Friends

of the

National

is a nonprofit organization of

individuals and families who are

interested in supporting Zoo

programs in education, research,

and conservation.

As members of FONZ, you and

your family receive many benefits

—publications, discount privileges,

and invitations to special programs

and activities—to make your

zoogoing more enjoyable and

educational.

ZooGoer (ISSN: 06313-416X) is

published six times a year by

Friends of the National Zoo,

National Zoological Park,

Washington, D.C. 20008. Third

class mailing permit 44282.

Subscription as percentage of full

membership dues is $4.00 a ‘year.

Subscription-only membership is

$5.00 a year and is available only to

institutions and to those residing

outside the Washington, D.C.,

metropolitan area.

© 1982. Friends of the National Zoo.

All rights reserved.

FONZ Board of Directors

1981-1982

Robert L. Nelson, President; Cecil McLelland,

First Vice President; Capt. Victor Delano,

Second Vice President; William C. Bryant,

Treasurer; Sally S. Tongren, Secretary; Knox

Banner; Janice A. Booker; John A. Cutler;

Janet Dewart; M. Anthony Gould; Alphons

Hackl; Anne Webster Hamilton; Dr. Stephen

T. Hosmer; Dr. A. Jose Jones; Nella C. Manes;

Georgianna S. McGuire; Robert W. Mason;

Dr. Roscoe M. Moore, Jr.; Monica J. Morgan;

Terry R. Peel; Whayne S. Quin; James F.

Rogers; Sylvia L. Samenow; Nancy M.

Schneck; Ross B. Simons.

FONZ Staff

Sabin Robbins, Executive Director; Dennis

Baker, Associate Director; Donna M. Schlegel,

Volunteer and Educational Services; David K.

Krohne, Publications; Fran Bernstein, Mem-

bership; Lonnie Wornom, Merchandising;

James Mustakas, Food Service; Kevin Polen,

Transportation; Norma Gay, Business

Manager.

National Zoological Park Staff

Dr. Theodore H. Reed, Director; Dr. John

Eisenberg, Assistant Director for Animal

Programs, Gaetano Calise, Assistant Director

for Support Services; Vincent J. Doyle, Office

of Management Services; Dr. Robert J. Hoage,

Special Assistant to the Director; Jaren

Horsley, Executive Assistant, Office of Animal

Programs.

National Zoological Park

Department Heads

Dr. Edwin Gould, Mammalogy; Dr. Eugene

Morton (Acting), Ornithology; Dr. Dale

Marcellini, Herpetology; Judy White, Edu-

cation; Dr. Mitchell Bush, Animal] Health; Dr.

Richard Montali, Pathology; Dr. Devra

Kleiman, Zoological Research; Dr. Christen

Wemmer, Conservation and Research Center;

Donald Muddiman, Construction Manage-

ment; Emanuel Petrella, Facilities Man-

agement; Robert Mulcahy, Graphics and

Exhibits; Samuel Middleton, Police and

Safety.

Volume 11, Number 1

January-February 1982

David K. Krohne

Editorial and Art Director

Mary C. Massey

Consulting Editor, FONZ

Dr. Robert J. Hoage

Consulting Editor, National

Zoological Park

Scott Bushnell

Assistant Art Director

Front Cover:

Kanchana represents the first step

in a new program to breed rare white

Bengal tigers. Sara Iverson, author

of the article beginning on page 5,

is a FONZ research assistant cur-

rently conducting lactation studies

and helping coordinate the Zoo's

hand-rearing facility.

Photo by Jessie Cohen, NZP Office

of Graphics and Exhibits

IN THIS ISSUE

ZOOGOER FEATURES

Breeding White Tigers «2.2... sie. es ose oncesmeeceeeee

Sara Iverson

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Whayne S. Quin

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Although she may look like just another frisky tiger cub, Kanchana, born to a white female and an orange male tiger at the

National Zoo, is destined to be part of a new program of breeding white tigers. (Photo by Milton Tierney)

Breeding White Tigers

The recent birth of an orange fe-

male tiger cub at the National Zoo is

a major event in the breeding of rare

white Bengal tigers. Kanchana,

whose name means “gold” in the

language of southern India, was

born on October 26, 1981, toa white

female and an orange male. Al-

though Bharat took excellent care

of her first cub, it became apparent

after two weeks that the cub’s

growth rate was abnormally low.

The reason for this is not certain. It

is possible that Bharat was not pro-

ducing enough milk or that her cub

was not suckling enough. So Kan-

chana was moved to the Zoo's hand-

rearing facility, where she resumed

growth at a normal rate. Plans call

for her to be part of a new, carefully

monitored program to improve and

maintain the line of rare white

tigers while also trying to preserve

the purity of the line of captive

Bengal tigers.

Sara Iverson

There are fewer than sixty white

tigers in captivity in the world to-

day. All are descended from one

white Bengal tiger, with the excep-

tion of the “Tony phenomenon”

explained below. Not only are white

tigers a genetic oddity, but they are

also important because of their cap-

tive Bengal ancestry. Most captive

Bengal tigers are genetically a mix-

ture of other strains, such as Si-

berian and Sumatran.

White tigers have ice-blue eyes and

a white background coat with dark

brown or ashy grey-brown stripes.

They are usually larger than normal

orange tigers. The white tiger is not

a true albino since it is not pure

white and does not have pink eyes.

It is often referred to as a partial

albino. There is only one recorded

incidence of true albino tigers—two

cubs discovered in northeast India

in 1922.

Scattered reports of white tigers

seen in the wild go back 160 years.

The Bombay Historical Society

states that between 1907 and 1933

seventeen white tigers were shot in

India. However, it was not until

1951 that a white tiger was captured

alive.

The known history of all white

tigers in captivity today dates back

to May 1951 and the jungles of the

former princely state of Rewa, now

part of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

There, a large white male cub (later

named Mohan) born to a normal

orange tigress was captured and

reared by the Maharaja of Rewa in

an unused palace at Govindgarh.

Mohan, the ninth reported case of a

white tiger in Rewa in fifty-five

years, became the progenitor of

nearly all the captive white tigers.

He grew to be exceptionally large,

with ice-blue eyes, pink-padded

paws, charcoal stripes, and an off-

white coat.

When he reached maturity, Mohan

was bred with Begum, a wild-caught

orange tigress. After three litters

produced ten cubs, Mohan was bred

to Radha, one of his daughters.

Their first litter produced four

white cubs—one male and three

females. Mohini, one of the females

from this litter, was donated to the

National Zoo in 1960. Later the Zoo

obtained Samson, an orange male

from Mohan and Begum’s second

litter. In order to preserve the white

trait, Mohan's descendants have

been bred back and forth to one

another in various combinations.

(The only exception outside this

population has been the addition of

Tony, one of two white cubs that

appeared unexpectedly as the off-

spring of two orange tigers owned

by the Hawthorn Circus. The only

known history of these orange

parents is that they were brother

and sister offspring of an imported

circus Bengal female and a regis-

tered Siberian male. Tony was bred

with the National Zoo's Kesari—a

white gene carrier—at Cincinnati,

and thus began the Cincinnati line

of white tigers. Tony's parents were

purchased by the Omaha Zoo and

have produced several white off-

spring, none of which has yet bred

successfully.]

An explanation of the genetics of

the white trait is in order here.

According to Mendelian theory, the

white trait is determined by a single

recessive gene, while the normal

orange trait is caused by a dominant

gene. Only a tiger with the two

recessive genes will be white. If

either or both parents carry only

dominant orange genes, none of

their cubs can be white.

Mohan’s first mate Begum, there-

fore, could not have produced a

white cub unless she happened to

carry a recessive—or white—gene

along with the orange. Since none of

the cubs from their first three litters

was white, it is presumed that

Begum carried no recessive white

genes. However, all the cubs re-

sulting from her matings with

Mohan would have arecessive gene.

The only way to get a white cub

from Mohan was to breed him back

to one of his daughters. To per-

petuate the strain, relative had to be

bred back with relative. By the same

token, since the first white tiger and

his mate were Bengals, it follows

that inbreeding of all their

descendants will produce Bengals.

It has been shown that the degree of

similar gene pairs is increased by

inbreeding. It is known that the

closer the relationship of the mated

individuals to each other, the more

quickly this similarity is reached.

This is exactly what it takes to get

two recessive white genes to pro-

duce a white tiger. Unfortunately,

this is also what it takes for other

recessive traits to appear, some of

which are very detrimental but

were previously hidden behind

their dominant genes. The appear-

ance of these recessive genes can

result in such things as malforma-

tions at birth, increased infant

mortality, poor growth rates, small

litter sizes, and increased sterility.

Until recently there was a decrease

in the population of captive white

tigers. All too often the fertility of

the animals had been very low, and

instances of cubs dying at birth or

shortly thereafter have been

common.

At the National Zoo one cub was

born with shortened legs and

‘crossed eyes. Another cub born in a

second litter died at sixteen months

from a neurological problem. In

New Delhi some cubs had twisted

necks; in Bristol, England, one cub

had poorly developed kidneys; and

in Calcutta one cub had an arched

backbone. Again, stillbirths have

been recorded, physiological dis-

orders have appeared, and early

death of cubs has been common. It

is also believed that white cubs are

more susceptible to disease than are

orange cubs. Obviously, there could

be other factors associated with the

white gene, but with no other white

tiger lines for comparison, it is hard

to tell.

Clearly, today's white tigers

descend from a series of concen-

ou ¢ ° e

Mohan Begum Imported Circus Bengal Registered Siberian

P: Maharajah of Rewa P: Maharajah of Rewa

4/55-Rewa

é

Radha

10/58 - Rewa

Sukeshi Raja Rani Mohini Sheba Radja

P:NZP P: Omaha Zoo P: Omaha Zoo

1/64-NZP

o of ? 5/66-NZP

Ramana Rajkumar Ramani supposed 73-Hawthorn Circus 75-Hawthorn Circus

P: NZP Pi NZP P:NZP

oO rou ® 5/80 -Omaha Zoo

4/69 - NZP Kesari __ till born Tony Pamipeiigaeres; | Obie

4 P:NZP P: Hawthorn Agus P: Omaha Zoo

& Q Circus since 8/78 o

died Rewati Ramar died

P: NZP Ps Pr Omaha'-Zoo 12/80-Omaha Zoo

L: Columbus Zoo

1/81- Omaha Zoo

as —l—

P: Omaha Zoo fos

‘ Poona

3/70 - NZP P: Brookfield Zoo

6/74 - Cincinnati Zoo 4/73-NZP

i 2 2a nd a a a?

Moni) “samterasncdmmmatestilibborn 2 2 eo oft ? ? ? e é ?

died | yeor

Manju Bill Atma

P: Omaha Zoo died

Bharat Priya Peela Ranjit ———saenwna =~ iMarvin

PNGP pep | OPTNZP NOP i P: NZP

| L‘ Omaha Zoo

”

Jack

P: San Francisco Zoo

5/8|-Omaha Zoo

@ o C-Section

Bengals Bengal e| ©

Pp: kt le P: vain 6/76 - Cincinnati Zoo fe

10/8!1-NZP Zoo Zoo ee) PP

Kanch J

meee “ @ ¢ o 9 J ’

Kamala Bhim umita Arjun Vir

Suyra Soma P: P: Cincinnati Zoo pi Sreectr 200 PB Heainedn PY Howihgen Bengal

Bre ille P: Knoxville L: Cincinnati Zoo Circus Circus Kimanthi

00 00 | :

L:! NZP L? Omaha Zoo Pe Daktind' 209

I

5/80 - Cincinnati Zoo

base Nat 4

ate 7/79 -Cincinnati Zoo

| oe

Mated N ‘

larangi Mota ae

8/80-Omaha Zoo 5/81-Omaha Zoo P: Cincinnati Zoo 7/g| of 1/80-Cincinnati Zoo

died Chetan

birth P: Cincinnati

defect Zoo

4/80-Cincinnati Zoo

Cincinnati Zoo

;- +

x, a er ? “

P: NZP P: NZP

going to Columbus at Omaha at Omaha Zoo Unnamed L: Columbus L: Knoxville

Zoo Zoo P: Cincinnati Zoo 2 ? 2 Zoo Zoo

ee |1/81-Cincinnati 5

Zoo Shubhra Tapi Shundari

Ownership not decided P: Cincinnati P: Cincinnati P: Cincinnati

pat Zoo Zoo Zoo

oO? Oo? @? amos 9/81- Cincinnati Z

f f f acking - Cincinnati Zoo

LEGEND stripes)

inpexed:

nname

P- Property of With Mother oe Q

L-on Loan to P: Cincinnati Zoo fstrabak

‘ lacking

O- White stripes)

@ - Orange Unnamed

P: Cincinnati Zoo

Date of, Where

/64-NZP - “birth / occurred

This chart traces the genealogy of the National Zoo's white tigers from those owned by India's Maharaja of Rewa. (Research

by Sara Iverson; drawn by Ric Hider)

trated inbreeding with relatively

little caution directed to the effects

on the offspring. Despite the gen-

erally poor quality and fitness of

these tigers, there are several impor-

tant reasons to breed them. These

visually stunning animals are not

only an interesting and rare at-

traction, but are also some of the

only pure Bengal tigers in captivity.

Most of the pure Bengal line has

been lost because they were bred

with Siberian and Sumatran tigers.

Since all the white tigers began as

Bengals and have been inbred as

such, most of them are close to

being pure Bengal. Careful breeding

of white tigers can save the white

line and preserve the pure Bengal

line.

To achieve this, a new program

must balance inbreeding (for the

maintenance of the gene) with out-

crossing (for the survival and fitness

of the animals}. The breeding strat-

egy developed by the National Zoo

involves outcross breeding using

unrelated tigers and—where pos-

sible—pure Bengals alternating

with breeding within the population

of white gene carriers, using only

the most fit and virile animals.

Since the National Zoo does not

have space for such an extensive

breeding program on its own, it will

cooperate with other zoos, such as

Omaha, Knoxville, Columbus, and

Cincinnati, that have space to

house the program and with whom

When Kanchana failed to grow at a normal rate, she was taken to the Zoo's

hand-rearing facility. Here Dr. Olav Oftedal, National Zoo animal nutritionist,

gives the hungry baby a bottle. (Photo by Jessie Cohen, NZP Office of Graphics and

Exhibits)

it can work out loan arrangements

involving animals whose inbreed-

ing is minimal. The Knoxville Zoo,

for instance, has loaned the Na-

tional Zoo a rare pure orange adult

Bengal tiger that has already mated

with one of the white females. In

return, Knoxville has on loan sev-

eral younger tigers carrying the

white gene. The Omaha Zoo has

both white tigers and a white gene-

carrying orange tiger that could be

mated with one of the National

Zoo's white gene-carrying orange

tigers. Columbus now has several

tigers carrying the white gene as

well as one white tiger.

It will take a great deal of time and

effort to determine whether this

new breeding program is successful.

To begin the process, the National

Zoo obtained from the San Fran-

cisco Zoo an unrelated orange male

that bred successfully with white

tigress Bharat. That union produced

the first tiger born at the National

Zoo in nine years. Although she

may look like just another normal,

frisky cub, Kanchana represents a

new era in the captive breeding of

rare white tigers.

Bert Barker (left), senior keeper of cats

at the time, and National Zoo Director

Dr. Theodore H. Reed prepare Mohini

for her flight to Washington in 1960.

FONZ volunteer Diana McMeekin explains the wonders of elephant teeth to Zoolab visitors. Zoolab and Birdlab are staffed by

thirty FONZ volunteers throughout the year. (Photo by Jessie Cohen, NZP Office of Graphics and Exhibits)

10

FONZ Annual Report

Whayne S. Quin, President, 1980-81

In 1981, the Friends of the National

Zoo exceeded previous years in pro-

viding support to the National Zoo

and in its service to members.

The array of year-long projects and

progress was truly remarkable. This

is due in large measure to the dra-

matically improved National Zoo

under the leadership of Director

Ted Reed and Smithsonian Institu-

tion Secretary S. Dillon Ripley. This

year saw the opening of the new and

innovative Great Ape House and

major renovations to the Small

Mammal and Reptile and Amphib-

ian Houses. Construction will begin

soon on the exciting Monkey Island

exhibit.

At the same time, FONZ has been

active in improving its visitor

service facilities. The handsome and

already successful Seal Shop, lo-

cated in Beaver Valley, opened in

the summer of 1981.

Visitors enjoy the food and pleasant atmosphere of the Panda Cafe. Food service

operations generate nearly half of FONZ's income. (Photo by Sabin Robbins)

11

T-shirt screening is one of the most popular activities of FONZ's annual ZooNights for members. The 1981 T-shirt design

commemorated the opening of the Zoo's new Great Ape House. (Photo by David K. Krohne)

12

The small food facility on Bird

House hill was renamed the Inter-

national Cafe, and the menu was

enlarged to include quiche, fresh

strawberry shortcake, and tropical

fruit punches.

New umbrella tables at the Panda

Cafe improved the look and comfort

of the facility. New flooring,

signage, and counter displays at

many of the food and shop facilities

upgraded their appearance and

efficiency.

Because of such improvements, new

income records were set by FONZ.

And by earning more, FONZ can

help more in the National Zoo's

crucial mission to study and save

wild animals.

FONZ's primary mission has always

been education. We have long

known that the National Zoo is one

of the largest and most heavily

visited open classrooms in the

world. Our challenge has always

been to reach as many zoogoers as

possible with information programs

that instill respect for all forms of

life. We hope that such programs

will encourage all to understand

and so to learn and care about

wildlife. To that end, FONZ in 1981

spent almost a quarter of a million

dollars in support of dozens of

different FONZ-run educational

programs.

From the beginning, the driving

force of nearly every FONZ educa-

FONZ guides offer a dozen different tours for school groups. Last year they ‘‘taught”

more than 12,500 students from prekindergarten through high school. Here Beth

Riedel explains the sea lions to a school group. (Photo by Jessie Cohen, NZP Office

of Graphics and Exhibits)

tion program has been our extraor-

dinary corps of volunteers. This

highly dedicated, knowledgeable,

and enthusiastic volunteer force

includes school tour guides, week-

end roving guides, Zoolab and

Birdlab assistants, summer teenage

Zoo Aides, and animal behavior

watchers—all together more than

350 volunteers. In 1981, for the first

time, that trained group included

ten guides for preschool groups and

more than a dozen who take sign

language classes so they can con-

duct special tours for the hearing-

impaired. FONZ volunteers con-

tributed a staggering 28 000 hours

in carrying out these various

programs.

We conservatively estimate that

FONZ education programs this year

will directly reach and, we hope,

teach over 250,000 zoogoers of all

ages.

FONZ recognizes that the Zoo's

millions of visitors represent a

broad spectrum of interests, ages,

and special groups, ranging from

the casual walk-in to structured

school visits. In 1981, FONZ and

the National Zoo made special

13

efforts to offer more programs on a

regular basis to serve our many and

varied audiences.

For the casual, walk-in zoogoer,

FONZ worked with the National

Zoo staff to offer special programs

such as the ‘Animal of the Month”

events and the Sunday Afternoons

at the National Zoo programs.

FONZ information centers were

staffed for longer hours, and we

increased showings of our two

orientation films Zoo and The Last

Chance.

A record number of eighty teenage

Zoo Aides gave up their summer

vacation to stage daily animal-

themed puppet shows for an esti-

mated 35,000 visitors. They were so

effective that they were invited to

perform at King’s Dominion and for

the Rock Creek Day birthday

celebration.

For organized school groups, FONZ

offered a dozen different tours that

served more than 11,000 students

from primary grades through high

school. For the first time, FONZ-

trained guides also conducted tours

for more than 1500 youngsters in

the prekindergarten through third

grade age group.

And, for the first time in FONZ's

twenty-three-year history, our en-

tire education effort was examined

and evaluated by a Smithsonian/

National Zoo-appointed Peer

Review Committee of professional

14

FONZ's eighty teenage Zoo Aides present puppet shows every summer to thousands

of visitors. Last year they also performed at King’s Dominion and at the Rock Creek

Day birthday celebration. (Photo by John Echave)

educators. The committee con-

cluded that “This zoo is un-

doubtedly a world leader for edu-

cational work and provides an

admirable variety of quality pro-

gramming that shows sensitivity to

the need for public communi-

cation.”

In addition to these FONZ-staffed

and National Zoo cooperative edu-

cation efforts, we have continued to

provide ever-expanding financial

support for vital research and con-

servation projects supervised by

National Zoo scientists. In 1981,

FONZ grants for these projects

reached an all-time high of

$217,000, representing a thirty-

percent increase over 1980.

As in past years, FONZ funded a

successful student intern and fel-

lowship program that supported

thirty-one students who helped Zoo

researchers conduct studies in such

critical areas as detecting tubercu-

losis in Zoo animals and learning

more about the nutritional require-

ments of giant pandas and mi-

grating birds.

A FONZ-supported visiting lecturer

program brought experts to the

National Zoo to share their

knowledge in such subjects as the

reproductive strategies necessary to

breed rare and endangered species

in captivity. FONZ funds also

underwrote a portion of a week-

long symposium on captive man-

agement attended by more than 100

Zoo directors from around the

world.

Conservation efforts supporting the

Zoo extend far beyond Washington.

FONZ-supported field researchers

studied cheetah breeding tech-

niques in South Africa, collected

caiman in South America, and

monitored grey seal behavior in

Nova Scotia as part of our own seal

Highly trained FONZ volunteers assist Zoo researchers in animal behavior studies.

In this case, an Atlas lion cub seems equally interested in observing Nell Ball.

management program. Perhaps

most exciting of all FONZ agreed to

commit substantial funds toward

supporting a hoped-for, long-term

study of giant pandas in the wilds of

China.

As in recent years, the bulk of

revenues comes from the food, sou-

venir, public parking, and member-

ship departments. Here also it was a

banner year, as the figures indicate.

Last year I reported that the Na-

tional Zoo and its parent body the

Smithsonian Institution, based

upon the past performance of our

food and shop services, has ex-

tended our contracts for a ten-year

period. This year our parking man-

agement contract has been ex-

tended for another year.

The fulfillment of the goals and

plans in our concession contracts is

absolutely critical if we are to con-

tinue our meaningful support for

the Zoo. To implement the plans

contemplated in our contracts,

FONZ has built a new Mane Gift

Shop across from the old shop,

which will be replaced by the new

Monkey Island exhibit. Plans are

moving ahead to create an exciting

full-service visitor complex called

Panda Plaza.

Special programs organized for

FONZ members continue to ex-

pand. The 1981 member event

calendar was filled with classes,

lectures, films, a photo contest, a

15

Christmas party, art openings,

behind-the-scenes Zoo tours, local

field trips, overseas safaris, and of

course, the always-popular

ZooNights.

The bimonthly ZooGoer magazine

for adult members featured a special

Great Ape House Guide issue in

1981, and the PawPrints newsletter

for junior members featured more

contests and games to increase

reader involvement.

FONZ’s new Publications Director

is also coordinating the production

of a promised 1982 bestseller—a

first-ever, all-color, basic Zoo

Guidebook, an item we believe has

long been needed. The guidebook

has been written by FONZ Board

member, Secretary, and author Sally

Tongren and will be on sale in the

spring.

It is appropriate that there are more

member events than ever because

there are more members than ever.

In 1981, thanks to a successful

sweepstakes mail invitation, mem-

ership increased fifty percent.

FONZ's 22,000 members constitute

the second-largest Zoo society in

the world.

As befits one of the world’s most

successful zoo-support societies,

FONZ staffers are playing leader-

ship roles in the zoo field. This year,

FONZ educators and the Executive

Director addressed the regional

meeting of the American Associa-

16

tion of Zoological Parks and

Aquariums, and our Executive

Director conducted a zoo support

session at the AAZPA national

conference.

FONZ now produces and dis-

tributes to more than 100 zoos and

aquariums in North America a

bimonthly zoo idea pack known as

ZIP that explains how to conduct

successful fund-raising, member-

ship, and special events programs.

Because of FONZ successes in zoo

public relations, we have been asked

to help launch the first Presi-

dentially-proclaimed National Zoo

and Aquarium Month in June 1982.

As I think is apparent, FONZ has

been more efficient and more ef-

fective than ever—not only in sup-

porting the National Zoo, but also

in assisting other zoos across this

nation in improving and expanding

their support roles.

In the end, such achievements are

the direct result of the input of

many, many people—the conscien-

tious FONZ staff, a hard-working

Board of Directors, strong help

given us by the National Zoo and

the Smithsonian Institution, and,

crucial to all, the awesome contribu-

tions of hundreds of volunteers and

the now 22,000 members.

It is particularly satisfying for me to

report such successes as I conclude

my term this year as FONZ Presi-

dent. It is clear to me that this active

organization has never been in

better hands or given more promise

of a growing and bright future.

With your continued support,

FONZ will continue to be just about

the best friend the wildlife kingdom

has had since Noah and his ark.

—Whayne S. Quin.

Note: This report was presented by Mr. Quin at

the 1981 Annual Meeting of the Friends of the

National Zoo.

17

FUNZ NEWS

Sweepstakes Winners

Announced

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Billingsley of

Fairfax, Virginia, are the lucky

winners of an African safari, the

grand prize in the first FONZ

sweepstakes. Their entry was drawn

by National Zoo Director Dr.

Theodore H. Reed from over 15,000

entries received.

Second prize, a weekend for two in

New York City with a VIP tour of

the Bronx Zoo, was won by Mr. and

Mrs. Jerome Stirman of Alexandria,

Virginia.

Winners of the third prize, a

weekend for four at the Zoo's

Conservation and Research Center

at Front Royal, Virginia, are:

Edmund Crosby, Hyattsville, Mary-

land; Mrs. Frank Cush, Washington,

D.C.; Joffre Rosenfeld, Rockville,

Maryland; and Agnes Motyka,

Washington, D.C.

There are 275 additional winners of

prizes including a Director's tour of

the National Zoo, a Polaroid Sonar

camera, and exclusive Zoo watches.

18

National Zoo Director Dr. Theodore H. Reed draws the African safari prize-winning

entry in FONZ’s first membership sweepstakes. (Photo by David K. Krohne)

The second FONZ sweepstakes is

now underway, with a grand prize of

a safari to the Galapagos Islands. All

current FONZ members will receive

the sweepstakes mailing and are

eligible to win any of 285 fabulous

prizes.

Lend a Helping Hand. . .and

Get Paid for It!

FONZ needs dependable, enthusi-

astic people to work on weekdays

during the beautiful spring season.

(Jobs are available in summer and

fall, too.}

If you have at least three days a week

free and would like to be a gift shop

clerk, parking or stroller cashier, or

food service worker, please call

673-4970 weekdays for a brochure

and application.

Help a Future Jane Goodall

Each summer FONZ brings college

students to the National Zoo as

interns. The students assist Zoo

scientists in animal research

projects as they learn about the Zoo

and develop skills that will be useful

to them later in their careers.

Although FONZ provides stipends,

the summer interns still need low-

cost room and board. Many are new

to the Washington area and must

live on limited budgets.

If you have a room in your house

that will be empty this summer or if

you need a housesitter, why not help

a future Marlin Perkins or Jane

Goodall stay within his or her

means while learning about wild

animals.

The FONZ summer interns will

need housing near the Zoo or near

public transportation for twelve

weeks from late May to early

September.

These interns are a select group of

highly intelligent, dedicated indi-

viduals. They are some of the bright-

est and best of future zoo profes-

sionals. Won't you help?

For additional information, please

call Mary Sawyer Hollander at

673-4955.

Help Decorate the

Small Mammal House

The Zoo can use donations of

tropical and desert house plants for

the renovated Small Mammal

House. The staff envisions a house

lush with tropical flora, so the needs

and expectations are great. Arrange-

ments can be made to pick up your

donations. Please leave your name

and phone number at 673-4783.

Weare also interested in woodlands

or other sites within a thirty-mile

radius of the Zoo where keepers can

find rotten logs, vines, dead

branches, and boulders for deco-

rating exhibits in the Small Mam-

mal House. Again, please leave your

name and phone number at 673-

4783, and Zoo staff will contact

you.

Reptile demonstrations fascinate hundreds on ZooNight. All FONZ members will

receive invitations to ZooNight, June 4 and 18, in the next few weeks.

19

LOO NEWS

Reptile and Amphibian

House Reopens

Alligators, snapping turtles, red-

eyed tree frogs, water dragons, and

ninety other species of reptiles and

amphibians are once again on view

at the National Zoo. After being

closed nearly two years for renova-

tion, the Reptile and Amphibian

House reopened in December. With

its ornate entrances, sculpted gar-

goyles, and decorative brickwork,

the building has been one of the

Zoo's most popular attractions

since it first opened in 1931.

The crocodiles, lizards, snakes,

turtles, frogs, and salamanders have

returned to homes that have been

expanded in size, redecorated with

living plants, and equipped with

new lighting. The new environ-

ments are more healthful for the

animals and allow them to be dis-

played in spacious and attractive

natural settings. Behind the scenes

are new areas where herpetologists

can study and breed selected species.

Three new indoor-outdoor croco-

dilian exhibits adjoin the Reptile

and Amphibian house. The new

buildings are linked by an observa-

tion deck overlooking the pools and

banks where the giant reptiles will

bask in the sun during warm

20

The new indoor-outdoor crocodile exhibits are part of the renovated Reptile and

Amphibian House which reopened in December and has already drawn thousands

of visitors. (Photo by Jessie Cohen, NZP Office of Graphics and Exhibits)

weather. The area around the build-

ings has been landscaped with

plantings that give the impression

of natural vegetation.

Although the handsome exterior

remains unchanged, the interior

has been completely renovated.

Modern heating, plumbing, and

electrical services have been in-

stalled. Hot water is provided by a

solar-assisted water heating system.

The public space has been rede-

signed for one-way visitor traffic

flow. New interior lighting and

short partitions divide the long

hallways into segments, each fea-

turing only a few exhibits. Herp-

Lab, a hands-on learning center lo-

cated in the building's central hall,

will open later this year.

According to Zoo Director Dr.

Theodore H. Reed, ‘The National

Zoo's Reptile House is the finest

facility in America for the display

and study of these diverse animals.”

A special issue of ZooGoer later this

year will highlight this exciting

addition to the new National Zoo.

FUNZ SAFARIS

EAST AFRICA

August 3-22, 1982

FONZ’s most popular safari

promises to be the best ever this

year! Timed for the peak of the

Serengeti migration—the greatest

mass movement of animals on

earth—this three-week wildlife

odyssey to Kenya includes riding

horseback through herds of giraffe

and antelope, sleeping under

canvas in a luxury bush camp

overlooking snow-capped Mt.

Kenya, game watching on foot led

by a spear-carrying Masai, and even

an optional once-in-a-lifetime

camel trek.

Participants will stay at Nairobi's

historic Norfolk Hotel (Heming-

way’'s favorite) and the Mt. Kenya

Safari Club (“game lodge of mil-

lionaires’) and will spend a night

watching herds of elephants close-

up from a deluxe treetop lodge.

Leading African conservationists

will be met at special private

receptions.

Cost for this remarkable wildlife

adventure is $2,187 plus airfare to

and from Kenya. This fee includes a

$200 tax-deductible contribution

The opportunity to see and study wild animals at close range is one of the highlights

of FONZ’'s upcoming safari to East Africa!

to FONZ, a FONZ executive leader,

and all other costs except a few

meals. The five-day camel-riding

trek is optional and several hundred

dollars more. For a complete

itinerary and details, contact FONZ.

ANTARCTICA

December 6-31, 1982

For the first time, FONZ is offering

a travel adventure that only a few

thousand lucky people have ever

experienced. Participants will join

with Antarctic experts on the

cruise of a lifetime to the remote

and pristine home of fur seals,

albatrosses, glaciers, and towering

icebergs. Rubber boats, developed

by Captain Cousteau, provide ship-

to-shore opportunities to watch

close-up the behavior of a

remarkable variety of wildlife

unafraid of humans.

21

After a flight to Rio de Janeiro,

expedition members board the MS

World Explorer and cruise the

whale-rich waters of the southern

Atlantic to the Falkland Islands.

Here live enormous colonies of

Rockhopper, Magellaine, and

Gento penguins, black-browed

albatrosses, and fur seals. Antarctic

scenery is like nothing else on

earth, with its snow-covered

mountains, diamond-bright ice

floes, and even volcanic islands

with active caldera and fumaroles

making the water warm enough for

swimming! Several scientific sta-

tions will be visited, and experts

will give daily lectures and

briefings aboard the ship.

All cabins are outside with private

shower and toilet, and each has a

telephone and fingertip climate

control. There are spacious lounges

and even a library, beauty parlor,

and sauna.

Enormous colonies of penguins are among the incredible sights that await participants

in FONZ's Antarctica safari in December.

22

Cost for the all-expense-paid

Antarctic expedition is $4,530 and

up, depending on cabin accom-

modations, plus air fare to and from

Rio de Janeiro. A $200 tax-

deductible contribution to FONZ

is included. For details, contact

FONZ.

IRELAND/SCOTLAND/WALES/

ENGLAND NATURE TOUR

July 10-27, 1982

Everybody's favorite bird—the

puffin—plus unique Manx cats,

Connemara ponies, deer, and large

colonies of seabirds such as

kittiwakes and razorbills star in this

tour of the greatest wildlife and zoo

sights of Ireland and the British

Isles. There will be special visits to

osprey breeding grounds, major

zoos, national parks and reserves,

and several remarkable botanic

gardens.

Other highlights include overnights

and private banquets at medieval

castles and cabaret suppers and

entertainment. City life will be

explored in Dublin, Glasgow,

Edinburgh, and the medieval

walled city of Chester.

The cost of $2,698 from New York

City includes a $100 tax-deductible

contribution to FONZ, a profes-

sional leader throughout, most

meals, and several private re-

ceptions. Contact FONZ for details.

ZIMBABWE/BOTSWANA

September 15-October 8, 1982

Experts have long hailed this part of

southern Africa as the finest, most

unspoiled wildlife area in the

world. Elephants, lions, cheetah,

antelope, and an incredible variety

of birds abound. The twenty-four-

day safari includes a sundowner

cruise up the Zambezi to thundering

Victoria Falls and game viewing in

everything from cars and house-

boats to canoes and treetop plat-

forms. Accommodations are in

luxury tent camps and lodges

throughout.

Cost of this connoisseur's look at

wildest Africa is $3,100 plus airfare

to and from Washington, D.C., and

includes all but a few meals plus a

$200 tax-deductible contribution

to FONZ. Contact FONZ for details.

FONZ’s safari to Zimbabwe and

Botswana will visit the finest, most

unspoiled wildlife area in the world.

(Photo by Sabin Robbins)

23

Coy

Pere David's deer have long been extinct in the wild, and captive breeding is essential

to their survival. This youngster was born at the National Zoo on St. Patrick's Day.

(Photo by Jessie Cohen, NZP Office of Graphics and Exhibits)

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