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Wines in the Wild 2008 a Huge Success!
 Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Zoo, the Pro Zoo Board and the Women’s Board are proud to announce that this year’s Wines in the Wild event, held on Wednesday, July 30, was the biggest and most successful to date! More than $65,000 was raised for the Zoo’s Adopt an Animal program, which helps feed the Zoo’s 1,000 animal residents.
The Buffalo Zoo would like to extend special thanks to this year’s event sponsors, AT&T and Bank of America; our media sponsors, the Entercom Group, WUTV Fox 29/myTV49 and Buffalo Spree; and our entertainment sponsor, Zaio East-Kirchmeyer Division.
More than 2,300 guests sampled food, beer and wine selections, as well as specialty services, from 48 of the area’s finest establishments. Other highlights of the evening included a basket auction, silent auction and animal visits.
Celebrity judges voted for their favorite food and beverage selections falling under eight different categories:
Winners
Best Beer
Flying Bison Brewing Company Dawn Patrol Gold
Best Entrée
Lebro’s Restaurant Pasta with sausage and peas
Best Dessert
Pizza Plant Italian Pub Bread pudding
Most Unusual Fare
Verbena Restaurant Seafood ceviche
Best Presentation
Rich Renaissance Catering Grilled skewered shrimp
Best of Show
Frog Hair Grille & Golf Goat cheese casserole
Best Wine
Freedom Run Winery 2005 Freedom Run Chardonnay
Specialty Vendor
Spa Go of WNY Paraffin hand dips
The following is a list of generous participants:
Vendors
Beastro at the Zoo
Bella Day Spa
Bijou Grille
Buffalo Brew Pub
Carriage Trade Pastries
Chateau Buffalo
Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Dessert Deli
Empire Merchants North LLC
Flying Bison Brewing Company
Freedom Run Winery
Frog Hair Grille & Golf
Fulkerson Winery
Gates Circle Liquor
Global-McKinley-Colonial Liquors
Grille 620
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards
Hyatt Regency Buffalo
Ilio DePaolo Restaurant & Lounge
Johnson Estate Winery
Kentucky Greg’s Hickory Pit
Lakewood Vineyards
Lebro’s Restaurant
May Jen
Merritt Estate Winery
Mr. Food No Fuss Meals
Perry’s Ice Cream
Pizza Plant Italian Pub
Rich Renaissance Catering
Rich’s Dessert Builders
Risa’s Deli & Catering
Sample Restaurant
Schulze Vineyards & Winery
Southern Wine & Spirits
Spa Go of WNY
Spot Coffee
The Eagle House Restaurant
The Premier Group
The Winery at Marjim Manor
Try-It Distributing
Verbena Restaurant
White Springs Farm Winery
Yancey’s Fancy
Celebrity Judges
Bridget Blythe, WKBW-TV/Channel 7
Tom Buckham, Buffalo News
Russ Burton, WGRF-FM/97 Rock
Elizabeth Carey, Business First
Jericka Duncan, WKBW-TV/Channel 7
Debra Durkee, Metro Group, Inc.
Jim Fink, Business First
David Gallagher, Buffalo Rocket
Laura Gray, WKBW-TV/Channel 7
Melissa Holmes, WIVB-TV/Channel 4
Kyla Igoe, WKBW-TV/Channel 7
Jane Kwiatkowski, Buffalo News
Rob Lederman, WGRF-FM/97 Rock
Elizabeth Licata, Buffalo Spree Publishing
Nick Magnini, WNYO and WUTV
Aaron Mentkowski, WKBW-TV/Channel 7
Sue O’Neil, WTSS-Star 102.5 FM
Shannon Steele, WKSE-98.5 FM
Wease, WKSE-98.5 FM
Brian B. Wilde, WKSE-Kiss 98.5 FM
Mary Beth Wrobel, WIVB-TV/Channel 4
The Buffalo Zoo would like to thank the vendors, judges, event volunteers and attendees for their support!
The Buffalo Zoo Is Now Part of Seaway Trail
 Members of the media were at the Zoo on July 25th as Buffalo Zoo President/CEO Donna M. Fernandes, Ph.D. and Buki, the Buffalo Zoo’s famed Asian elephant unveiled the new Buffalo Zoo/cultural heritage -themed interpretive panel made possible with funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s Scenic Byway Program. This panel, designed by artist Robert McNamara, joins a series of 100 of these community-based Seaway Trail storytelling units on the 518-mile travel and tourism route that is one of America’s Byways and a National Recreation Trail. Located in the Zoo’s main parking lot on the corner of Jewett Parkway and Parkside Ave, the panel depicts a history of the region and the Zoo’s evolution
The cultural heritage theme units showcase interesting facts, legends and lore associated with people and places that are significant to the history of the Great
Lakes Seaway Trail region. The natural history and birding theme units feature unique environmental resources and species of the Seaway Trail region. The
shipwrecks and diving units document reasons to explore the Seaway Trail underwater or at our maritime museums and lighthouses. The French & Indian
War and War of 1812 storyteller units share fascinating facts about these two conflicts that helped shape not only the Seaway Trail region but the future of a
young America. The people and culture along the coastline are highlighted in the panels now adorning the Zoo.
“This panel will identify the Buffalo Zoo among the key places to stop along the Seaway Trail to learn about the unique people, places and events that make traveling the Seaway Trail byway and visiting its coastal communities a memorable tourism experience,” said Teresa Mitchell, Seaway Trail, Inc. President and CEO.
“We are pleased to partner with Seaway Trail, Inc. to bring this point of local interest to the attention of travelers who will stop here to enjoy our community. Being part of this exciting byway-wide storytelling signage system is a great opportunity for the Buffalo Zoo, “said Dr. Donna M. Fernandes, Buffalo Zoo President and CEO.
OUR ELEPHANTS ARE BACK HOME!
 Buffalo, NY— The Buffalo Zoo’s three female Asian elephants—Buki, Surapa and Jothi—are home again! Zoo officials welcomed the elephants as they return from spending three months at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio while their historic Elephant House was renovated.
Buki and Surapa arrived at the Buffalo Zoo Tuesday evening in a specialty trailer built specifically for the transport of elephants. Jothi arrived within the 24-hour period on Wednesday to minimize the time these tightly bonded animals are kept apart. Accompanying the elephants are two of their keepers who cared for them throughout the duration of their stay in Columbus, the Zoo’s curator, veterinarian and a former Buffalo Zoo keeper who is now the large mammal curator at the Houston Zoo and president of the Elephant Managers Association.
“We are very excited to welcome Buki, Surapa and Jothi back home,” Buffalo Zoo President and CEO, Dr. Donna M. Fernandes said. “The elephants are favorites within the Western New York community, and we appreciate the support of so many people who helped us raise the necessary
funds to renovate the Elephant House. We’re also very grateful to the staff at the Columbus Zoo for providing our elephants with a wonderful temporary home.”
“It was a pleasure hosting the elephants and staff from the Buffalo Zoo and we are glad we could
be there to assist in the care of these magnificent creatures,” said Jeff Swanagan, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium executive director.
Built in 1912, the Buffalo Zoo’s Elephant House is a fine example of classic zoo architecture, but the facility’s interior holding area fell short of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) updated regulations by 150 square feet. While the building’s exterior had only minor changes (new gutters, roof and cleaning of the façade), the interior holding area was increased from the current 1,050 square feet to 1,800 square feet, which is well above the new standard of 1,200 square feet to house three female elephants. Other new or updated features include a heating system, ventilation system, electrical system, plumbing system, cushioned flooring, upgraded lighting and skylights.
The cost of the project was approximately $1 million, and thanks to the generosity of the members of the Western New York community and the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation who supported the I ♥? Elephants Campaign to raise money for the renovations, the Zoo met its goal. In September 2007, the AZA also extended the Buffalo Zoo’s accreditation for another four years.
In addition to the popular summer shows, Bathtime With Buki and Elephant Art With Surapa, which will resume soon, the Zoo will hold its annual Elephantastic Weekend event July 26-27, 2008. This year’s celebration will also be combined with a Welcome Home Party.
POLAR BLAST AT THE CHILDREN’S CANCER HOSPITAL
Organizations and Businesses Bring the Arctic to Pediatric Patients at M.D. Anderson
Buffalo, N.Y. – The Buffalo Zoo, along with other organizations and businesses, participated in the second annual summer adventure, Polar Blast, hosted by The Children’s Cancer Hospital at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center the week of June 23, 2008.
In this adventure, pediatric patients too ill to travel to M.D. Anderson’s offsite camp visited the polar regions of the planet through video teleconferencing and learned about the people and the animals that live there through a variety of daily lessons and activities.
Smart MultiMedia, Inc, a Houston business specializing in educational technology and learning, produced the week-long adventure by transforming MDACC’s PediDome into an arctic wonderland, complete with life-size penguins and an igloo (a 20’ diameter geodesic dome). Bringing together organizations, including M.D. Anderson, the Alaska Zoo, the Buffalo Zoo, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science and businesses such as Ukpea vik Iupiat Corporation, Ukpik LLC (both of Alaska), and Landry’s Downtown Aquarium, Smart MultiMedia created a team of educational experts to provide a virtual field trip to the arctic for the children confined to the hospital at the Children’s Cancer Hospital. Through a series of video teleconferences—broadcast live—the children were able to “virtually” experience the animals and culture of the arctic.
The final teleconference was a cultural exchange with a group of native Alaskans living in Barrow, Alaska. The group, comprised of children and adults, performed a native dance and shared questions and answers with the children participating in the adventure at M.D. Anderson.
“We were so pleased with the enthusiasm of the national and international organizations that were able to participate in this year’s adventure at the Children’s Cancer Hospital at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Being able to bring—through teleconferencing—the animals,
peoples and scientific research of the arctic regions of the world to the kids in treatment was awesome. We’re counting the days until next year’s adventure and looking forward to doing even more teleconferencing,” said Douglas Smith, Vice President of Education at Smart MultiMedia.
Polar Blast is sponsored by the Child Life Services division of the Children’s Cancer Hospital and produced by Smart MultiMedia, Inc. It was funded in part by the Children’s Art Project.
Local teacher utilizes Distance Learning with the Buffalo Zoo in her national award winning project
 Mrs. Sandra Keppel, who teaches Grade 6 ELA at Akron Middle School, has been honored with the 2008 Time Warner Cable National Teacher Award for her project, "Beep! Beep! Road Runner Research and Enrichment." As one of 15 project winners nationwide, Mrs. Keppel will receive a $2,000 cash grant, a $3,000 technology grant for the school and an expenses paid trip to Washington, DC where she'll join the other winners from around the country at a gala awards banquet.
Mrs. Keppel's students utilized cable programming and Time Warner Cable's Road Runner Hi-Speed internet service to complete animal research projects. The project also incorporated distance learning with The Buffalo Zoo.
The Buffalo Zoo welcomes a New Partner
The Buffalo Zoo would like to welcome its new partner, Delaware Camera, to our roster of corporate partners. The Zoo’s Summer camp program has a unit of study on “Animal Art,” capturing that perfect animal pose in a variety of mediums. To keep the creative juices flowing, long time Buffalo based photography center Delaware Camera donated a large amount of disposable cameras so each camper was able to not only stage the perfect shot, it will be theirs to keep along with whatever other animal images they are able to find during their week at this summer’s Zoo Camp.
Buffalo Zoo Receives Defibrillator from Sisters Hospital in Celebration of Nurses Week
 In honor of National Nurses Week May 6-12, 2008, members of the media joined Sisters of Charity Hospital President/CEO, Peter Bergmann, Cardiologist, Dr. Bruce Platt, and six Emergency Room Registered Nurses as they presented Buffalo Zoo President/CEO, Dr. Donna M. Fernandes, with an automated external defibrillator (AED) to be used at the Zoo in case of visitor emergencies. The AED that was presented to the Buffalo Zoo is the second one to be mounted to ensure visitor safety.
Through a collaborative relationship, Sisters Hospital’s medical staff is prepared to treat Buffalo Zoo animal keepers in emergency situations, including venomous snake bites. As the Buffalo Zoo and Sisters Hospital work together to ensure safety for visitors and keepers, Buffalo Zoo animal curator, Kevin Murphy, also demonstrated how keepers safely work with venomous snakes by conducting a demonstration with a Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake.
Buffalo Zoo and SUNY Fredonia Partner For “Aqua Kids” Television Show Segment
 The Buffalo Zoo and SUNY Fredonia were pleased to welcome the television production crew for the show, “Aqua Kids,” while they taped a segment at the Zoo on the recovery of the population of river otters in Western New York. The show is dedicated to educating children about the conservation of marine environments and the animals that inhabit them.
Molly McKinney, a 21-year-old senior communication major at SUNY Fredonia and Aqua Kids host, has worked on the show since age 13 and traveled throughout the United States, Central America and the Caribbean on filming excursions. At the Buffalo Zoo, Molly met with Tiffany Vanderwerf, the Curator of Education, to learn more about the recovery efforts being made to help river otters. While a portion of the interview was taped outside the Zoo’s otter exhibit, the Aqua Kids crew also hid enrichment items for otters so that when they came into their exhibit they would find special treats.
Buffalo Zoo Elephants Head to Columbus Zoo So Renovation of Elephant House Can Begin
 Buffalo, NY—Buffalo Zoo officials sent the Zoo’s three female Asian elephants—Buki, Surapa and Jothi—on holiday to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio so renovations to their historic Elephant House can begin.
The elephants traveled in a specialty trailer built specifically for the transport of elephants. Accompanying the elephants are two of their keepers, the Zoo’s curator, veterinarian and a former Buffalo Zoo keeper who is now the large mammal curator at the Houston Zoo and president of the Elephant Managers Association.
“We looked at a number of plans but decided that sending them to the Columbus Zoo during construction was the best option for their health, comfort and well-being,” Buffalo Zoo President and CEO, Dr. Donna M. Fernandes said.
Buki, Surapa and Jothi will join four other Asian elephants housed at the Columbus Zoo but will not be exhibited with them. The elephant groups will be rotated between an indoor and outdoor exhibit. The Buffalo Zoo’s elephant keepers will remain with them on a rotational basis throughout the duration of their stay.
“This is just one great example of how zoological institutions such as ours work together for the betterment of the animals,” said Jerry Borin, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Executive Director.
Built in 1912, the Buffalo Zoo’s Elephant House is a fine example of classic zoo architecture, but the facility’s interior holding area currently falls short of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) updated regulations by 150 square feet. While the building’s exterior will not undergo any major changes, the interior holding area will be increased from the current 1,050 square feet to 1,800 square feet, which is well above the new standard of 1,200 square feet to house three female elephants. Other new or updated features will include a heating system, ventilation system, electrical system, plumbing system, cushioned flooring, upgraded lighting, roof, skylights and dedicated emergency power.
The cost of the project was estimated to be $1 million, and thanks to the generosity of the members of the Western New York community and the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation who supported the I ♥? Elephants Campaign to raise money for the renovations, the Zoo met its goal. In September 2007, the AZA also extended the Buffalo Zoo’s accreditation for another four years.
While the popular shows, Bathtime With Buki and Elephant Art With Surapa, will be cancelled for the summer, the Buffalo Zoo will announce a Welcome Home Party for the elephants sometime in late summer. Click Here for Buki’s Blog
Polar Bites 2008
 Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Zoo and the Pro Zoo Board are proud to announce that Polar Bites 2008, held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, was a huge success as more than $30,000 was raised for the Zoo.
This ever-growing annual event featured food, beer and wine selections from 38 of the area’s finest establishments. Other highlights of the evening included a basket auction, silent auction, animal visits and music provided by JoyRyde. The Zoo wishes to thank Phillips Lytle LLP, Ten Eleven Group, M & T Bank, Try-It Distributing, Entercom, Fox 29/My TV 49, Buffalo Spree and the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center for their generous sponsorship of the event.
Celebrity judges voted for their favorite food and beverage selections falling under seven different categories:
Winners
Best Beer
Flying Bison Brewing Co. Winter Seasonal Scotch Ale
Best Entrée
Risa’s Deli & Catering Chicken Divan
Best Dessert
Hyatt Regency Buffalo Chocolate Crème Brulée
Most Unusual Fare
The Gourmet Store Artichoke Brie Soup
Best Presentation
Rich Renaissance Catering Prosciutto Melone Lollipops
Best of Show
The Fairdale Banquet Center Tenderloin Crostini
Best Wine
Niagara Landing Wine Cellars Misty Niagara
New Zoo Prices for 2008
Effective March 1st, the Buffalo Zoo admission prices are rising due to increased operating costs. We have worked very hard to keep to our increases to a minimum. This is the first increase in admission since 2005.
Children 23 months and under: FREE
Children (2-14): $6.00
Full Time Students: $7.00 (up to age 22 with valid school id)
Adults: $9.50
Seniors (63+): $7.00
Como Park Zoo’s Polar Bears to Find Another Temporary Home
 Buffalo, NY—The Buffalo Zoo’s Board of Directors, in agreement with Zoo officials, has made the decision to decline the loan of two polar bears from the Como Park Zoo in Minnesota.
The board decided against accepting the bears during a meeting on January 29, 2008 after Como Park Zoo officials requested that a section of the Buffalo Zoo’s off-exhibit holding area, which is currently not in use, be reconfigured to accommodate training protocol currently used at Como Park. The training protocol utilized at Como Park requires keepers to interact face-to-face with the bears across a fence barrier. The Buffalo Zoo’s front moated exhibits cannot accommodate this particular training method. The requested modifications to the Zoo’s off-exhibit holding area were estimated to cost between $30,000 - $60,000.
“It doesn’t make sense to invest a lot of money in an exhibit slated for demolition in the next few years. We’d rather spend the capital funds on design of our new Arctic complex scheduled for Phase II of the Master Plan,” said James W. Smyton, chairman of the Zoological Society of Buffalo’s Board of Directors.
While the Como Park Zoo’s polar bears can be exhibited together, Como Park also recommended separating the bears at night. Devoting two separate and distinct exhibits to the Como animals would have precluded the planned receipt of two endangered spectacled bears.
“We appreciate being considered to house Como Park’s bears, but unfortunately, we had to decline because we feel our exhibit is not configured to maintain their method of training. We are pleased, however, to welcome two more spectacled bears so we can continue our involvement in the conservation of this species,” said Buffalo Zoo president/CEO, Donna M. Fernandes, Ph.D.
The two spectacled bears, a 19-year-old female from Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton, NY and a 17-year-old male from Zoo World in Panama City in Florida, are scheduled to arrive in early spring.
Python Physical
Zoo’s reticulated python gets her annual physical
 The floor of the Reptile house might not seem like a typical doctor’s office. On January 3rd, the doctor was in for Rita, the reticulated python as she got her annual physical with the help of 18 caring hands of our Zoo Keepers and Vet Staff. After checking her length and weight, Dr. Volle and Veterinary Technician Alice Rohauer checked her heartbeat and drew what would be a routine blood test for any patient getting their physical. Rita let herself be carried back to her habitat without a problem. Backing her into the exhibit 1 foot at a time went without a issue.
Each year, Rita, receives a routine veterinary exam during which her overall health is assessed and she is weighed and measured. The reticulated python is the world’s longest reptile, averaging between 10 and 20 feet, with the longest on record measuring 35 feet. They are characterized by a vivid scale pattern with a diamond-shaped configuration highlighted by white spots. Reticulated pythons primarily kill their prey by constriction and have about 100 teeth that point backward to help them hold the prey. Found in Southeast Asia, their numbers are decreasing due to habitat loss. They are also killed for their skins, the Asian rituals of blood drinking and gall bladder removal and when humans encounter them in the wild.
Rita checked in at 16 feet long and 110 pounds and great health. She has resided at the Buffalo Zoo since 1991.
The Elephant House Open for “Nutty Business”
Perry’s presents Zoo with a check
 Executives from Perry’s Ice Cream came down to the Buffalo Zoo on December 18th to present President/CEO Donna Fernandes with a check in the amount of $6,749.20 from proceeds from the sale of Perry’s “Nutty Business” Ice Cream. The funds raised go directly to the “I Love Elephants” campaign to benefit the renovations of the Zoo’s Elephant House.
The campaign was launched on Valentine’s Day, 2007 to raise $1 million to increase the size of the interior holding area from 1,050 square feet to 1,800 square feet, which is well above the new AZA standard of 1,200 square feet to house the Zoo’s three female Asian elephants. This public campaign was widely supported throughout the Western New York community with residents and companies like Perry’s holding their own fundraisers and making donations. All the necessary funds have been raised, and the renovations will begin in the spring of 2008.
The Zoo Disputes Incomplete Report on Polar Bears
Finds PETA’s charges inaccurate and misleading and disagrees with conclusions
 Buffalo, NY – Nov. 26, 2007 – Buffalo Zoo President Donna M. Fernandes Ph.D. today disputed reports – that said four polar bears died at the Zoo over 16 months due to neglect or inattention.
All four bears – ranging in age up to 29 – died of natural causes, including heart disease and cancer, as verified by necropsies and independent pathology reports from a lab in Washington state. “The preliminary report is incomplete. It is factually incorrect,” said Fernandes. “The four polar bears cited in the preliminary USDA report died of natural causes, including heart failure, cancer of the gall bladder, kidney disease and a defective heart valve. None of those bears died because they ate or swallowed garbage.”
A review of more than 1,000 animal keeper reports about the bears from the last three years found two of those 1,000 mentioned finding parts of plastic bags in the bears’ exhibits. In only one case, part of a plastic bag was found in the stool.
“Thus I want to emphasize: the bears did not consume garbage. No plastic was ever found in the intestines of these bears. None died from anything other than natural causes,” Fernandes said.
The Zoo is highly respected by its peers and national regulators for increasing the captive population of the threatened polar bear, Fernandes said.
The Buffalo Zoo’s polar bears gave birth to 11 cubs between 1977 and 1997 – polar bears only breed every three years. The program was so successful that the national committee that regulates polar bear breeding under its “Species Survival Plan” asked the zoo to stop breeding polar bears for the last 10 years because the gene pool overflowed with the Zoo’s offspring.
In addition to the success with the polar bears, over the last three years, the zoo – led by the curators, veterinarians and animal keepers – nurtured 544 births and hatches from 51 different species – 11 of them endangered.
“I know I speak for the entire board when I say that we have complete confidence in our zoo’s leadership, curators and staff,” said board President James Smyton. “Western New Yorkers can be confident that we have a superior zoo.”
Nonetheless, reports have emphasized PETA’s interpretation of Buffalo’s zoo.
“PETA never visited our zoo, didn’t call me, didn’t speak to our curators, and never observed our animals,” Fernandes said. “What makes PETA the expert on our zoo?”
Not only does the zoo emphasize proper care for animals and is properly certified and inspected, but it is functioning at a high level, she said.
It is in the middle of a $27 million investment in new facilities.
Since 2002, the number of zoo visitors rose by 5 percent each year, from 329,000 people to a record 415,000 this year.
Over the same five years, membership increased by 50 percent from 12,000 households to 18,500.
The budget rose from $4.8 million to 5.8 million between 2002 and 2007.
In September, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums re-accredited the zoo for five more years after a comprehensive examination of everything it does. Buffalo can be proud to have one of only 214 first-class zoos or aquariums in America, she said.
And once a year for the last 30 or more years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspected the zoo and found only the most minor infractions – like peeling paint – but none having to do with animal neglect.
“Western New Yorkers should be outraged that an organization that barely knows the zoo should criticize the good people who work at and operate this facility,” Fernandes said. “This zoo has provided Western New Yorkers – especially their children and grandchildren – with decades of happiness and fostered their introduction to some of the world’s most important and rare animals.”
She said that she is confident when the final USDA report is issued early next year, the facts will show that the polar bears died of natural causes and that the Buffalo Zoo does not neglect its animals.
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