ZOOGQCER

Departments

ZooNews 18

FONZNews 20

Fonz Events 25

ZooViews 26

Contributors’ Page 27

Volume 9, Number 1

January-February, 1980

Mary W. Matthews,

Editor

Mary C. Massey,

Consulting Editor

Rebecca McClimans,

Design & Production

FONZ Comes of Age

by Stephen T. Hosmer

$2,424,558

Cover: More than 50,000 school-

children discover the Zoo’s wildlife

wonders annually, thanks to

FONZ’s dedicated corps of highly

trained volunteer guides, Cover

Financial FONZ 8 Volunteer on Exhibit 815 | Photo by Sabin Robbins.

by M. Anthony Gould by Ronn Brackin

1979

FONZ Comes of Age

President's Report

Anyone who has explored Beaver

Valley, walked the new bear lines, or

enjoyed the variety of special pro-

grams available to the public in the

Education Building knows that the

National Zoo, thanks to the leader-

ship of Ted Reed and the Smithsoni-

an, has never been greater. So it is

with FONZ in its twenty-first year.

| am pleased to report that despite

a year of winter blizzards, inflation,

rainy weekends, a tropical storm, and

gas shortages, FONZ’s state has

never been sounder, and our role as

productive Friends of the National

Zoo continues to grow stronger.

Our Treasurer reports (p. 8) on

FONZ’s remarkable financial growth

during the past decade—thanks to

the revenues generated by the con-

tinued success of our food service,

gift shop, and parking programs.

These revenues have permitted our

corporation to make an increasingly

significant contribution to the work

of the National Zoo over that time.

Since 1974— and excluding volunteer

time and capital investment — FONZ

4

has contributed no less than

$1,300,000 to education, research,

conservation, and other service ac-

tivities of direct benefit to the Na-

tional Zoo. Over the past twelve

months alone, FONZ support for

such __ activities | amounted to

$373,000, a seven percent increase in

funding over the previous fiscal year.

Let me share with you briefly the

spectrum and character of the activi-

ties this revenue has supported.

First, mention must be made of the

growing FONZ grant support of the

crucial conservation and _ research

work of National Zoo scientists.

Since 1975, $450,000 has been allo-

cated to such purposes— including

some $138,000 contributed during

the last year alone.

A portion of these monies enabled

20 summer interns and seven longer-

term research assistants to work with

our Zoo professionals during the

course of the year both here and at

the Front Royal Conservation and Re-

search Center. These interns and re-

search assistants, who were drawn

from 18 colleges in 17 states across

the nation, participated in scientific

studies of Pére David’s deer, Indian

rhinos, gibbons, South American

bush dogs, elephant shrews, and

giant pandas—to mention just a few

of the species involved. Several

FONZ interns also helped with the

development of educational bro-

chures and exhibits. The caliber of

the assistance rendered by these in-

terns and research assistants has

been highly praised by the Zoo staff.

To cite but one example, the Zoo’s

unique research on the deleterious

effects of inbreeding on captive ani-

mals was significantly assisted by

FONZ-supported interns and re-

search assistants.

This year FONZ also funded a new

program of post-graduate fellow-

ships at the Zoo. Three fellowship

holders are now pursuing important

programs of scientific investigation in

the Office of Pathology, and a fourth

is conducting an evaluation of the

Zoo’s D.C. school project for the

Office of Education.

Another FONZ grant is under-

writing research assistance for the

production of the first comprehen-

sive history of the National Zoo. Ad-

ditionally, FONZ paid for the 1979

publication of scientific papers and

proceedings of an NZP symposium

on the comparative pathology of zoo

animals.

Four experts were brought to the

Zoo on FONZ grants to share with

members of the Zoo’s staff their

knowledge of animal nutrition, drug

darting, and artificial breeding tech-

niques. 1979 also saw the first result

of a FONZ-supported keeper ex-

change program, when a keeper from

the London Zoo’s Whipsnade breed-

ing facility spent six months trading

information at Front Royal.

Realizing that conservation efforts

reach beyond Zoo grounds, FONZ

continues its support of field conser-

vation studies. This year, FONZ

monies have launched a first-ever

field study of the red panda in Nepal:

an expedition in search of one of the

world’s most elusive mammals, the

giant civet cat of Indonesia; and an

intensive study of tropical forest

birds on Baro Colorado Island in

Panama.

In FONZ’s original charter, the key

word used to describe our mission

was education. Education remains

our principal pursuit today. Since

1974, FONZ has devoted over

$600,000 to educational activities.

Over the past year we spent a record

$189,000 on a broad spectrum of

projects developed in close cooper-

ation with the Zoo’s Office of Educa-

tion. Each year we attempt to explore

new programs while still expanding

and improving our projects of proven

value.

The heart of our education effort

continues to rest with FONZ’s extra-

ordinary corps of guides and other

volunteers. This year, some 60 FONZ

tour guides introduced the wonders

of Zoo wildlife to more than 15,000

students on class tours. Fourteen

FONZ guide Peggy Siddall explains the

giraffe’s high points to three of the Zoo’s

thousands of annual visitors.

Sabin Robbins

FONZ volunteers contribute almost

41,000 hours annually to educational ser-

vices. Sally Tongren, left, and Jeanie Teare

show wide-eyed youngsters the world of

the Zoo.

newly trained roving guides were

added to the already established

ranks, their function to roam the Zoo

on weekends in order to answer the

public’s myriad questions. Twenty

volunteers now regularly staff the

popular Zoolab and Birdlab. Some

150 trained animal behavior watch-

ers assisted Zoo researchers in

studies of lions, rhinos, gibbons, and

other species during the past year

alone. And 60 FONZ junior zoo aides

spent their summer this year staging

daily puppet shows which used en-

tertainment to educate audiences in

respecting the rights of Zoo animals

and in Zoo courtesy.

To appreciate the magnitude of

the collective contribution of the

FONZ guides and volunteers, one

must realize that it would take 21

full-time employees to equal the

more than 41,000 hours that have

been selflessly volunteered by FONZ

members in 1979.

This year FONZ began an expand-

ed, summer-long Zoo “camp.” Hun-

dreds of youngsters in the D.C. Rec-

reation Program spent four days each

at the Zoo learning about animals

through walking tours, movies,

games, treasure hunts, and arts and

crafts projects. The FONZ Zoo Ex-

press bus picked up the children each

morning and returned them to their

eight different recreation centers at

the end of each day. Many of the

eight- to twelve-year-olds were from

the inner city; a few had never before

been to a zoo!

6

In conjunction with the Smith-

sonian’s Museum of Natural His-

tory, we now offer an education pro-

gram on primate evolution to high

school students. The Zoo’s innova-

tive Fourth Grade D.C. School Proj-

ect was expanded to 16 schools this

In its twenty-first year, FONZ

remains an innovative and dy-

namic organization.

year, and we have also extended our

educational outreach to the pre-

school through second grade audi-

ence in a program that uses a touch-

and-try session before the children

observe live animals.

Finally, mention must be made of

the new FONZ film. Following our

award-winning movie, “Zoo,” which

has been enjoyed by millions of Zoo

visitors, schoolchildren, and TV audi-

ences throughout America since

1975, FONZ this year produced

another great film, ‘‘The Last

Chance.” This 28-minute color and

sound film tells the exciting story of

the Zoo’s efforts to study and breed

endangered animals at the Conserva-

tion Center in Front Royal, Virginia.

Many of you, | hope, saw this beauti-

ful movie at our last ZooNight, or

perhaps when it premiered on tele-

vision September 30, 1979. Like the

first FONZ movie, “The Last Chance”

will be screened in the Zoo’s auditor-

ium regularly; it will also be made

available to schools, libraries, and

other organizations nationally.

This year also marked several new

developments in our membership

Jim Mulvaney

programs. To ensure that every

FONZ member of every age and in-

terest has something fun and educa-

tional to do year-round, the 1979

event calendar was full. There was

ZooNight; a special opening of Beav-

er Valley; guided tours of the Zoo; a

photo contest; a pottery exhibit; a

Christmas party; Zoo classes; month-

ly film-lectures; a selection of wild-

life adventure trips and safaris; and

much more.

Improvements were made during

the year in the design and story qual-

ity of our two popular publications,

ZooGoer, for adult members, and

PawPrints, for junior members. In ad-

dition, both magazines are now dis-

tributed free of charge to 1,500 area

schools and libraries in an effort by

FONZ’s Board of Directors to spread

zoo knowledge ever wider.

To create a climate and machinery

for expanded participation by you,

the FONZ member, in the nomina-

tion and election of Directors, the

FONZ Board of Directors devoted

considerable time and discussion this

year to revising FONZ’s by-laws. | am

happy to report that at a special

meeting of the members on May 23,

these proposed amendments were

unanimously passed by an affirma-

tive proxy and in-person vote of

2,745.

More people than ever before are

having a wild time as members of

FONZ, thanks to the concerted mem-

bership campaign we launched this

year. Letters, television and radio

messages, and redoubled efforts in

the Park itself produced 1,500 new

Friends of the National Zoo in 1979

and brought our dues-paying mem-

Jim Mulvaney

bership count to a record high of

T1300.

As the foregoing review suggests,

1979 has been another year of sig-

nificant growth and achievement for

FONZ. And for this we owe much to

the continued close cooperation of

Ted Reed, the Zoo’s staff, and the

Smithsonian Institution; and to the

leadership of our Executive Director,

Sabin Robbins, our Associate Direc-

tor, Dennis Baker, and the dedicated

efforts of the unusually motivated

staff that so ably serves us.

It should be a source of satisfac-

tion to us all that, in its twenty-first

year, FONZ remains an innovative

and dynamic organization. The suc-

cess of the past promises even more

for the future. We enter the ‘80s

strongly positioned to serve the Zoo

visitor better and to assist this mag-

nificent Zoo in its vital education,

research, and conservation work. 0

Tonight | conclude my third and

final year as President of FONZ. |

shall remain on the Board, and | very

much look forward to working with

the outstanding slate of new officers

who will guide and manage our cor-

poration during the coming year. The

active support of you, our members,

will, of course, continue to be our or-

ganization’s mainstay. It has made

my tenure as President especially

rewarding.

FONZ President, 1979

y 4

Financial FONZ

Treasurer’s Report

| am speaking to you tonight as

Treasurer of FONZ for the last time. |

have been Treasurer for three years

now; and this difficult job has been

greatly eased by the able efforts and

hard work of Dennis Baker, FONZ’s

Associate Director and Business

Manager; Norma Gay, Assistant Busi-

ness Manager; Mary Massey, Person-

nel Assistant; Lonnie Wornom, Direc-

tor of Merchandising; and Tom

Frame, Director of Food Service.

During my brief tenure, we have

seen a continued expansion and

sophistication of visitor services at

the National Zoo. Since 1979 marks

FONZ’s tenth anniversary of its

formal business operations, | thought

you would be interested in seeing just

how we have done over the years.

As you will note on the chart (p.9),

we began in 1970 with a one-kiosk

souvenir operation. In fact, it is signi-

ficant to note that that same kiosk is

still around, presently serving as the

Panda Ice Cream Stand. That’s quite

a record! | wish the construction

people who are building a house for

a friend of mine would take a few

notes from our NZP engineers and

staff.

As the chart shows, there was a

dramatic surge upward in 1972, the

_ year FONZ/NZP built the Mane Gift

Shop. This, coupled with the FONZ

trains, paved the way for greater

growth. As FONZ staff capabilities

grew, so did its revenues. In 1973,

FONZ took on yet another visitor

service, the parking operation. The

parking program was started by the

Smithsonian to develop a funding

base for future improvements to the

Zoo’s parking facilities. Although we

have seen little expansion thus far in

this area, other than the construction

of the parking lot on the roof over the

Service Building, we have hopes that

the insufficient parking at NZP will

get a much higher priority from Con-

gress soon.

To recap the years 1970-1975: In

addition to providing membership

services, publications, and education

and volunteer programs, FONZ de-

veloped a fine line of souvenir and

gift items, established the Zoo’s park-

ing program for the Smithsonian, and

operated train tours of the Zoo, with

all net proceeds going into the Zoo’s

education and research programs.

In 1975, FONZ embarked on yet

another new venture—providing

food service to the visitor. A very ex-

citing program took shape: A kiosk

serving wine and cheese was built

near the Bird House; a Bavarian-

themed facility emerged atop the

roof of the giant pandas’ building,

serving beer, knockwurst, and sauer-

kraut; scooped ice cream was intro-

duced to the Mane Restaurant—

where, incidentally, the quality of the

food being offered has greatly im-

proved; and the existing facilities

were given a general face-lifting. All

these improvements kept pace with

the tremendous expansion of animal

exhibits. Since 1975, FONZ has

tripled its income—from $766,000 in

1974 to $2.2 million in 1978, with re-

sults similar to 1978’s expected for

1979.

As this decade of FONZ involve-

ment in visitor services at NZP comes

to a close, we can note with pride a

record of tremendous dollar contri-

butions to the Zoo. The numbers are

somewhat staggering: For 1974-1979

alone, we have contributed over $1.7

million in program support in educa-

tion, research projects, and capital

improvements. That averages over

$340 000 per year in FONZ’s contri-

bution to NZP for the betterment of

programs and visitor services.

But back to the present. As all of

you are aware, 1979 has been a year

marked by dramatic economic con-

straints—long gas lines, inflation-

shrunk pocketbooks, rising unem-

ployment.

| $766,000

ee $745,976

| $442,315

ZZ

$122,437

The number of visitors to the Zoo

was down considerably this year—

parking revenues, usually a good bar-

ometer, have been off nearly 20 per-

cent. On the other hand, other local

tourist attractions museums and so

forth—report their numbers of visi-

tors down as much as 35 percent.

FONZ operations overall experi-

enced a little of the positive and a

little of the negative: parking reve-

nues were down, as just stated, and

food revenues were also off some 35

percent—but merchandise revenues

were up nearly 60 percent. For some

inexplicable reason (other than the

obvious one of the excellence of our

merchandise offerings), while we had

fewer visitors, those who came

brought more picnic lunches with

them and bought more souvenirs and

gifts than ever before.

For 1980, we look forward to con-

tinuing to improve our visitor services

program. We hope to expand the

food service’s capabilities, so that

long lines for food will become a

memory. We hope to continue to up-

grade the variety and quality of mer-

chandise in our shops, and to add to

the stroller service offered this past

season. O

It was a privilege to have served

these three years as your Treasurer. |

look forward to an even healthier

decade for FONZ than the ’70s were.

All we need is to continue our dedi-

cation to quality.

FONZ Treasurer, 1979

10

How FONZ Happened

They called themselves “Friends of

the National Zoo,” having no idea, in

the autumn of 1958, that 15 years

later a popular television show would

make the name “FONZ” a national

byword with quite a different mean-

ing. And for this small band to de-

clare in its articles of incorporation

that the duration of FONZ’s exis-

tence would be “perpetual” was as

brash as a gazelle walking into a

pride of lions.

Back in 1958 the Zoo staff, under

its new young director Dr. Theodore

Reed, was engaged in a desperate

battle for money. In 1890 when Con-

gress founded the Zoo, it gave the

Zoo’s administration to the Smith-

sonian Institution and its funding to

the District of Columbia (the Dis-

trict itself was then financed by the

federal government on a 50-50 basis).

In 1921 and 1924, Congress dealt it-

self virtually out of the Zoo funding

game, so that the D.C. government

had to carry on alone. By 1958 many

of the Zoo’s animals were dying of

old age, and the buildings and

grounds had deteriorated so badly

that even had the Zoo been able to

acquire more animals, it would have

had no place to put them.

Enter the Friends of the National

Zoo. Meeting by night that first year

at the nearby Cleveland Park Library,

a few determined people hammered

out a plan. Among those involved

were Tim Dillon, Russell Train, Max

Kampelman (FONZ’s first president),

The success of FONZ could

not have happened in a vacu-

um. It is the direct result of the

hard work of caring people.

Mary Ellen Grogan (FONZ’s first ex-

ecutive director), Gerald Wagner,

and Arthur Arundel. FONZ had no

money, no members, no place to

meet—nothing but a sense that the

Zoo would benefit from a strong

show of support by private citizens

for a plan to make the Zoo worthy of

the name “National.”

Immediately, FONZ published a

20-page booklet, ‘The Crisis at Our

National Zoo,” and hired two land-

scape architects to make recommen-

dations for the rehabilitation of the

Zoo’s physical facilities.

But FONZ’s recommendation, “A

Master Plan for the National Zoo” —

although highly acclaimed by con-

cerned Washingtonians—was to suf-

fer a setback. No one then realized

that in the 1960s the Vietnam War

would escalate, that “Zoo” would

come alphabetically on the Federal

list of appropriations priorities —last.

Although eventually FONZ’s recom-

mendations have come true—na-

tural habitat exhibits, hospital and re-

search facilities, an education build-

ing, parking on perimeters rather

than smack in the center of the Zoo

—in the early 1960s only the renova-

tion of the Bird House sustained the

dreams of the pioneers.

FONZ held on, staying alive as a

small membership organization, giv-

ing support where it could in an early

Zoo guide program and other educa-

tional efforts. Under the bold lead-

ership of Peter Andrews, FONZ took

on the development and manage-

ment of a trackless train for the Zoo

in 1969.

But in 1973, when Arthur Arundel

became president of FONZ, he had

every reason to say, “. . . this Nation-

al Zoo is a national disgrace.” Except

for the Bird House, nothing had been

done for any Zoo building since the

WPA project of the 1930s. Dr. Reed

lived in daily fear that either the floor

1

or the ceiling of his office might col-

lapse. The few animals to have been

added to the collection were primari-

ly gifts from private supporters:

Metromedia gave the Zoo its white

tigers, and Arthur Arundel not only

donated some gorillas, but even the

horses then used for the mounted

police patrol.

Worse, the natural wildlife habitat

around the world was— is—shrinking

at an alarming pace. There was a tre-

mendous pressure On zoos every-

where to breed animals of endanger-

ed species. In 1961 FONZ recom-:

mended the establishment of a Na-

tional Breeding Zoo, under the direc-

tion of the National Zoological Park,

in some rural area. The National

Breeding Zoo could than have been a

source of supply for other zoos

around the country. It was not until

1974, though, that, with active FONZ

support, the Zoo acquired 3,000

acres in Front Royal, Virginia, and

established its Conservation and Re-

search Center—now one of the most

significant controlled wildlife breed-

ing projects in the world.

FONZ started with a membership

of about 20 in 1958. By July 1959,

membership had increased to 500; by

1973 FONZ had a membership of

1,700, a net income of $90,000 a

year, and a full-time staff of ten.

Then in the autumn of 1974, Dr.

Reed and his deputy, Ed Kohn (now

A gorilla gift in 1955 was the first of many

contributions to the Zoo from Nick

Arundel, FONZ President from 1973 to

1976. (Pint-sized then, “Nikumba” now

weighs 417 Ibs.) Opposite, the crowned

crane symbol for the Bird House Trail Is

part of the Zoo’s award-winning graphics.

WZ

FONZ Archives

director of the Minnesota Zoological

Garden), proposed what seemed a

preposterous idea—that FONZ, until

then a tiny, charitable citizens’ or-

ganization, consider developing a

dramatic new plan for a multi-million

dollar food services program.

In 1938 the eight-year-old Arthur

Arundel had used his basement news-

paper, “Nicky’s News,” to prod Con-

gress into building a new restaurant

for the Zoo. “The restaurant at the

Zoo run by Sid is going down down

down,” he wrote. ‘By that | mean it is

falling apart and will soon collapse.

The roof leaks and the floor creaks

... every time it rains the water leaks

through the top and then all of the

popcorn is ruined and the keepers

can’t tell which is the ruined popcorn

and they sell it too. . . . Nicky’s News

is getting disgusted.”

The new restaurant building was

opened in 1941.

Then in April 1975, with the edgy

approval of the Smithsonian, FONZ

took over the Zoo’s food service.

Thanks to Dr. Stephen Hosmer, who

oversaw the takeover, and to Execu-

tive Director Sabin Robbins and

Associate Director Dennis Baker, the

Zoo’s food service has become so

successful it is studied for pointers by

other zoos.

In May 1976, National Zoo and

FONZ officials worked out a “white

paper” that clearly established work-

ing relationships between the grow-

ing FONZ staff and the regular NZP

staff. After 18 years, it was a major

step in the “greening” of FONZ, a re-

flection of the joint determination to

ensure that a visit to the Zoo would

be a significant educational experi-

ence.

Today FONZ manages all the

Zoo’s food services, its gift shops, its

public parking facilities, and its strol-

ler operation. The Bookstore/Gallery

sponsors periodic shows of wildlife-

related works of art by Washington

artists. Proceeds are plowed back

into a wide range of educational

services as well as extensive financial

support of significant research and

conservation programs and a four-

year-old internship program for stu-

dents of zoology and veterinary med-

icine. In the 1980s, FONZ foresees

playing an increasingly important

role in research and conservation,

making research grants and launch-

ing field studies that could easily

rival any initiated by, say, the Nation-

al Geographic Society and the World

Wildlife Federation—without, of

course, diminishing the number or

quality of its many offerings of clas-

ses, films, lectures, trips, and special

events.

FONZ’s permanent year-round

staff consists of 25 professionals;

some 200 more are hired for the peak

summer months. FONZ’s annual bud-

get is close to two and a half million

dollars. FONZ recruits and _ trains

some 60 volunteer guides, who have

conducted tours of the Zoo’s collec-

tion for more than 150,000 area

schoolchildren. Twenty volunteers

staff the Zoo’s new hands-on facili-

ties, Zoolab and Birdlab, and some

150 trained behavior watchers assist

Zoo researchers in myriad projects.

The FONZ junior zoo aide program

trains area teenagers as puppeteers,

and their daily shows on Zoo

courtesy and respect for the animals

reach tens of thousands of zoogoers

annually.

FONZ has produced two award-

winning educational films—“Zoo,”

documenting the life of the National

Zoo both on stage and behind the

scenes, and “The Last Chance,” in-

vestigating the work of the Zoo’s

Conservation and Research Center.

The success of FONZ could not

have happened in a vacuum. It is the

direct result of the hard work of car-

ing people—people who love wild-

life and who are frightened at the

threat to wildlife made by a shrinking

world and a growing level of pollu-

tants in air, land, and sea.

We’ve come a long way. We have

a long way to go. Wild animals must

survive to be seen by our grandchild-

ren in places other than books and

films. Ours is not a light responsibili-

ty, but it is of overwhelming —literal-

ly life and death— importance. oO

13

OO — UU

a

sane

Volunteer on Exhibit

| had never given much thought to

what | would do if | everencountered

a gibbon.

“Ronn, this is William,” said Small

Mammal Keeper David Kessler. “Wil-

liam, Ronn.”

“Hello, William,” | said—trying to

muster all the exotic animal savvy |

had. David began calmly explaining

how William had broken his arm and

was in the National Zoo’s Propaga-

tion Building for a little rest and rec-

reation. But | didn’t hear too much of

the briefing; | was watching William

go through David’s pockets, looking

for treats. He didn’t find any, so he

bounded briefly around his cage,

came to rest at my feet, and wrapped

his arm around my leg.

“Don’t worry,” David said, smiling.

“He’s gentle.”

| wanted to reach down and touch

William, but then again | didn’t want

to appear too forward at our first

meeting. William, however, was de-

termined to be touched. He spun

The life of a zookeeper is more than just

feeding and forgetting. Here, keeper James

Jones trains an elephant to lift her trunk

for a routine dental check.

-around and pressed his back to the

bars. Recalling a brief encounter with

the works of Desmond Morris, |

reached down and began scratching

William’s back, parting the fur and

looking for particles of dirt or flaked

skin (1 didn’t find any). For the next

ten minutes, William played with my

hair, went through my pockets, and

sucked on my finger. | was in love.

That was the beginning of my first

day as a volunteer keeper-aide.

Please don’t misunderstand! This

kind of experience is not typical of

what the average zoogoer can ex-

pect. The Zoo’s animals are not

tame, not touchable, and not cute

little humanoids in furry suits. Nor

can just anyone become a volunteer;

the Zoo receives far more applica-

tions from people interested in the

program than could be accepted,

and its standards for acceptance into

the program are rigorous.

Moreover, the Zoo doesn’t give its

keeper-aides a rake and a hose each

and send them into cages to play

with the animals. There is a great

deal more to being an animal keeper,

| discovered, than slipping a food

dish into a cage and spending the rest

of the day stroking fur.

Since 1968, animal lovers have

donated much time and effort to the

Zoo. There was no formal volunteer

program, though, until about five

years ago, when the first intern pro-

gram was organized by FONZ. Since

then, nearly 300 people have partici-

pated in Zoo life as interns, research

fellows, and keeper-aides, and there

are two formal programs—the in-

tern/research fellow program and the

keeper-aide program. Volunteers

work in all the animal departments.

The National Zoo is not the Garden

of Eden. But for people who truly

love animals and want to learn, it’s

probably the next best thing.

The animals are grouped into

“lines” —the bear line, the monkey

line, and so forth. Each line has a

recipe book. And that’s where you

begin your training . . . in the kitchen.

The red pandas are on what the

Zoo calls “the short bear line” (as

opposed to “the bear line’ itself,

where, logically, most of the bears

are found). Here’s the recipe for their

feed: a couple dozen eggs, some

Gerber baby food, bamboo leaves,

honey, applesauce, and five or six

other ingredients—red panda gruel.

Once you get the hang of it, you'll be

15

able to keep more in the bucket than

on your uniform.

But the gruel is just the beginning.

Each red panda also gets an apple

and a banana. Babies, like Benjamin

Red Panda (born in July 1979), get

half a portion of gruel, half an apple,

and half a banana.

The food for all the animals must

be cut, sliced, diced, grated, or liqui-

fied to fit their diet and preferences.

And there’s no room for squeamish-

ness when the time comes to dish up

those delicious mice, crickets, and

mealworms.

Feeding, or at least the preparation

of food, takes up a good part of the

day. Then there are dishes to wash.

Then, since none of the animals are

potty-trained, comes another fact of

life to deal with. Hoses, rakes, shov-

els, brooms . . . you'll become pro-

ficient with all these tools. But along

with the janitorial duties comes the

ever-present satisfaction of knowing

you’re making living conditions safer

and more pleasant for the animals

you're caring for—and that, after all,

is what it’s all about.

Before | started working at the

Zoo, | felt sorry for the animals. Like

so many others, | saw them as furry

people, trapped behind cold, cruel

bars. | wanted them to be free as |

was free.

But I’ve learned many things since

then. I’ve learned that many species

of animals would no longer exist were

it not for zoos. Certain animals

would, if born in the wild, die early

from disease or predators; in zoos

they live long and happy lives.

As for being “free,” animals in the

wild are very limited in their freedom

(and that includes you and me, my

16

Susan Shpeer

Being a keeper calls for courage, daring, and physical fitness. Left, two keepers try to

<S : : SSS

persuade a red panda not to take the air; above, another keeper helps Shanthi, a young

elephant, get exercise.

friends). “Free” animals must deal

with food availability and protect

their territories from enemies and

predators. They need specific materi-

als to build their homes or specific

environmental conditions which

must be just right for them to survive.

What about stereotyped behavior?

Does an animal’s pacing back and

forth give it a psychological kinship

with the Prisoner of Zenda?

Some animals, yes, have been

known to escape from their enclo-

sures now and then. But many ani-

mals would not leave even if they

were allowed to. To the animal, the

enclosure is its home. At the Monkey

House, for example, you'll always

hear a ruckus when Joe, Beryl, and

their baby are shifted from one side

of their cage to make room for

another family of gibbons while the

latter's cage is being cleaned. Well,

imagine how you'd feel if some dis-

Francie Schroeder

tant relatives descended, uninvited,

for a nice little stay while their own

home was being redecorated! Joe

and Beryl aren’t crazy about the idea

either.

One excellent way to approach a

term of volunteer work is to take ad-

vantage of the FONZ library. Read

up on the animals you'll be caring

for. Study a little animal psychology.

Learn about phenomena like flight,

attack distances, and dormancy.

You'll enjoy your animal encounters

a hundred times more, and you'll be

a much better keeper.

Animals within a species are indi-

viduals, just as people are. Each has

something about it that makes it

special. And if you’re lucky enough

to be accepted into the Zoo’s keeper-

aide program, you'll learn more

about the animals’ idiosyncrasies,

habits, likes, and dislikes than if you

took advantage of the free parking

part of your FONZ membership and

came to the Zoo every day for a year.

By the time you read this, my vol-

unteer days will have drawn to a

close. Ill have turned in my rubber

boots and settled back into my full-

time job in the “real” —sterile, away-

from-nature — world.

But I’ll take with me a deeper love

and a fuller understanding of the ani-

mal world, leaving behind me a grati-

tude to the people who took the time

to teach me... a gratitude that can-

not properly be expressed in this or

any other language.

| will not leave my furry friends,

though. Someday, perhaps, you'll be

at the Zoo. If you see a guy with a

beard and maybe having a little

trouble with watering eyes . . . wave.

It’ll be me. oO

17

ZOONEWS

The Collection in ’79

For the National Zoological Park,

1979 was an exciting year of growth

and change that included new and

expanded programs, an increased

number of births and hatchings, con-

struction and renovation of exhibits

and facilities, and a reorganization of

management structure.

The Zoo has 2,600 animals in its

collection—up from 2,300 in 1978.

As a result of concerted and carefully

administered breeding programs,

births and hatchings were up, es-

pecially among lesser pandas, rep-

tiles, and golden marmosets—the

last a species notoriously difficult to

breed successfully.

Beaver Valley, a new exhibit fea-

turing otters, seals, sea lions, polar

bears, and bush dogs, opened on

May 4, 1979. Construction proceed-

ed apace on the Zoo’s new Great

Ape House, which is expected to

open in late 1980.

Ling-Ling, the female giant panda,

went into and out of estrus in only

five days, as opposed to a more ex-

pectable 15 days. Once again, she

and her mate Hsing-Hsing were flir-

tatious but not fecund. Now the Zoo

is investigating the potentialities of

Golden lion marmosets do not usually

breed well in captivity, but the National

Zoo is more successful each year in help-

ing them.

18

artificial insemination with partial

grant support from FONZ.

The Zoo in 1979 continued its ex-

perimental program of cooperation

with other zoos in the breeding of

certain species. The Zoo’s new nu-

tritionist reorganized the diets of

most of the animals in the collection,

using the Zoo’s resources more ef-

ficiently for the animals’ dietary

needs.

Zoo research focussed on inbreed-

ing in the management of captive

populations; mother-baby _ interac-

tions in hoofed stock; comparison of

pair-bond strengths across species;

territorial behavior; reproductive be-

havior; comparative social behavior;

and ontogeny. Zoo scientists were

sent on field conservation studies to

Nepal, Indonesia, and Panama, to

study red pandas, civet cats, and

tropical birds of paradise, respective-

ai Skrentny

ly; again with grant support from

FONZ.

The Zoo’s efforts toward conser-

vation were also expanded at its Con-

servation and Research Center in

Front Royal, Virginia, in 1979. Facili-

ties were improved, new species

joined the collection, and many off-

spring were born to the rare and en-

dangered species of birds and mam-

mals that reside in this rural setting.

The Zoo continued to progress in

its animal health programs. Clinical

research contributed new _ perspec-

tives to veterinary medicine. Strides

were made in, for example, diagnos-

tic laparoscopy, a technique for ob-

serving an animal’s internal struc-

tures.

Zoolab, Birdlab, the D.C. Fourth

Grade Schools Project, and a course

for high school students: on primate

evolution were the exciting programs

in Zoo education initiated in con-

junction with FONZ and adminis-

tered with FONZ’s help. The award-

winning exhibitry in Beaver Valley,

funded in part by FONZ, was added

to a Zoo already sparkling with

murals, mosaics, sculpture, bas-

reliefs, the trail system, and other

celebrations of the animal in art.

Theodore H. Reed, Director of the

Zoo, recently wrote, “I am extremely

proud of the accomplishments, dedi-

cation, and ingenuity of all of our

staff . . . [though the written word

cannot reflect] the glory of

achieving breedings [and] the exulta-

tion of accomplishment, it is indeed

apparent that the wonder of life

abounds. The Zoo is a _ living,

growing, ever-changing, joyful place

in which we are all privileged to

share.” O

Libbisitl TTT

De

A OLR LLL.

ee ee

BALL LLLLEDLLLEE

Mary W. Matthews

ELLE LLL LLL

Top, Hsing-Hsing courts a coy (and still

unreproductive) Ling-Ling. Bottom, a river

otter takes to the water in its Beaver Valley

home.

19

FONZNEWS

Education Report:

Breeding Knowledge

“Do male kangaroos have pouch-

es?” Answering questions like this

one is just part of the day’s work for

many FONZ volunteers.

Since May 1968, when the first

FONZ guide program began, the role

of FONZ volunteers at the National

Zoo has expanded and their numbers

have increased. During 1979, this en-

thusiastic corps volunteered almost

41,000 hours to Zoo education.

Education and volunteer programs

once concentrated on an audience

identified as third- through sixth-

graders making a once-a-year-or-so

visit, whether as part of a school or

family group. These children still rep-

resent a large number of those who

benefit from the tours and materials

FONZ offers. But the range of tours,

materials, and programs FONZ offers

has widened dramatically.

The D.C. bus program enables

fourth-grade District of Columbia

students to participate in a special

six-week session, part of which is

spent in the classroom and part in the

Park itself. First the lesson and area

of concentration are outlined for the

students; then, in the Park, the stu-

dents are shown how to match the

animals, living illustrations, with the

concepts they were just taught.

An overview of primate evolution

was developed to challenge junior

and senior high school students.

“Monkeys, Apes, and Humans”

allows students to compare various

species of primates and to trace their

own roots as social animals.

With all the exciting expansion of

education programs, FONZ guides

A Birdlab volunteer meets hundreds of visitors every week. Here, NZP’s Judy:'Herman shows a pelican’s skull to a fascinated group.

20

Jim Mulvaney

The Moluccan cockatoos are among the most popular of the denizen’s of the Zoo’s Bird

House—and some of the vocabulary they pick up from zoo visitors is distinctly odd!

are still the primary interpreters of

the animal collection for Washing-

ton-area schoolchildren. But FONZ

guides also share the wonders of the

Zoo with weekend visitors. Roving

guides provide information and an-

swers to myriad people who sched-

ule weekend tours. Church, civic

groups, and birthday parties are just

three of the groups that, by making

reservations in advance, benefit from

the experience of these highly trained

volunteers.

Zoolab and Birdlab, two hands-on

resource rooms, give families an

arena for inquiry and self-discovery

in the animal world. Zoolab and Bird-

lab volunteers are available to help.

The volunteers are familiar with the

resources of Zoolab and Birdlab and

can suggest other areas that might be

of interest to those who wish to learn

more.

Summer not only brings many visi-

tors to the Park; it also signals the

start of the ZooAide Program. The

ZooAide Program, now several years

old, makes use of some 70 adoles-

cent volunteers to bring information

about good zoo manners to the pub-

lic. In recent years the teenagers

have put on daily summer puppet

shows to teach “No feeding, no teas-

ing’ of animals to thousands of zoo-

goers.

Once called the ‘PregWatch’” pro-

gram, the Behavior Watch program

makes use of dozens of trained vol-

unteers who have contributed long

hours of work and masses of scientif-

ic data to the National Zoo’s research

efforts. Behavior in general, and spe-

cifically breeding and postpartum

watches, are only some of the activi-

ties these people work on.

To further assist and support the

Zoo’s research efforts, FONZ also ad-

ministers the Zoo’s research trainee-

ships. In 1978-79 over 160 applica-

tions were received and processed

from all over North America. Many

more have been received already for

the 1979-80 season.

Volunteers remain an integral part

of the functioning of the National

Zoo, whether gathering scientific

data or directing visitors to the rest-

rooms. They are an extension of the

Zoo, actively involved in the Zoo’s

mission—“the increase and diffusion

of knowledge.” g — Donna Schlegel

Director

Education and Volunteer Services

Membership Report:

More ts Better

In the beginning (1958), there were

only six Friends of the National Zoo.

Even as late as 1973, there were

fewer than 2,000 members. Today al-

most 20,000 people show they care

about helping the National Zoo by

supporting the work of FONZ.

Growth in numbers has been

matched by proliferating special

events, activities, and publications.

ZooNight is easily the most popu-

lar membership event of the year:

the night when the Zoo is closed to

the general public and only open

to the members of FONZ for an

evening of tours, demonstrations,

21

special exhibits, musical concerts,

and free refreshments. In 1979, two

ZooNights were held to accommo-

date everyone who wanted to come:

about 5,000 people thronged the

festivities.

When new animal exhibits like

Beaver Valley open, FONZ members

are invited to special preview parties

and behind-the-scenes tours.

Other membership events include

Zoo classes for members interested

in a more in-depth exposure to

animal life at the Zoo; an annual

film-lecture series offered in conjunc-

tion with the Audubon Naturalist

Society and the Smithsonian Associ-

ates: and wildlife treks from as close

as the Chesapeake Bay to as far away

as the People’s Republic of China.

For the 1980s, the FONZ member-

ship department will be installing a

sophisticated new computer system

to serve its members more efficient-

ly. ZooGoer and PawPrints, the

FONZ members’ publications, have a

whole new look—ZooGoer with its

first-ever color covers, PawPrints with

more games, projects, and involve-

ment of its three-to-16-year-old

writers/readers than ever before.

.

x

SS

SSS

Max Hirshfeld

— Fran Bernstein

Director

Membership

Taking home make-it-yourself. mementos

of a Zoo sketch-in is just one of the many

fun programs offered by FONZ.

Max Hirshfeld

Zoo classes are taught on every subject

under the sun—and a few under the skin

as well!

ra

Visitor Services Report:

Fostering Fun

Headline news for one Washing-

ton, D.C. newspaper in 1937 was as

follows:

NEW ZOO RESTURANT,

The needed quick Zoo Resturant

should be rebuilt and put a bran

new one up. Because every time it

rains the water leaks t hrough the

top and than all of the popcorn is

ruined am the keeprs cant tell

whitch is the ruined popcorn and

they sell it too. there customers

and the: feed it too the girrafes

am make them get a soar throat

and that would be to bad because

then they could get nomonia and

die and then the children of Wash-

ington would start getting tubercu-

losouse so you can see how much

the Zoo needs a new resturant. It

needs to be much bigger too be=-

cause on Sunday the store is so

jammed thr mgh that you can hardly

breath. The editor in chief wrote

too the head of the WPA and he

wrote back that the Treasury was

empty am that it would be quite

a while before they would be able

to spend some money on the Zo.

Somebody get us a new one quick.

The paper was Nicky’s News. Its

editor-in-chief—in fact, its editor,

chief reporter, typesetter, designer,

publisher, printer, and delivery per-

son—was Arthur W. Arundel. Age 8.

Thirty-eight years later, on April 1,

1975, “Nicky” Arundel, then Presi-

dent of FONZ, joined NZP Director

Ted Reed to enjoy the first Zoo hot

dog prepared and served by FONZ.

For the 40 years prior to this mo-

ment, the Zoo’s food service had

been run by private concessionaires.

In 1975, the Smithsonian Institution

decided to integrate the business of

Francie Schroeder

FONZ’s Panda Gardens are a popular Zoo “resturant.”

food services into the total educa-

tional experiences of zoogoers; and

food service joined the souvenir-gift

and parking operations as part of the

FONZ-managed visitor services.

As Mr. Arundel commented,

“FONZ now has set out on its great-

est adventure—to build a range of

food services around the Zoo which

will blend public eating into the total

quality of education experiences of

Zoo visitors. This will be done in a

thousand ways which spell the dif-

ference between a boilerplate com-

mercial operation and a profession-

ally managed citizens’ organization

dedicated to enhancing every facet

of the Zoo experience.”

The Smithsonian’s decision was a

logical one. Unlike a commercial

concessionaire, FONZ is a private,

non-profit organization dedicated to

furthering the research, conserva-

tion, and educational programs of

the National Zoo. This guarantees

that all net proceeds will be plowed

back into programs directly benefit-

ing the Zoo. In 1979, for example,

FONZ generated more than $373,000

to finance a wide and innovative

range of projects—up from $160,000

in 1975.

The food service remains the larg-

est visitor service program in terms of

gross revenue, but things have

changed dramatically since the day

yam)

of the ‘‘needed quick Zoo Restur-

ant.” In 1979, the FONZ-operated

food service included a refurbished

and redecorated Mane Restaurant/

Cafeteria, with inside, air-conditioned

seating for 125, alfresco patio seating

for 350, and a quick-in, quick-out Ice

Cream Scoop facility; a Panda Gar-

dens café, with umbrella tables shad-

ing diners who can choose such

exotica as German sausages and

draft beer; a Pop Stop, serving cold

drinks and hot popcorn; five ice

cream-snack kiosks; and a Wine and

Cheese Kiosk that also serves soft

drinks and box lunches. More sophis-

ticated facilities are planned for the

1980s.

The FONZ gift shops and parking

operation compete each year with

the food service for fastest, friendli-

est service and highest standards of

professionalism.

The Mane Gift Shop, across from

the Mane Restaurant, carries a wide

variety of souvenirs and gifts, from

clothing and jewelry to ZooGoer it-

self. The Panda Gift Shop, built in

1975, displays a wide variety of pan-

da gifts, many one-of-a-kind items

made just for FONZ. New gifts and

souvenirs are always being devel-

oped—though the two most popular

items remain the panda T-shirt and

the canvas panda tote bag.

The FONZ Bookstore/Gallery, in

the Zoo’s Education Building, is

FONZ’s star. 1979 was its first full

year of operation. Every item sold in

the Bookstore/Gallery—from art

prints to pottery to fine jewelry to silk

scarves—is of museum shop quality.

The two art shows sponsored by the

Bookstore/Gallery, featuring animal

pottery and soft toys in animal

24

Colorful animal pictographs adorn con-

tainers used in the FONZ food outlets.

shapes, were greeted enthusiastical-

ly by a responsive public.

The merchandising department's

plans for the 1980s include not more

shops, but better ones. There will be

more windows open to the public

and a wider variety of offerings.

Each product sold by FONZ—

whether it’s an all-beef hot dog or a

hand-crocheted panda from China—

must be of first-rate quality at a fair

price. Souvenirs are chosen for the

quality of their construction, their

lasting educational value, and their

accuracy in depicting animals. High-

profit “best sellers,” like cheap mon-

keys on sticks, are not sold.

The parking operation includes

five lots that can park up to 950 cars.

The parking staff also runs a stroller

rental service that provides strollers

both for children and for adults—a

real boon in coping with the National

Zoo’s steep hills! The Zoo once had a

trackless train service, complete with

guide/narrator; it had to be aban-

doned a few years ago because there

were too many visitors on paths too

narrow for both visitors and trains.

The new professionalism at FONZ

keeps growing. New uniforms, new

equipment, and new facilities for

most of the operations; even new

food—63 percent of the 1979 menu

was added or improved—plus a dedi-

cation to cleanliness and service,

make for admirable results.

Another improvement FONZ plans

for the ‘80s is to install computer-

ized cash registers in food operations

throughout the Park. The new ma-

chines will monitor goods sold while

keeping cash and cost control

records.

In addition to nearly 150 seasonal

employees—“front line” troops—

FONZ employs fulltime an account-

ant, bookkeeper, cashier, and _ per-

sonnel assistant to run a business

office that must keep accurate and

complete financial figures, provide

input to the computer for payroll and

membership records, handle daily

cash receipts, interview hundreds of

summer job applicants, and adminis-

ter personnel procedures.

Just how much FONZ has grown

and changed is dramatic. In 1970,

FONZ had a staff of seven and

grossed $122,000; it had about 1,000

members. In January 1980, almost

20,000 people were actively support-

ing the Zoo through FONZ; FONZ

had a full-time professional staff of

25 and grossed more than $2.4

million! O

FONZ EVENTS

The Year of the Monkey

According to the ancient Chinese

lunar calendar, 1980 is the Year of

the Monkey. So this is the year for

FONZ members to see some real

monkeyshines on a three-week tour

through China and Mongolia in June,

1980.

This travel adventure will start and

end in the capital city of Peking with

special visits to the Great Wall, the

Imperial Palace (Forbidden City), the

Ming Tombs, the Summer Palace,

and, of course, the famous Peking

Zoo with its breeding giant pandas.

At Huhehot, in Inner Mongolia,

the FONZ group will see what few

Americans ever have—descendants

of Genghis Khan demonstrating their

prowess as horsemen in the colorful

China this June.

Peking’s Tien An Men Square is one of many highlights featured on FONZ’s safari to

Mongolian Rodeo. There will be

visits to nomadic Mongols in their

yurts (animal-hide tents) and to Mon-

gol communes and industrial centers.

Other once-in-a-lifetime sights will

be Taiyuan, the 1,700-year-old capi-

tal of Shangxi Province; Tatong,

where the Hua Yen Monastery

houses the greatest Buddhist sculp-

ture in the world; and the 21 caves of

the Yunkang Grotto.

Optional side trips to other coun-

tries will be available as part of this

tour.

Time is running short to reserve

Space on this unique expedition

through Mongolia and China, so in-

terested people should call the office

of FONZ’s Executive Director at 232-

7700 as soon as possible.

According to Chinese astrology,

courtesy National Council for U §.-China Trade

May and June are destined to be

ruled by “Kou” —in English, “Coming

to Meet.” Perhaps this is your year to

meet the mysterious Orient! O

Serengeti Sunsets

Some of Africa’s greatest game

areas will be explored on a FONZ sa-

fari to Tanzania this summer.

The three-week wildlife tour (Aug-

ust 7-25, 1980) will provide an in-

depth look at some of the teeming

wildlife and remarkable flora of the

fabled Serengeti. The safari is timed

so that participants will be able to

witness the great annual migration of

millions of plains animals. Other

highlights include close-up looks at

the leopards of Seronera and the ele-

phants and lions of Manyara; an all-

day game drive in the spectacularly

beautiful Ngorongoro Crater; the

chance to view age-old Masai warrior

dances; and a special visit to the Old-

uvai Gorge, where the first apes may

have become human.

Participants will be entertained at

private receptions, talk with game

wardens and noted wildlife experts,

experience the thrill of night game

drives, and stay at luxury tent camps

and lodges. One site overlooks snow-

capped Mt. Kilimanjaro!

The all-inclusive price of $2,900

covers overnight stopovers and a

tour of London, special briefings

throughout, and a FONZ/Zoo leader

and local professional safari guide.

To know Hemingway’s Africa, you

must see Tanzania. It really is “on the

wild side’! Make your reservations

now by calling the office of FONZ’s

Executive Director at 232-7700. 0

25

Go Wild at the Zoo

| want to share FONZ with a friend. Send

a gift membership in my name,

A cola

Name:

Street:

Cities State: 2 7ap:

Home Phone:

Office Phone:

Type of Membership (check one):

O Family* $25 Senior $10

0 Junior* (3-16) $10 OContributing $30

Olndividual $15 OSustaining $50

O Couple $20 O Patron

*Children’s Names:

$100 or more

4

~ a Sep

NAL

\

0 My check for

Dag

payable to FONZ,

is enclosed.

Yes! I want to be a FONZ! Here’s the

kind of membership I’d_ like to have:

(check one):

OC) Family* $25 O Senior $10

0) Junior* (3-16) $10 O Contributing $30

Olndividual $15 O Sustaining $50

O Couple $20 O Patron $100

ormore

*Children’s Names :

Name:

Street:

Cie... state... Zip:

Home Phone:

Office Phone:

0) My check for $___

FONZ, is enclosed.

, payable to

COMER,

S,