2008 Annual Report - Denver Zoo

added to the collection included a trio of ankole (also known as watusi cattle), twopairs of lappet-faced vultures, shingleback skinks, boreal toads, and a pair of kea– unique alpine parrots native to the South Island of New Zealand.There were a number of significant animal births in 2008 which garneredexcitement and interest for zoo guests. Prominent mammal births included a trio ofsnow leopard cubs, two red pandas, red river hogs, two spotted hyena, De Brazza’smonkey, colobus monkey, golden lion tamarin, emperor tamarin, bongo, Africanbuffalo, Grevy’s zebra, and giraffe. The zebra foal represented the second successfulbirth of this endangered species from our breeding herd established in 2006.Tropical Discovery staff also enjoyed a number of significant births and hatchings.Over the past few years, we have expanded our work to conserve endangeredamphibians. There is a global amphibian crisis where at least half of all knownspecies risk extinction due to habitat loss as well as a rampant chytrid funguswhich wipes out entire amphibian populations. Collectively, zoos, aquariums,botanic gardens and other interested groups declared 2008 to be InternationalYear of the Frog to raise awareness of the problem. During the year, TropicalDiscovery staff successfully reproduced numerous amphibians including the bluepoison arrow frog, yellow-banded poison arrow frog, dying poison arrow frog, CostaRican tree frog, and file-eared tree frog. New species were also acquired through2008 in order to establish additional future breeding programs designed to fosterinsurance populations for species at risk. Other significant births and hatchingsin Tropical Discovery included the many-horned adder, hump-headed lizard,Sumatran pit viper, caatinga lance-headed viper, small Javan forest dragon, linedflat-tailed gecko, and leaf-nosed viper.The bird department began to see results from our new Bird Propagation Center,in addition to the flamingo hatching and rearing, with a number of notablehatches including Egyptian plover, hammerkop, palm cockatoo, Humboldt andblack-footed penguins, demoiselle crane, green-naped pheasant pigeon, goldenbreastedand violet-backed starlings, crested oropendola, jambu fruit dove, andMalay great argus.Inevitably, an organization with highly active endangered species breedingprograms will suffer setbacks. During 2008, we lost two precious okapi. One ofour adult females died suddenly in February. Unfortunately, she was still nursingher female calf born in November 2007. Despite valiant efforts by staff to sustainthe calf during the weaning process, she failed to thrive and succumbed a littleover a month after her mother. We view this as a temporary setback for the zoo’sextremely successful breeding program for this endangered west African forestanimal. Late in the year, we lost two newborn polar bears and a maned wolf pup,none of which survived 24 hours. While disheartening, each of these offspringwere the result of first-time adult pairings which confirms we have viable breedingpairs, and which gives us hope for future success. During 2008, we acquired 802animals for the collection through births, loans, or donations from other zoos andaquariums. There were 594 animals removed from the collection due to death,loans, or donations to other institutions.Our interdepartmental Special Events Team led by members of the MarketingDepartment created numerous fun events not only to raise critical funding for thezoo’s education, conservation and capital initiatives but to share key conservationmessages as well. Our premiere fundraiser, Do at the Zoo, presented by HaseldenConstruction and chaired by Frances Owens was a tremendous success in support4 4