.
Develops long-term research and management strategies for the species.
There are currently almost 300 species in SSP programs.
Created in 1981.

Question 11

TAGs - Taxon Advisory Groups

Answer 11

Management programs for entire taxa (larger groups of animals such as marine mammals) that examine conservation needs and develop recommendations for population management and conservation.

Question 12

Studbooks

Answer 12

Strictly monitor and recommend breeding strategies for animals in zoos’ collections.
Carefully monitoring genetic representation of the animals in zoos will allow for future genetic diversity.
With shrinking and fragmented habitats in the wild, the genetic diversity of wild, particularly endangered species is declining.
The well-managed Zoo populations have become a genetic ark for these species.

Question 13

SAFE - Saving Animals From Extinction

Answer 13

AZA member institutions collaborating on global conservation initiatives to save species from extinction.
Mission: to combine the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA members and partners to save animals from extinction.
Vision: save the most vulnerable wildlife species from extinction and protect them for future generations.
Key goal: To increase public participation and public awareness of the need for conservation efforts and engage the public in those efforts.

Question 14

Who compiles the “Red List of Threatened Species”?

Answer 14

The IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

Question 15

What is the IUCN?

Answer 15

IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Maintains the Red List of Threatened Species (used for guiding conservation action and policy decisions).
Supports work to save wildlife on both the national and international levels.

Question 16

What is the Red List of Threatened Species?

Answer 16

The world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
Serves as an important tool in the management of wildlife.
Frequently updated.
Provides a comprehensive list of animals, their conservation status, distribution, population and habitat information as well as current and proposed conservation measures.
Defines the severity and specific causes of a species’ threat of extinction.
Establishes a baseline from which to monitor the change in status of species.
Provides a global context for the establishment of conservation priorities at the local level.

Question 17

What are the different tiers of “threatened” status in the IUCN Red List classification?

Answer 17

Vulnerable: Taxa believed likely to become endangered in the near future if the causal factors continue operating.
Endangered: Taxa in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating.
Critically Endangered: Taxa in extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Question 18

Name one reason it’s important for countries to work together on conservation

Answer 18

International trade contributes to the endangerment of many animals.

Question 19

What is the name of the agreement between governments that aims to ensure international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival?

Answer 19

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)

Question 20

Describe CITES

Answer 20

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
International agreement between governments.
Aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Provides framework for participation by governments in regulating trade in wildlife specimens and conservation efforts.
Governments adopt their own laws at national level enforcing conservation.
Monitors international trade of certain species.
Also provides controls on trade for selected species considered endangered.
Maintains lists of animals in 3 categories (Appendices) based on threat and CITES controls that apply.

Question 21

Describe the categories of animals listed in CITES appendices

Answer 21

Appendix I: species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
Appendix II: species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
Appendix III: species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

Question 22

How many people visit zoos and aquariums each year in the US?

Answer 22

More than 150 million.

Question 23

Three main purposes/goals of zoos vs. public’s perception of these priorities

Answer 23

Goals: Conservation, environmental education, and entertainment.
Public perception of priorities: Entertainment, education, and conservation, in that order.

Question 24

How do zoos support and promote conservation?

Answer 24

Inspire concern for animals.
Preserve endangered species (via, e.g., captive breeding programs like SSPs). Prevent species extinction.
Educate public about environment. (Personalize and widen a person’s view of nature. Provide an understanding of interdependence in ecosystems.)

Question 25

What law dramatically changed the approach zoos took to acquiring animals?

Answer 25

Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Question 26

What did the Endangered Species Act do?

Answer 26

Prohibited any action that causes a “taking” of any listed species of endangered fish or wildlife.
Dramatically changed the approach zoos took to acquiring animals.
Passed in 1973.

Question 27

What is the job/mission of a zoo docent?

Answer 27

Educate the general public, and especially the next generation, as to the importance of conservation, and actions they can take to help.
Be a conduit between the animal and the public.
Raise public awareness by communicating the need for conservation of species, preservation of habitat, captive breeding, ongoing research, and the reintroduction of endangered animals to the wild when possible.
Zoos provide an understanding of the interdependence of animals and their habitat.

Question 28

What is a key goal of the SF Zoo staff in taking care of the animals?

Answer 28

Promote positive environments for the animals so that they can thrive. Enrichment. (more detail on different flashcard)

Question 29

What is enrichment and why is it important? (note: specific approaches to enrichment are on a separate flashcard)

Answer 29

Improving or enhancing zoo animal environments and care within the context of their inhabitants’ behavioral biology and natural history.
An enriched captive environment
-is interesting,
-allows animals to perform natural behaviors,
-permits animals to be more active, and
-provides animals with additional choices, which increases the animals’ control over their environment leading to an improvement in the animal’s mental state.
-Reduces stress.
Other key points:
-Like physical health, mental health is important.
-Captive breeding has not removed natural, wild instincts.
-Since everything is provided for them – food, water, shelter, and safety – enrichment provides psychological and physical challenges to keep them active and interested in their surroundings.
(approaches to enrichment are a separate flashcard)

Question 30

Name a few ways the zoo provides enrichment for the animals

Answer 30

-Varied food choices, often hidden to encourage foraging and problem-solving.
-Toys, e.g., large ”boomer balls” that can also be filled with feed pellets that fall out when rolled a certain way.
-Items sprayed with scents from other animals.
-Design of the exhibits to resemble a natural habitat.

Question 31

Name one strategy that facilitates the administration of medical care for the animals.

Answer 31

Animals are trained to perform certain tasks to aid medical care, e.g.,
-a cat presenting its tail for a blood draw,
-an animal lying down on a platform for an ultrasound,
-a bear presenting its rear for an injection or raising its paw for inspection.
These trained tasks that facilitate medical care reduce the stress on the animal by, e.g., reducing the need for anesthesia.

Question 32

Name some green (eco-friendly) practices/projects at the Zoo

Answer 32

Recycling (paper, plastic, cardboard, scrap metal, glass)
Sending surplus food to communities in need (via Replate, separate flashcard for details)
Composting (both visitor waste, animal waste, and organics from the horticulture dept.)
Water refilling stations
EV charging stations
Conservation education (details on separate card)

Question 33

Examples of conservation signage at the SF Zoo

Answer 33

The palm oil crisis at the orangutan exhibit.
Near extinction of the Mexican gray wolf.

Question 34

How much animal waste does the Zoo compost?

Answer 34

Over a million pounds each year.

Question 35

How does the zoo reduce food waste?

Answer 35

Partnership with Replate, a technology-based social enterprise that connects and delivers surplus food from businesses to communities of need.
Currently donating the following to Replate: unsold daily prepared foods, leftover catered foods, and frozen and packaged food items.
(resulting in zero waste)

Question 36

Name a city government organization that the zoo is working with on green projects

Answer 36

SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). (Details on separate flashcard.)

Question 37

On which green projects is the zoo working with the SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)?

Answer 37

Several water and energy conservation projects:
-5 EV charging stations in parking lot.
-Water-bottle charging station.

Question 38

How does the Wild Places, Wild Things lecture series further conservation efforts?

Answer 38

Brings world-renowned conservation experts to share stories and photographs about important conservation projects and discoveries.
Science lecture series.
Free to Zoo guests, staff, and volunteers.

Question 39

Name a few of the zoo’s local conservation efforts

Answer 39

Working with Yosemite N.P. to restore the Yosemite toad to its native habitat. (Displayed in the Exploration Zone.)
Partnering with the Presidio Trust, the zoo crew, a group of teenagers, worked with staff, to successfully rid Presidio’s Mountain Lake of introduced invasive species and then restored the native western pond turtle and the Pacific chorus frog to their natural habitat in the lake.
They have also worked to revitalize the biodiversity regions of Lake Merced, and Mori Point.

Question 40

What is the California Conservation Corridor?

Answer 40

An exhibit at the zoo.
Highlights some of the ways the zoo is helping save species and protect California’s wild places.
E.g., it discuses some species the zoo has been involved with returning to the wild, and why they matter. (examples in separate flashcard)
Teaches the visitor more about what they can do to make an impact.
Docent program helps fund this exhibit.

Question 41

Name some species that the zoo has been involved with returning back to the wild

Answer 41

Forktail damselfly, San Francisco Garter Snake, red-legged frog, yellow-legged frogs, western Pond turtle, Yosemite toad, pacific chorus frog.

Question 42

Which US state has the most species found nowhere else in the world?

Answer 42

California is the most biologically diverse state in the nation, with the highest number of plant and animal species that are found nowhere else in the world.

Question 43

Key steps for crafting a conservation message to zoo visitors

Answer 43

Research the conservation message and identify the easy action item. Understand the issue well, but explain it simply.
First you want them to care about the animal that is endangered.
Next you want to give them and easy action item that is doable for them.
Finally explain how this will help the situation.
(The mission is to get zoo guests to care about the situation, even though they don’t fully understand it.)

Question 44

What are some realistic steps/solutions a zoo visitor can apply to conservation problems?

Answer 44

Reduce consumption - conserve water and energy, turn off lights when not in use, turn off water when brushing teeth, take shorter showers, plant native drought tolerant plants, walk or ride your bike, don’t buy things you don’t need, reduce fossil fuel use.
Reduce waste (recycle) - repurpose materials or reuse by bringing to thrift shops, recycle newspapers, glass, cans etc.
Education yourself and others on conservation issues.
Volunteer and/or contribute to conservation organizations.
Choose you pets wisely - make sure you can take care of them and don’t release unwanted pets to the wild; avoid purchasing exotic pets
Look for and purchase eco-friendly products.
Purchase sustainable items - use Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood Watch Guide in choosing fish; avoid consuming slow growing hardwoods, non recyclable plastics, and petroleum made products

Question 45

Name some species at the zoo that are part of SSP and SAFE programs

Answer 45

-SSP-
mandrill, eight lemur species, *chimpanzee, *Western lowland gorilla, Francois langur,
snow leopard, *lion,
*black rhino, Asian rhino,
*reticulated giraffe,
West African crowned crane,
Chacoan peccary,
*radiated tortoise.
-SAFE-
*chimpanzee, *western lowland gorilla, orangutan,
*African lion, jaguar,
*black rhino,
*giraffe,
*radiated tortoise,
western pond turtle.
*(both)

Question 46

How many SSP programs are there?

Answer 46

Almost 300

Question 47

When was the AZA founded?

Answer 47

1924

Question 48

When were SSPs first created?

Answer 48

1981

Question 49

Q: Name some examples of the zoo’s conservation education

Answer 49

-Conservation messaging in exhibit design and graphics. (examples on separate card)
-Greenie’s Conservation Corner (details on separate card)
-Hosts “Wild Places, Wild Things” lecture series. (details on separate card)
-Exhibits presented by docents and biofact interpreters (e.g., biofact carts).