2000

Kayla and Mary taking a break to hike the Waterburg Plateau near CCF

Wild observer
­ black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata) ­ as Mary practices mural techniques

Black and white ruffed lemur tests the new furniture

The Aquarium and Zoo Facilities Association is one of the sponsors of the following field conservation projects spearheaded by one of our professional members, Mary Wykstra-Ross.

Notes from the Field
Mary Wykstra-Ross, Exhibits Director
Utah's Hogle Zoo

Introduction: 
Once, rainforests extended the entire length of Madagascar, a large island off the eastern coast of Africa. Today these forests are the most fragile and disrupted of the Malagasy ecosystems. Some of the most charismatic forest dwellers are the 10 species of lemurs. The lemurs, found only on Madagascar and some of the small surrounding islands, are all considered endangered, primarily due to forest destruction. At Betampona Natural Reserve, a portion of the remaining Madagascar rainforest is being preserved and studied. Some lemurs remain in this region and some species have been targeted as most critical. While studying the park's lemurs, Andrea Katz and Charles Walsh have developed an educational facility, Parc Ivoloina, to allow people of the region to understand the fragility of their unique environment and the necessity to preserve it for future generations to enjoy. 

The worlds fastest land animal, the sleek and long-legged cheetah is also losing its race for survival. At one time the cheetah roamed over much of North America and the Old World. Today, its range is confined to narrowing regions of Savanna in the Sahara, most of southern Africa, and a "relic" population in Iran. The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) was established in Namibia to support wild cheetah conservation, research and education. Laurie Marker, CCF director, and her team of researchers study cheetahs on an 18,000-acre farm called the CCF Cheetah Research and Education Center. Cheetahs are relocated from the region's farms to areas where they will be safe and free. Working with the local people, CCF is providing hope for the survival of the cheetah. 

Project Goals:  
I have been accepted as a volunteer to assist with animal care, field observations and exhibit design at the education centers for each of these projects. While allowing me to utilize my skills as an exhibit fabricator, I will also be teaching staff members how to enrich the lives of their captive animals. I will be traveling with Kayla Grams who has training and experience in animal husbandry and operant conditioning. Together, Kayla and I will be working with facility staff to develop animal and graphic exhibits. The following is the description of our participation in the projects:

PARC IVOLOINA PROJECT AT BETAMPONA NATURAL RESERVE IN MADAGASCAR
We will develop a plan to improve the cage interiors for Parc Ivoloina lemur and radiated tortoise enclosures to be both more aesthetically pleasing and good for the animals' locomotory and environmental needs. We will be using local materials (cut trees, lumber, paint, rope etc), experience and creativity to come up with cage furnishing improvements. The Ivoloina keepers will be available to help with manual labor. Lumber and hardware supplies will be purchased in the town of Tamatave. The number of enclosures renovated will depend on how smoothly things go. We hope to renovate several cages while we are there and to train the Ivoloina keepers so they will remain enthused about keeping the exhibits in good repair.

CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND PROJECT IN NAMIBIA
We will assist in the development of exhibits for the new CCF Education Center. The educational exhibits will tell the story of the cheetah and the role of CCF, and the people of the region, in cheetah survival. It will also encourage the local people as well as the visiting tourists to become active in saving the cheetah in its natural, wild environment. We will also assist in the care of cheetahs that are housed at CCF until a location is determined for rerelease into the wild.

Summary:
Utah's Hogle Zoo is supporting these projects by giving me a leave of absence and some financial assistance for each project. AZFA has joined this project through the donation of $1000 to fund the purchase of building materials for the projects. Members of AZFA enforced that support through holding a raffle and raising an additional $530.

Words alone can not express how grateful I am to the board and members who voted to support the field projects in which I am participating. By supporting this project, Hogle Zoo and AZFA have stepped into the world of field conservation. These organizations have now become directly involved in the preservation of both lemurs and cheetahs through participation in the ongoing projects in Madagascar and Namibia.

During my leave I will have occasional access to computers where I will be keeping in touch with AZFA by submitting articles for each issue of the Outlet. I will also submit field notes to Hogle Zoo for the web page (www.hoglezoo.org) and for the quarterly Safari newsletter. Following my return I will be giving slide presentations in Salt Lake City and hopefully at the AZFA conference in Calgary in the fall of 2000.

Thank you all for your support
Love and peace,

Mary