Potter Park Zoo's quarterly magazine distributed to members, friends and throughout the greater Lansing area.

1. Positive reinforcement
training is a vital tool
in animal care
p o t t e r p a r k z o o . o r g
Winter 2015
Smart
animals,
SMART
TRAINING

2. We have been decking the halls here
at Potter Park Zoo, gearing up for the
most festive time of the year. Looking
back at 2015, it is clear we have much
to celebrate. We have experienced
tremendous growth this year – thanks
to YOU, the many donors, members and
friends of Potter Park Zoo.
POTTER PARK
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ralph Hansen, President,
AIS Construction Equipment
Corporation
Ann Marie Gunn, Treasurer,
DFCU Financial
Kirstin Parkin, PhD,
College of Human Medicine
Michigan State University
Tonya Fountain, PhD,
Auto-Owners Insurance
Dan Halfmann,
Integrated Health Associates
POTTER PARK ZOO
ADVISORY BOARD
John Groen, Chair,
Michigan Economic
Development Corporation
Kyle Binkley,
State of Michigan
George Berghorn, PhD,
Berghorn Group
Post-Doctoral Fellow,
Michigan State University
Aaron L. Davis,
Fraser Trebilcock
Ralph Hansen,
AIS Construction Equipment
Corporation
Rick Kibbey
Mary Leys,
Accident Fund
Deb Nolan,
Ingham County Commissioner
Richard Snider, PhD,
Michigan State University
Penelope Tsernoglou,
Ingham County Commissioner
The facilities team is the reason
Potter Park Zoo looks so good.
They are behind the scenes
keeping the place running
smoothly.
“Think of anything you do at
home or hire to have done
to keep things in order and
multiply it exponentially …
that’s what the facilities team
does at the zoo,” said Tom
Davidek, who leads PPZ’s
facilities team.
Every day, the seven full-
time, one part-time weekend
seasonal and four peak
seasonal employees are busy
tackling routine tasks around
the zoo, including, construction
projects, exhibit fabrication,
plumbing and electrical,
motorized vehicle repair,
HVAC, landscape installation,
custodial, turf care, tree
maintenance and removal,
litter pick-up, trash removal,
park shelter and special events
set-up, snow removal and ice
control.
Aside from their ordinary to-do
list, the team also lends a hand
with some not-so-typical tasks.
“We’ve assisted in unloading a
moose transported from Alaska
to its new home at the zoo,
installed climbing structures
and plants in new animal
exhibits, helped introduce a
black rhino to its new home
POTTER PARK ZOO
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Tom Davidek
Maintenance/horticultural
tdavidek@ingham.org
Sherrie Graham
Director
(517) 342-2715
sgraham@ingham.org
Dennis Laidler
Education
(517) 342-2714
dlaidler@ingham.org
Teresa Masseau
Registrar
(517) 342-2776
tmasseau@ingham.org
Amy Morris
External Affairs
(517) 342-2718
amorris@ingham.org
Dr. Sally Nofs
Animal Health
(517) 342-2773
snofs@ingham.org
Rick Parker
Guest Services
(517) 342-5236
rparker@ingham.org
Jennifer Rostar
Special Events
(517) 342-2709
jrostar@ingham.org
James Tissue
Public Safety
(517) 244-8021
jtissue@ingham.org
Cindy Wagner
General Curator
(517) 342-2771
cwagner@ingham.org
Andrew Wingeier
Finance
(517) 244-8024
awingeier@ingham.org
POTTER PARK ZOO’S MISSION:
INSPIRING PEOPLE TO CONSERVE
ANIMALS AND THEIR NATURAL WORLD.
Continue your visit online.
Visit potterparkzoo.org for more photos, and
up-to-date information on events and animals.
WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Send your feedback on this issue
and story ideas for future issues to
zoocontact@ingham.org.
Zoo Tales is published by the Potter Park
Zoological Society for members and friends.
An annual subscription is included with every
membership.
Correspondence and address changes:
1301 S. Pennsylvania, Lansing, MI
48912-1646
ZOO TALES
Winter 2015
Publisher: Sherrie Graham, Director, PPZ
Editor: Kathy Backus
Designer: Nathan Jones
Photography: Kathy Backus, Amy Sebring,
Carolyn Schulte and David Ellis
Printer: Aldinger, Inc.
Zoo Tales is printed on recycled paper,
preserving our habitat for wildlife. Do your part
in conserving the environment by sharing this
copy of the publication with others.
FIND US ON
FACILITIES TEAM KEEPS
PPZ RUNNING SMOOTHLY
Page 4-6
SMART TRAINING, SMART ANIMALS
Target training helps keepers and
animals work together.
Page 7
PUERTO RICAN CRESTED TOADS
PPZ assists in reintroducing
extinct species.
Page 8-9
THANK YOU
Thanks to donors, 2105 is PPZ’s
best year ever.
Page 10
ASK MR. DENNIS
Where does PPZ get its animals?
Page 13
CONSERVATION CORNER
Join PPZ’s resolution to change the world.
Message from the director
We are excited about the new exhibits
for the red pandas, ravens and moose.
We added to our animal collection by
welcoming a new red panda, arctic fox
and bald eagle. We offered an enhanced
membership program with several new
features and benefits. And we expanded
enrichment opportunities for our animals.
We are very pleased with all of this progress
and we plan to keep the momentum going.
With your continued support, we will be
able to accomplish even more next year.
As you contemplate your year-end giving
options, we hope you will consider a
donation to Potter Park Zoo.
I hope you enjoy the stories in this issue
that highlight some of the accomplishments
and successes in 2015. We will be eager to
share more as we look forward to seeing
you at the zoo in 2016.
Happy Holidays and a very bright and
prosperous New Year to all of you, from all
of us here at Potter Park Zoo!
Sherrie Graham,
Director
THIS ISSUE
David Ellis got
into photography
the old fashioned
way – at the age of
7, he pestered his
parents until they
gave him a camera.
It was a GAF
110XF basic snapshot camera
using 126 film cartridges and
Magicubes for indoor shots.
His love for photographing
animals brought him to Potter
Park Zoo, where he snapped
his favorite shot ever. He captured a
picture of one of the otters floating
on its back. David likes this photo
because it’s a combination of clarity,
focus and detail, and also for the
way it shows off the otter in such a
natural way.
He now
resides in
Strongsville,
Ohio. Growing
up, he moved
around quite
a bit, allowing
him to visit
many zoos.
One of his
favorites is
Potter Park
Zoo.
STARTING THE
OLD-FASHIONED WAY
ON THE COVER:
and repaired a broken water
bowl in the wolf yard, with
two wolves and zoo keepers
watching our backs,” said
Davidek.
Becoming part of PPZ’s
facilities team requires
a high school diploma
and sometimes a college
degree. Experience in
caring for facilities and
grounds maintenance is
essential. Most important,
said Davidek, are a positive
attitude and a willingness to
provide customer service.
PPZ ‘s team has a variety
of experiences in different
areas. “As a team, we can
pull together on any task,
project or problem -- and
the results are always
great,” said Davidek.
The best part of the job,
he added, is seeing people
enjoying themselves at
the zoo.
“Where else can you
go to work and see so
many people learning
about native, exotic and
endangered species and
their conservation,” asked
Davidek. “Realizing what
we do as the facilities
team plays a big role in
that … that makes all the
difference.”
ZOOTales 32 ZOOTales ZOOTales 3

3. Target training consists of teaching an animal to
touch a part of its body to an object. The object is
often at the end of a pole of some type. Keepers hold
the target in front of the animal and give it the cue
to “target.” Once trained, the animals respond
by touching part of their body to the object.
Successful targeting efforts are positively
reinforced with food, which the animals
consider a high value reward.
Doppsee, the female black rhino, has
mastered raising her feet to allow
keepers to check her hooves. This
training is a two-person process.
One keeper is working with the target
and delivering the reinforcement to
Doppsee, the other is working with the
rhino’s feet. Doppsee is very tractable,
which has been beneficial in her training
since she has learned many behaviors
relatively rapidly.
“She is typically cooperative about training,
which is beneficial considering her size,”
said Pat, who has worked with Doppsee
since the animal arrived at Potter Park Zoo
in 2011.
g DOPPSEE, the female black rhino, will
voluntarily stand still and have her blood drawn
and her hooves checked.
g MALIHA, the new female red panda, allows
zoo keepers to touch her, which allows them
to routinely check her condition, ensuring she
remains in good health.
g ROCKY, one of Potter Park Zoo’s ravens, will
present his feet to zoo keepers for a nail trim.
g WILLOW, the female moose, is learning to remain
stationary for medical procedures.
Keeper Liz Jagenow said these methods are also
being used with Maliha, the zoo’s female red
panda. She explained that the animals receive
reinforcement for each step they take toward
the final desired behavior. These steps are called
successive approximations.
“It’s a slow process; a lot of little steps leading
up to the desired behavior,” said Liz. “It requires
time and lots of patience.”
Maliha is very motivated by food; she loves
apples and grapes. She is eager for the high value
food reward, making her an active participant in
training.
Getting the ravens to participate in their health
management means they no longer have to
be caught with a net to perform husbandry
procedures. Raven Keeper Amy Pierce has
developed a trusting relationship with both
Rocky and Lily.
She established a bond with Lily the female raven
after they bowed to each other. Bowing is part of
courtship for ravens.
SMART
TRAINING T
raining is a vital tool used by Potter
Park Zoo’s animal care team to
facilitate optimal care and safety for
the animals. It leads to better welfare for
the animals by allowing them to voluntarily
participate in their medical care and
husbandry, thereby reducing stress and
eliminating the need for anesthesia. It also
allows zoo keepers to develop relationships
with their animals by building a positive
association.
The zoo uses operant conditioning and
positive reinforcement to train many
behaviors. Operant conditioning is a
learning process by which behavior is
controlled by its consequences. Positive
reinforcement is the addition of a reward
following a desired behavior. This leads to
an increase in the likelihood this behavior
will be demonstrated again.
Pat Fountain, PPZ keeper for the moose and
black rhinos, said target training is the basis
of much of the animal training at the zoo
and is a great example of the use of positive
reinforcement.
RUPERT JR., red panda
LILY, raven
ZOOTales 54 ZOOTales4 ZOOTales ZOOTales 5

4. M
ore than 10,000 tadpoles born at
Potter Park Zoo have been returned
to their native habitat in Puerto
Rico and released in the last eight years
– including more than 4,500 this year.
Potter Park Zoo’s Puerto Rican crested toad
breeding program is a conservation success
story, proving that diligence and expert
efforts among the zoo staff can make a
difference in the wild world.
“The release of the Puerto Rican crested
toad tadpoles is another step in the
zoo being a leader in conservation and
education, as well as a place where we can
learn about other parts of the world and
see the animals that live there,” said Potter
Park Zoo Director Sherrie Graham.
Potter Park Zoo’s keepers have spent years
tackling the challenging task of successfully
breeding these toads and producing healthy
tadpoles in captivity.
“This year, we bred two pair. Both females
had breeding experiences, but the males
did not,” said Potter Park Zoo Keeper
Melissa Lincoln.
The Puerto Rican crested toad is an
amphibian that once thrived in its native
Puerto Rico and the island of Virgin
Gorda. The species was presumed extinct
in the late 1960s due to habitat loss and
other factors caused by humans. Wildlife
advocates and the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums intervened on behalf of Puerto
Rico’s only native toad and developed a
Species Survival Plan (SSP) in 1987, making
the Puerto Rican crested toad the first
amphibian to have an SSP.
“The SSP coordinator makes
recommendations regarding which toads
will be bred each year. These individuals
are then separated from the rest of the
group and the real fun begins,” said Lincoln.
THE BREEDING OF PUERTO
RICAN CRESTED TOADS
The breeding process is very delicate.
Keepers must replicate Puerto Rico’s
rainy season found in the spring and fall.
It begins with cooling the toads to 66
degrees Fahrenheit and keeping them in a
moist and cool environment for a month.
This leads to the toads hibernating and is
necessary for good egg development in
female toads.
Then it is wake-up time. The breeding
room is warmed to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
in a three-day period. After a week of
feeding and special care, the toads are
separated into breeding pairs and moved
to a specially designed rain tank, which
simulates conditions found in the wild.
The toads spend up to five days in the
rain tanks. Breeding calls are played on
a loop until the toads amplex and the
eggs are laid.
RESULTS
Potter Park Zoo’s toads produced roughly
4,500 tadpoles. All but 10 of these were
shipped to Puerto Rico to be released in the
wild. The 10 that remained at the zoo will
enter the captive breeding populations to
help maintain genetic diversity.
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS
“Every year, we tweak a few additional
variables so that breeding will continue to
improve at Potter Park Zoo,” said Lincoln.
“We are very excited to participate in such
a wonderful conservation program and
look forward to continued success!”
Puerto Rican Crested Toads
PPZ assists in reintroduction of nearly extinct species
The Puerto Rican
crested toad
Species Survival
Plan includes
750 toads at 29
AZA-accredited
institutions.
To date, 167,000
tadpoles and 1,000
toadlets have been
released in Puerto
Rico.
Potter Park Zoo has
participated in this
effort since 2009 and
has sent more than
10,000 tadpoles to
Puerto Rico.
BY THE NUMBERS
“She bowed at me, I bowed
back at her and that led to the
relationship we have now,”
said Amy.
The first time Amy clipped
Rocky the raven’s nails without
having to net him was her
happiest day ever.
“It wasn’t stressful for him or
me. We were working cohesively
together,” said Amy.
Potter Park Zoo hoofstock
keepers have been working with
Willow the female moose to
teach her to allow them to draw
her blood, which involves being
poked in the neck with a needle.
Getting the moose to cooperate
with blood draws is far less
stressful to her than the use of
anesthesia.
“So far, she will target, allow her
neck to be touched and tolerate
a blunt needle,” said Keeper
Ashleigh Winkelmann. “It’s a
process to desensitize her to a
sharp poke and get her to stay
still while being poked in the
neck.”
Working closely with the
animals allows keepers to
get to know their individual
characteristics and develop a
relationship. This means better
welfare for the animals.
“Every day is a new challenge
with the ravens. To create a
bond with a species that’s
known to be intelligent is
awesome,” said Amy.
Training makes keepers’ and
veterinarians’ jobs easier and
safer, but more importantly,
it improves the lives of the
animals. Animals receive
the best care since they are
DO WE TRAIN
OUR ANIMALS?
Why
g Reduces the stress of
medical procedures
g Enables better, safer
animal care
g Provides mental
stimulation
g Encourages positive
keeper-animal
relationships
g Promotes educational
opportunities
choosing to participate in the
process. While training helps in
performing husbandry tasks such
as nail trimming or obtaining animal
weights, it is also an enrichment
opportunity and mentally
stimulating for the animal.
DOPPSEE,
black rhino
Amplexed
toads
6 ZOOTales6 ZOOTales ZOOTales 7

5. g MICHIGAN VETERINARY
CONFERENCE
g INGHAM COUNTY CULTURAL
DIVERSITY LUNCHEON
g VET-A-VISIT
g EARTH DAY EVENT AT
THE CAPITOL
g ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION
g ADOPT-A-RIVER
g EAST LANSING ART FAIR
g BE A TOURIST IN YOUR
OWN TOWN/INTERNATIONAL
MIGRATORY BIRD DAY
g LANSING POLICE
DEPARTMENT GANG
RESISTANCE EDUCATION
AND TRAINING
g COME OUTSIDE AND PLAY
AT THE CAPITOL
g INGHAM COUNTY FAIR
g SOLDAN’S PET SUPPLIES’ 60TH
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
g LANSING COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STEMFEST
g CELEBRATION CINEMA
KIDS’ DAY
Primal Chic Incorporated,
Chris Triola
Capitol National Bank,
Linnea Snodgrass
Cheryl M. Fronczak
Sean Shaffer
Hal & Jean Glassen Memorial
Foundation
Robert & Carol Girvin
Merry Strohmer & Richard Stephan
Ellen & Albert Beaudoin
Michael & Anne Moody
Dennis & Mary Sweeney
Jean Vargas
Junis Zumberg
Brady Booher
Frances Dittrich
U.S. Forest Service - Northern
Research Station
Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Owens
Sandra Sweet
Norma Nestle
Lauren & Patrick Armstrong
Rick & Diane Kimball
A
n annual review of PPZ would not
be complete without highlighting
one of the greatest collections of
all: the 2,000-plus members and many
donors and docents whose support
enables every activity here at the zoo.
Without you, PPZ would not be the world-
class institution it is today.
The following lists many of the programs
PPZ’s Education Department has shared
free of charge throughout the community
in 2015. Participating in these activities
is PPZ’s way of giving back to the Lansing
area.
This is our chance to be good neighbors
to community organizations that share
PPZ’s mission and allows us to further
spread our message of inspiring people to
conserve animals and their natural world.
Roxanne & Allen Hansen
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Girvin
Mr. & Mrs. Kenny Paulovich
Grant Urie
Marjorie & Jack Hetherington
Eva Wicklund
Bad Brewing Company
Karlene Rabidoux
Melanie Cupples
HELO Club, Lori Shader-Patterson
Edwin & Ruth Bosworth
General Motors - Flint Metal Center,
John L. Hinze
Michelle Badgley
Jennie Sebruk
Bonnie & Patrick Boyd
Murphy Bill
John & Sarah Chapman
Judy & Lonny Snow
Patricia & Jeffry Thelen
Mary & Karl Zollner, Jr.
Ina Martin
Stanley Meng
Mark & Dana Staten
Robin Lentini
Douglas & Jennifer Sanford
John & Roberta Jacobowitz
Jan Brigham
David & Rebecca Shane
Darl Van Heest
Neogen Corporation
R. Sekhar Chivukula
Jeff Brooks
Disney EARS to You Program,
Kimbery Brydges
Ann Marie Nelson
Georgia Curry
Jackson National Life Insurance
Company
Gerry And Gaelen McNamara
Roger Cargill
Rhonda Burke
Robert & Shannon Armbruster
John & Kathryn Mazzoni
Linda Rector
Campbell/Walker Family,
Cathrine Walker
DONOR LIST
PPZ EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FREE PROGRAMS 2015
Thankyou
If you feel you are missing
from this list, please contact
Kelly Gibson at (517) 342-2717
or kgibson@ingham.org.
8 ZOOTales ZOOTales 9

6. W
here do our zoo animals
come from? It’s one of
the most frequently asked
questions by zoo visitors. Answer:
Not where you think.
Many people assume zoos get animals
from the wild, but at AZA-accredited
zoos, including Potter Park Zoo, less
than 5 percent come from the wild.
The few animals we do get from the
wild are usually animals unable to
survive in the wild. For example, our
three bald eagles were all sent to PPZ
due to permanent wing injuries.
State and federal wildlife agencies
are another source of zoo animals.
PPZ’s education and exhibit collection
includes a spotted turtle, three
Mediterranean tortoises and two
Asian spiny turtles -- all rare species
-- which were confiscated by the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service or Michigan
Department of Natural Resources
from people who illegally possessed
them.
IF PPZ DOESN’T GET
ANIMALS FROM THE
WILD, WHERE DO
THEY COME FROM?
Answer: the vast majority of
animals come from where they were
born – other accredited zoos and
aquariums. This has been the norm
for the past several decades, however
many people think zoos send out
expeditions to capture wild animals.
This is not true. Accredited zoos and
aquariums have very strict guidelines
and protocols to follow in acquiring
new animals, and sending animals
from PPZ to other zoos.
There is a process for deciding which
animals PPZ is going to exhibit and a
specific plan for acquiring them from
other zoos.
The zoo’s Animal Management
Committee decides which animals to
bring to PPZ. The committee consists
of staff members representing various
departments. They consider the
following criteria when choosing new
species for the zoo:
1. Conservation status: Is the animal
endangered or part of a Species
Survival Plan?
2. Does the zoo have suitable exhibit
space, amenities and staffing to
accommodate the animal’s needs
and husbandry requirements?
3. Does the species come with
breeding recommendations?
4. Is it a cold weather species?
We are open year-round and
prefer animals that can be
viewed throughout the year.
5. Does the animal have
educational value?
6. Is it an animal visitors
will find interesting?
These criteria are
evaluated, in addition
to the species’ availability
at other accredited zoos
or aquariums, in order
to decide which animals
to bring to PPZ.
ASK MR. DENNIS
??Question: Where does
PPZ get its animals?
Once the Animal Management
Committee makes a decision the real
work begins. PPZ’s general curator,
zoo registrar and veterinarian play
major roles in working with the
sending institution(s) to coordinate
the transfer.
PPZ zoo keepers communicate
with keepers from the other zoo to
gather information on the animal,
including behaviors, diet, training and
enrichment. The goal is for a smooth
transition, allowing the animal to
adjust easily to its new home.
The maintenance staff readies the
animal’s exhibit, while the education
and marketing departments
collaborate to introduce the new
animal to the community.
Next time you see new animals on
exhibit at Potter Park Zoo, you’ll know
how they got here.
10 ZOOTales10 ZOOTales ZOOTales 11

7. A resolution to
RESOLUTION #1:
CONNECT TO NATURE
g Get yourself (and your kids) outside. Play in
your back yard, go to a park or take a walk in
the woods or around the block.
g Check out www.greenhour.org for ideas on
connecting kids with nature.
g Join an environmental organization: learn
more, participate in activities, contribute to
the mission and volunteer.
RESOLUTION #2:
BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST
g Citizen scientists are ordinary people across
the country who collect information to be
used by scientists in research studies.
g Check out these citizen science programs,
appropriate for all ages:
• National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife
Watch -- www.nwf.org/Wildlife/
Wildlife-Conservation/Citizen-Science/
Wildlife-Watch.aspx
• Bird-watching programs offered by Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology -- birds.cornell.
edu/page.aspx?pid=1664
• Project Frogwatch USA -- www.aza.
org/frogwatch. Potter Park Zoo hosts
Frogwatch training each spring.
RESOLUTION #3:
GO NATIVE (PLANTS, THAT IS)
g Plant native species in your yard or garden.
Native plants are hardier and provide habitat
for native wildlife.
g Get involved in a local restoration project with
a local nature center or other organization,
such as an invasive species removal day.
g Plant trees. Help clean the air.
RESOLUTION #4:
BE AN INFORMED CONSUMER
g Buy products from companies committed
to sustainably sourced palm oil. Palm oil is
found in many products from candy to beauty
products. By farming sustainably, the land
and wildlife are less impacted than with other
methods. Learn more at www.rspo.org
g Try switching to products using natural
abrasives such as silica or walnut shells.
Many products contain tiny plastic beads.
These beads are too small to be filtered
by water treatment plants, resulting in an
accumulation in lakes, rivers, oceans and the
bellies of animals.
g Buy Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee.
Get your jolt and save the rain forest at the
same time.
RESOLUTION #5:
REDUCE
g Replace plastic or paper shopping bags with
stronger, reusable bags. They’re not just for
groceries. Lots of styles are available and can
be used for trips to the mall, bookstore, craft
store, etc.
g Use a reusable water bottle and/or coffee cup
to reduce plastic bottles and styrofoam cups.
g Adjusting your thermostat and turning off
lights will save energy and money. Turning off
your computer at night, changing light bulbs
to compact fluorescent or LED and unplugging
appliances when not in use will save even
more energy.
C
onsider making a resolution that will change
the world. Kick off 2016 with a conservation
resolution. Go beyond “Reduce, Reuse and
Recycle” and adopt one of the resolutions below.
Stay tuned to the Potter Park Zoo blog, where we will
feature a different conservation story each month.
CHANGE
THE WORLD
Meet the latest additions to Potter Park’s
animal family and exhibits. Stop by to see
each of them next time you visit the zoo.
PPZ’s male arctic fox has a new
companion. A female arctic fox has
joined him in the exhibit. She was
born May 24, 2015, at Great Bend Zoo
in Kansas. Her coat is white, typical
of arctic fox found in snow-covered
areas. The male is a blue morph, and
will never be completely white. This
coat variety is found where snow isn’t
present all winter. Arctic fox do not
hibernate; they store food for winter by
burying leftovers or hiding them under
stones. This behavior is called caching.
They have a keen sense of smell and
this assists them in finding these food
stashes. Both male and female have
playful personalities and can be seen
interacting regularly.
ARCTIC FOX
Rupert Jr. and Maliha have moved into
their new PPZ home. They have been
exploring their expanded exhibit,
which allows for greater enrichment
opportunities and is a habitat
more closely matching their native
environment. They are often seen lying
on the branches in the tallest points
of the exhibit, much as they would in
their native habitat. Support for the red
panda project was jump-started by a
generous contribution of $30,000 from
Jeff and David Williams of Williams
AutoWorld in Lansing. The red panda
is an endangered species native to Asia.
They can be found from Nepal to the
Sichuan Province in China.
NEW RED
PANDA EXHIBIT
NEWat the ZOO
12 ZOOTales ZOOTales 13

8. Thursday - Sunday
ZOOTales 1514 ZOOTales ZOOTales 15

9. Potter Park Zoological Society
1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave.
Lansing, MI 48912-1646
Amanda Sinift and her family
have been to Potter Park Zoo
at least five times this year. She
can’t recall a favorite visit because they
enjoy it so much every time. However,
a particular trip to the zoo this summer
does make her smile.
“My boys love sitting at the food court
and watching the peacocks,” said
Amanda. “We had just seen the movie
‘Jurassic World,’ so they decided to
name each peacock after characters in
the movie.”
Now when Brennan, 9, and Aidan,
8, visit the zoo, they look to find the
peacocks they named.
The family loves the size and layout of
Potter Park.
“It’s just the right size,” said Amanda.
“The exhibits are close together, which
keeps the kids entertained the entire
time.”
So many memories are made at
Potter Park Zoo. We would love to
share your favorite tale. Share your
memories with us and we will
share them with our readers in a
future issue. Send your tales to
zoocontact@ingham.org.
WE WANT YOUR
FAVORITE TALE
The first thing the Sinifts do upon
entering the zoo is check the schedule
for Keeper Talks. They recently caught
a zoo keeper near the eagle exhibit.
The keeper willingly answered every
question the boys asked.
“The boys are at the ‘age of a million
questions’,” said Amanda. “They were
rapidly firing questions at the keeper and
she took the time to answer every one.
“From interacting with the keepers,
you can tell they have a real passion
for the animals and care about the
people visiting, including kids with an
incredible curiosity about animals.”
It’s not just the animals the Sinift boys
are interested in at the zoo. They enjoy
walking the paths through the herb
garden. Brennan and Aidan have flower
beds they tend to at home.
“Now they want to grow some herbs in
their gardens,” said Amanda.
Amanda and her husband Brian love Potter
Park Zoo as much as the kids. They would
come to the zoo even if they didn’t have
kids, said Amanda.
Amanda always has her camera on hand
when at the zoo. Photography has been her
passion since middle school, when she got
caught taking her parents’ camera to school.
The big cats are the animals she loves
photographing the most, which is another
reason she loves the zoo!
P O T T E R P A R K Z O O . O R G
FOR ANIMALS
INCREDIBLE
AN
CURIOSITY