Who wants to win a brand new 2012 Nissan Leaf SL (including complimentary charging station and installation) AND help support the Zoo at the same time?

Jim Click has generously provided this amazing vehicle for the a raffle, and 100% of the proceeds from the tickets we sell go right back to us. Tickets are $25 each, or you can buy 5 for $100! Follow this link to get your tickets now: http://www.tucsonzoo.org/nissan-leaf-raffle/

Read the story here!

Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone? LOOK NO FURTHER!

Reid Park Zoo memberships are the perfect way to share something you love with someone you love.

For only $60, an entire family of Zoo members gets:

• Free, unlimited access to the Zoo during regular business hours for an entire year
• Discounts and the Zoo cafe and gift shop
• Invitations and discounts to special events
• Free or discounted access to over 160 other zoos and aquariums nationwide.

Reid Park Zoo is offering two exciting opportunities to explore exotic destinations and observe wildlife in their natural habitat. Guided by wildlife experts and experienced Zoo staff, our travelers will experience an adventure to remember.

Tanzania – African Safari
January 23 – February 3, 2012
Due to the sold-out status of the recent Zoo tour to Tanzania, this classic safari is being offered again – at the same rate! This exclusive journey through Tanzania, including the Serengeti, will allow us to see the “Big Five.”  A special visit to Tarangire, with its dense elephant population, will include a stop at the Tarangire Elephant Research project – a program supported by the Reid Park Zoo.

Galapagos & Ecuador
May 17-27, 2012
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on a first class touring yacht while you enjoy remote island tours, shore excursions, and snorkeling. Expert naturalists will show you the biological and geological wonders of these islands, including wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.

If you are interested in learning more about either of these opportunities, please contact Vivian VanPeenen at 520.791.3204 x 12, or vivian.vanpeenen@tucsonaz.gov.

A series of unfortunate events led to accidental delivery of oleander to two giraffe on Monday evening.
•    Per protocol, keepers were informed by grounds staff that “hackberry,” an approved browse, was available for pick up near the Learning Center  – branches were picked up by several Keepers, including for the giraffe.
•    At another location, different branches were on the ground – in the process of being disposed of.
•    The additional branches were picked up by an apprentice keeper, and fed to giraffe with the hackberry.
•    The additional branches were oleander – a toxic substance.

Who’s at “fault?”
The Zoo staff accepts full responsibility and is reviewing our extensive safety and browse procedures, as well as staff training. Although protocols are in place, we will make any needed changes to make sure it is impossible for this error to occur again. In this case, a human error was made.  Training and policies are important and we will continue to scrutinize our protocols. In the end, however, it is human decision making that is at fault. It was that one moment of human error that we unfortunately did not prevent. We are unsure why the branches were picked up, as they were not approved.

All staff members are extremely distraught over the situation. The keeper trainee who delivered the browse voluntarily resigned to the Reid Park Zoological Society.

How did you know the giraffes had the oleander?
The giraffes’ Keeper discovered the oleander browse in the barn the next morning – unsure at that time if it was consumed. She knew immediately what the branches were, removed them, and notified veterinary staff. We know two giraffe were given oleander in their barn stalls – Watoto and Denver. The other two females only received the approved browse and were not exposed.

When did you know Watoto was “sick?”
By mid day Tuesday symptoms began with Watoto. He stopped eating and drinking and would lie down on and off. He displayed increasing lethargy and became less responsive. He died at around 6 p.m. Veterinarians and the animal care team did everything humanly possible to save him after the ingestion occurred.

How is Denver, the other giraffe, who was exposed?
Only Watoto displayed signs of illness Tuesday. The female, Denver, remained under close observation and is still considered at risk. She has been drinking and some bodily functions seem normal. However, she still is not eating, and this is of great concern to us.

How much oleander was consumed?
We did not know at the time how much was consumed. Preliminary necropsy on Watoto did confirm oleander in the stomach –significant enough that nothing else could have been done to save him. The toxicity caused heart arrhythmia and pathologists suggest the actual cause of death was heart failure. Final necropsy results will not be available for several days, although we do not expect any different information.

Have you stopped giving browse?
No. We have a nutritionist who assists in approving the most appropriate diets for each species of animal, and we typically supplement that daily diet with browse in order to provide interest and activity for the animals.  Browse delivery is an important part of whole-life care. We have a “browse policy” stating that our grounds staff will provide non-toxic vegetation as it becomes available.  Our zoo keepers are trained to recognize appropriate browse materials, and to avoid anything they do not recognize.

So what will be changed to make sure this doesn’t happen again?
We are still in the process of scrutinizing everything that could have changed the outcome of this tragedy, and will make careful recommendations based on findings.

Our primary concerns at this time are:
1.    The health of Denver, the female giraffe.
2.    Our support for grieving staff and community members who will be forever affected by these events.
3.    The ongoing professional care for the entire Zoo collection.

Why don’t you just cut down all of the oleander?
Although there is no oleander in the animal areas, we do plan to widen the oleander-free circle around the Zoo. It is challenging because there are vast quantities of well established mature oleander around a majority of the Zoo perimeter. It is completely entwined in the fencing and irrigation. Tearing it out will compromise the perimeter fence and put the entire collection at risk. It will be a major project.

How can I help?
Reid Park Zoological Society is accepting donations to provide funding for Zoo improvement projects. Funds raised in this effort will be used to assist in the addition of privacy fencing and alternate plant materials to replace the current ones. Excess funds, if any, will be used to assist the Zoo with other improvement projects.

Donations may be made by visiting the Zoo’s website at www.tucsonzoo.org, in person at the Giraffe Encounter platform or by mailing gifts to the Reid Park Zoological Society at 1030 S. Randolph Way, Tucson, AZ 85716.