Category: Conservation

In my fourth week as the Communications Coordinator for the Seneca Park Zoo Society, I had the opportunity to spend one morning exploring Turning Point Park and the Genesee River through the lens of One Cubic Foot.

The Zoo’s mission to inspire the community to connect, care for, and conserve wildlife was one of my main attractions to this role, but I lacked knowledge of the organization’s conservation efforts off Zoo grounds. I would quickly learn that Seneca Park Zoo is actively involved in many initiatives, including One Cubic Foot, aimed at helping to protect and preserve ecosystems.

It was a beautiful day to be at Turning Point Park. The Zoo Society had partnered with The Nature Conservancy to bring members of its LEAF Program to Rochester and introduce them to the One Cubic Foot initiative. High school students from New York City, this next generation of conservation leaders was eager to discover species through an unfamiliar point of view – and so was I.

I went in with curiosity about how the One Cubic Foot initiative was important and relevant to my everyday life. Within minutes, my questions were answered. From pointing out invasive species as we walked along the park, to determining the best areas to place the cubes, I was in awe of the breadth of knowledge my colleagues have about the natural world around us.During the expedition, we observed the activity of and photographed very tiny species that I would have never thought about otherwise. But they all have a role in our ecosystem, and just like those animals, there’s more than what meet meets the eye when it comes to our Zoo.

Sharing the value of the One Cubic Foot initiative is just one of many things Seneca Park Zoo Society does to encourage others to engage in citizen science and become protectors of wildlife. In addition to the exhibits and on-site programming, there’s Zoo staff off grounds promoting our mission and making every effort to make a difference in the lives of animals.

Thanks to my experience at Turning Point Park, I not only gained a better understanding of the value of One Cubic Foot, but I learned to recognize and appreciate the rich biodiversity that can be found in small areas of our world. While there’s still much more to learn and discover, this trip showed me that I can begin connecting with nature in my own backyard. I simply just have to use my senses.

Mina Johnson – Communications Coordinator, Seneca Park Zoo SocietyLearn about other conservation projects

This morning while I was running my negative self-talk said, “You are going to embarrass yourself at Jungle Jog. You’re going to be slow. You’re going to have to walk parts of it. You won’t be happy with your finish time.”

And then I thought, No. All of that is true EXCEPT the part about embarrassing myself. I’m up. I’m off the couch. I’m out there, wanting to make a difference for me, and for conservation. The people who should be embarrassed are the ones not even cheering me at the sidelines, but sitting at home, waiting for someone else to take action.

I’ve been privileged to spend time with Malagasy researcher Mahandry Hugues Andrianarisoa this month. We first met Mahandry a year ago when he was a research student assigned to our One Cubic Foot project team in Madagascar. We have had many serious conversations about the future of conservation in Madagascar, and his role in it.

When we picked up Mahandry in Washington D.C. last month, where he had been interning at the Smithsonian Institution, we sat on the front steps of our friend’s home and he said to me, “I am a small thing. And the problems are so big. What can I do?”

Isn’t that the exact question we should all be asking ourselves? What can WE do? The environmentalist Edward Abbey said, “The antidote to despair is action.” The problems are overwhelming, but if we determine a goal, a path we can take to make even a small difference, we have to take that action and begin to be a part of the solution. We cannot sit back and hope someone else is moved to action, or hope the problem solves itself.Mahandry is beginning to focus his path on reforestation in Madagascar. More than 90% of Madagascar is deforested, and Mahandry has been astounded by the vast forests we have all around us in New York. Last night, at dinner with Mahandry and another colleague, he asked us, “Do you think it is possible to bring back the forests in Madagascar?”

The answer, of course, is yes. But it takes action, and garnering support, and patience, and even the knowledge that you might not live long enough to see the results of your efforts. The magnificent tree stands along the road in Letchworth State Park were planted in 1912. That reforestation effort took foresight and action.

What does all of this have to do with running or walking a 5k? Nothing, and everything. I have found running to be a metaphor for achieving any goal. You must first have the goal in mind, and then you have to carve out the plan that will take you to that goal, and set the foundation in place to be successful. And then you have to act. You will encounter obstacles and pain along the way, but as you get closer to that goal, the sense of accomplishment is like no other.

So – one last plea for you to join me on Sunday, July 16, for the Jungle Jog 5K and Conservation Walk. Run, walk, or cheer me on at the finish line. Consider this your first step toward making a difference for yourself, and making a difference for conservation in Madagascar. You can also support lemur conservation through my Crowdrise fundraiser.— Pamela Reed Sanchez, Seneca Park Zoo Society Executive DirectorREGISTER

This summer, I had the opportunity to be the Seneca Park Zoo’s 2017 Aab pre-veterinary fellow, and it has been an absolute blast. Over the past five weeks, I have taken a baboon’s heart rate, researched copper toxicity in snails, learned how to carry a penguin, and made friends with a couple of orangutans. I’ve fallen in love with so many of the animals here, and I’ve discovered new ways to think about veterinary medicine from the perspectives of population management and stress reduction.

However, one of my favorite experiences with this program did not happen at the Zoo. It occurred out on the beautiful Genesee River. I was given the opportunity to accompany our Zoo’s veterinarian, Dr. Jeffrey Wyatt, and a USGS scientist, Dr. Dawn Dittman, on a lake sturgeon population survey. Dr. Dittman has released over 5,000 lake sturgeon into the river since 2003, and they are becoming more and more common each year.

We started the day by releasing two display sturgeon from the Zoo. These sturgeon were two years old and were close to outgrowing their habitat at the zoo. After they were introduced to their new home in the Genesee, we began pulling up nets. When we found sturgeon, we measured their length, girth, and weight. We also tagged any untagged sturgeon so that we could identify them later. Then, we put these sturgeon back into the river, hoping to see them again in future years.

The most rewarding part of the day was when we pulled up a sturgeon that was over three feet long. I had never held a fish that big in my life! Dr. Dittman told us that this sturgeon was very likely released with the first ever year class in 2003, and must have already visited Lake Ontario. I could only imagine another student pulling up a three-foot-long one of today’s released fish in a decade. To me, this was concrete evidence that Dr. Dittman’s efforts were producing real results.

This was one amazing day among many. However, it sticks in my mind because I could really see the impact of a collaborative conservation effort. Dr. Dittman has worked to repopulate the Genesee with sturgeon, the tenure of sturgeon at the Zoo may inspire people to change their behavior and help keep the river clean. This is just one great example of how zoos and scientists can work together to make a real difference for animals.

-Allison Bichoupan

The mission of the Seneca Park Zoo is to inspire our community to connect, care for, and conserve wildlife and wild places. We do this is by partnering with various other organizations who share our mission.

One of the most important partnerships we have is with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), our national accrediting body and the organization through which we work with other zoos across the country and internationally to conserve species and ecosystems.

An important new initiative of the AZA is SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction, an effort to fully integrate the actions taken for species in human care with actions taken for those same species in their natural range, to ultimately save them in place and preserve natural ecosystems.

One of the first species being focused on is the African black-footed penguin.

The black-footed penguin has seen dramatic losses during the last 100 years for a variety of reasons, one of which is loss of nesting sites due to harvesting of guano for fertilizer. As a result, the burrow-nesting birds find themselves with very limited places to nest.

As one of the most successful penguin colonies in human care, with more than 100 chicks hatched and raised since 1997, we have an opportunity to make an impact in that area by supporting an initiative by AZA SAFE to design and build nest boxes that will work in their home range.

Today kicks off a national Kickstarter campaign to raise money for this truly worthwhile initiative. I encourage you to support the Campaign nationally and to support Seneca Park Zoo’s other efforts to save this magnificent bird.— Larry Sorel, Zoo DirectorKICKSTARTER

As a conservation organization, the Zoo is saving species by inspiring guests to take action on behalf of animals. But we’re working to conserve more than just the animal species in our care: every day, nearly every part of the Zoo participates in small but important sustainability practices that save energy, reduce waste, and help maintain a greener environment.

Animal care staff participates in the Zoo’s efforts to move toward more sustainable practices by composting leftover produce in addition to animal manure. The rich compost is then used on grounds to nourish plants and flowers throughout the Zoo!

Any paper, cardboard, metal, or plastic that is left over from deliveries of food or other animal care necessities is recycled. One of the companies that is always delivering things to the Zoo, B. Gimabrone & Co. Produce, reuses the boxes in which it packages bananas. Many of the animals at the Zoo receive browse, or branches and leaves, which is sourced from nearby Seneca Park and surrounding areas.

Everyday items can be reused to create enrichment for the animals, allowing them to use their minds and bodies to stay mentally and physically healthy.  These objects can be boxes, blankets, barrels, and more. Staff also uses reusable plastic bucket lids in the place of plastic bags.

In the Animal Hospital, staff reuses and repurposes hard plastic disposables such as syringes and syringe caps. They also reuse fluid bags as heating pads for animals. When they need to dispose of supplies, they find ways to do so responsibly if reuse is not an option.

To help cut down on waste, our facilities staff uses green cleaning products and reuses towels instead of paper towels for cleaning. The staff that manages electric and water power at the Zoo recycles UV light bulbs and repairs equipment instead of replacing it whenever possible.

There are lots of ways to help with the Zoo’s sustainability efforts as a guest at the Zoo.

The Programming and Conservation Action department of the Seneca Park Zoo Society collects light bulbs and toner cartridges for recycling. Next time you visit, bring these items to the Education Center and they will be recycled for you!

Use the bottle and can recycling bins around the Zoo to deposit any empty bottles as you explore. Better yet, bring your own reusable water bottle and fill it up at a water fountain when you visit!

Having a snack during your visit? At the Eagle’s Landing Café and Crater Canteen, hamburgers, hot dogs, and sausages are sourced from locally-owned distributers Palmers and Zweigles. All food containers and plateware are 100% compostable, while cutlery is biodegradable. Food service is moving to compostable straws and lids as well.

When you stop by the ZooShop for a souvenir of your day, ask to add a reusable bag in your purchase so you can carry your items home and use it again. On Earth Day, the ZooShop will aim not to use any paper bags.

If you’re coming to the Zoo for a Birthday Party soon, you’ll be attending a Zero Waste event. In the coming months, our parties are transitioning to using only compostable and recyclable party plates and non-petroleum-based bioplastic cups and cutlery. Already, we have significantly reduced our use of plastic party souvenirs and continue to look for sustainable and fun options for other take-home items. Our hosts share information about reducing the amount of refuse that goes into the landfill, and in the future we hope to compost as well as recycle our party waste.

Learn more about how your Zoo and other local organizations are working to protect the planet at Earth Day at the Zoo on Saturday, April 22, and discover what you can do to live more sustainably to help save animals from extinction.GO TO EARTH DAY

Take action to help to conserve our Earth’s ecosystems and save species from extinction. Small actions add up to create enormous impacts.

Join Seneca Park Zoo’s Because I Care movement and show us how you are taking action to make your pledge count for conservation.Because I care, I will:Turn off the lights when I leave a room. Every time.Turn the thermostat down two degrees in the winter.Ride my bike to work once a month.Tell us about your pledge below!JTNDY2VudGVyJTNFJTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZ2V0ZmVlZGJhY2suY29tJTJGZSUyRkJ2Zk80aDQ5JTNGZ2ZfZm9vdGVyX2JhY2tncm91bmRfb2ZmJTIyJTIwc3R5bGUlM0QlMjJib3JkZXIlM0ElMjAwJTNCJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGaWZyYW1lJTNFJTNDJTJGY2VudGVyJTNF

At TedxFlourCity 2016 last November, Seneca Park Zoo Society Executive Director Pamela Reed Sanchez spoke about two recent events that brought the plight of wildlife to the fore: the killings of Cecil the lion and Harambe the gorilla. But as she points out, the way that these incidents captured the public’s attention left too much unexplored about the real causes of extinction.Watch the talk:As Pamela Reed Sanchez tells us, the social media outrage with the killings of Cecil the Lion and Harambe the Gorilla obscured the bigger issues related to wildlife and made clear that we are disconnected from nature. Pamela explains the real lessons to be learned and the role zoos play in saving animals from extinction.WHAT YOU CAN DO

Last week, the Seneca Park Zoo Society hosted Dr. Drew Lanham–conservationist, professor, author, and activist–for several days of talks and activities about nature and race in Rochester.

Dr. Lanham has delivered talks on this subject internationally and advocates for a more democratic and artistic approach to environmentalism, especially in activities such as bird watching.

In his video manifesto Rules for the Black Birdwatcher Lanham laments the dearth of black birdwatchers: “When I meet another black birder, it’s like encountering an ivory-billed wood-pecker—an endangered species. Extinction looms.”

His advocacy work, research, and writing are about finding solutions to this inequity through open conversation. His new memoir The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature is an affecting exploration of what it means to be a person of color in love with nature.

Lanham holds a BA and MS in Zoology and a PhD in Forest Resources and is an Alumni Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Clemson University.

On Monday, Dr. Lanham first met with staff from the Seneca Park Zoo Society for an informal lunch discussion, considering topics like the challenges modern Zoos face in drawing young and urban audiences.

Later in the afternoon, he met with undergraduate students from Rochester Institute of Technology and talked with them about pursuing careers about which they are passionate. Thanks to the RIT Office of Diversity and Inclusion for making the conversation possible.

Before heading to a dinner with several Rochester community activists and influencers, Dr. Lanham made a stop at the City of Rochester Humbolt Recreation Center. There, he talked with a group of after-school program students about his experiences around the world as an academic and nature lover. He also encouraged the students to pick a dream and fly towards it–even if they had uncertainties. “We all have that special place that we can travel in our minds,” he pointed out to them. “Go there for inspiration.”

On Tuesday, Dr. Lanham traveled to several schools in the area, including World of Inquiry, School Without Walls, and Nathaniel Rochester Community School. At Nathaniel Rochester Community School, he offered a large group of students simple advice on how to become scientists at heart: make observations. Noticing interesting things and thinking about why they interest you, he said, are great ways to discover what you want to do with your life. Comparing potential obstacles in the course of students’ education to the perseverance of the birds he studies, he told them: “If you were a warbler you’d still be flying. You’ve got somewhere to be.”

Later that afternoon, Dr. Lanham and Zoo Society Executive Director Pamela Reed Sanchez were guests on the radio program Connections with Evan Dawson on WXXI. They discussed the memoir, finding nature in the inner city, and more.

Listen to their conversation: WXXI Connections: Bringing Diversity Into Conservation and Nature

On Tuesday evening, Dr. Lanham traveled back to RIT to deliver a lecture titled The Uncomfortable Elephant Bird of Color in the Room: Addressing the Coming Changes in Conservation, cosponsored by RIT’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

The talk focused on “range mapping” for both people and birds. Dr. Lanham compared the ways in which environmental factors–weather conditions for birds or political climate for humans, for example–can open up or limit the expansiveness of individual range maps.

 

On Wednesday, Rochester Birding Association member Greg Lawrence led Dr. Lanham and Zoo staff on a bird watching expedition at Ontario Beach Park and Braddock Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Zoo Society thanks Dr. Lanham for bringing his unique perspective to Rochester for a few days, and looks forward to continuing the conversation. We look forward to partnering with Dr. Lanham in the future and know he’ll be back in Rochester soon!

Top image courtesy of Clemson University

Zoo Society Executive Director Pamela Reed Sanchez will be updating this travel log as One Cubic Foot Madagascar continues.Part Four: Conservation Takes A Generation

My last night (for this trip) in Centre ValBio was May 31, 2016, the 25^th anniversary of the opening of Ranomafana National Park. There was a small celebration at dinner, where everyone gathered to hear Dr. Patricia Wright relay the events of that historic day, when so many Malagasy dignitaries were on hand.

As she closed her remarks, she said, “I thought the opening of the national park was the end of my major work in Ranomafana. It turned out it was just the beginning.”

What Dr. Wright and her colleagues have built at Centre ValBio is nothing short of remarkable, with essentially self-sustaining world-class research facilities used by researchers from around the globe. The dormitories are remarkably clean and comfortable, with space for scores of people to stay at one time. A new kitchen is being built presently, and the dining hall will be expanded significantly to serve the increasing number of people that use Centre ValBio.

But it is her relationship to the Malagasy people that is key. Pat has understood from her earliest days of working in Madagascar that it wasn’t enough to go in and tell people what to do, or even show people what to do. Those efforts don’t create lasting change. But efforts that combine conservation with economic development and education for the local villagers – those efforts have a chance.

Centre ValBio employs more than eighty Malagasy from the local villages. There are shuttles that provide transportation to and from the Centre. A number of her key staff have been with her thirty years. If staff can’t read and write, they are taught. She is clearly both revered and beloved. She told me that when she went to town on Sunday, which was Malagasy Mother’s Day, she had many people wishing her Happy Mother’s Day.

One evening when I was sitting at dinner with Pat, Dominique – who was the One Cubic Foot team’s incredible guide each and every time we went out into the Park – pulled up a chair and handed Pat a piece of paper with a proud smile on his face. His daughter has been accepted to university. Pat got a broad smile on her face and cheered “Dominique that’s wonderful!” As it turns out, Pat personally pays for her employees’ children who attend high school ($500 annually) and college ($1,000). Their success is costing her quite a bit, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

In her words, “It takes a generation for this to take hold. And I’m doing what I can to be sure that happens.”

Zoo Society Director of Programming and Conservation Action Tom Snyder will be documenting the team’s findings as One Cubic Foot Madagascar continues.In the past week at the Centre Valbio Field Station in Ranomafana National Park, the SPZS One Cubic Foot team has had just over a day’s worth of time that it hasn’t rained.  This has delayed us some, and it has definitely limited our findings, and the cool temperatures (low 50’s at night), and lack of sunlight has kept most the critters under shelter.

The cube has been placed, and on Wednesday June 1st, David Liittschwager and his assistant Zach Kobrinsky created a beautiful panoramic shot of the cube in situ.  After this, they hooked up the infrared GoPro for the first overnight monitoring session.  On Thursday the 2nd weather was especially nasty.  With increased winds, and a driving rain, a small contingent of the crew hiked out after lunch to pick up the infrared GoPro and collect as much as possible during daylight hours.The forecast for Friday seems to give us chance for one more day of good weather, with partly cloudy skies predicted.  If we get a good sunny day, we will surely be out collecting more animals that use the best One Cubic Foot space we have been able to find in Ranomafana National Park.Images courtesy of David Liittschwager