erri L. Roth
Roth is the
e Center for
and Research
d Wildlife
e Cincinnati
nical Garden.
ty, she
Cincinnati Zoo
l Garden’s
vities,
CREW
programs and
vision for the
W. She is also
ved in rhino
conservation.
Fall 2008
“ I love the
challenge of
Roth’s Remarks
using science to
unravel the
CREW
- Serving the Nation’s Zoos and Gardens
mysteries of
nature,
but for
Dr. Terri
L. Roth
VP of Conservation &
me, the effort is
Science
and
Director
of CREW
only
truly
worthwhile when
CREW is world-renowned for its
arned both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Science
a nobler
scientific
breakthroughsit isinfor endansity of California, Davis. She then was awarded a
ents Fellowship at Louisiana
University research, but it is also
geredState
species
cause; that cause
rned her Ph.D. degree in Animal Reproductive
becoming
wellherknown and appreciith a minor in Immunology. After completing
is conservation. ”
training at the Smithsonian Institution’s National
ated for assisting the nation’s
zoos
rk in Washington, D.C., she transferred to the
s Conservation andand
Researchgardens
Center and waswith their collections.
ere as a gamete biologist for 3 years before joining
In addition to being critical for the
ober 1, 1996.
n to her role as the Cincinnati
Zoo’s Research
groundbreaking
research CREW sciRoth has adjunct appointments at the University of
entists
conduct,
Biological Sciences Department, the U.C. Medical the tools and experGyn Department and Miami University’s Zoology
tise at CREW often are unique and
She also retains her previous affiliation as a
Research Associate.are
Dr. Roth
has been upon
invited to to help zoos and garcalled
erences worldwide including in South Africa, the
dens
with
needs
and the United Kingdom. She has published morerelated to the propaCenter for Conservation
tific papers and abstracts on species ranging from
Research of
gation, management and and
well-being
Endangered Wildlife
oceros.
Zoo and
of their living collections.Cincinnati
Whether
Botanical Garden
3400 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45220
it is a fertility exam on a male rhino,
artificial insemination of a physically challenged ocelot, tissue culture with the last plant of its species,
or pregnancy detection in an otter,
CREW scientists readily try to assist
all who call upon them. However,
no place benefits more from CREW
than the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical
Garden itself. In just the past year,
CREW has provided assistance to
the Cincinnati Zoo’s collections by:
detecting/monitoring pregnancy in
an okapi, diagnosing pregnancy in
multiple Pallas’ cats, evaluating semen in a bull elephant, monitoring
estrus and pregnancy status in a polar
bear, producing the first Indian rhino
calf by AI, assisting elephant breed-
ing through hormone monitoring
and ultrasound exams, diagnosing
ovulation and pregnancy in multiple cheetahs, coordinating an AI
procedure in a clouded leopard,
providing endangered plants for
display, and the list goes on. Afterall, CREW’s mission – Saving
Species With Science® – encompasses both the research necessary to learn about endangered
species and the application of
what is learned to enhance species
survival. Achieving that mission
often begins in our own backyard,
expands to our nation’s zoos and
gardens and eventually benefits
other continents altogether.
®
Contents
Roth’s Remarks.................................1
Project Updates
Community Helps CREW.................2
Boreal Toads......................................2
Warrior Salamander..........................3
Cat Contraceptive Vaccine................3
Signature Project Updates
SCaRCe Small Cat Commitment......4
CREW Awarded Prestigious Grant...4
Andalas Adapts to Sumatra...............5
CREW Garden Revitalized..............5
Conservation/Project List.....6&7
Project Updates
Polar Bear Reproduction..................8
Exploring Flora Finder.....................8
New Pennyroyals for CREW.............9
Eisenberg Fellowship.......................9
Scientific Highlights.......................10
Wish List.........................................10
Serving the Community
Scientists for the Future..................11
Wild About Wine............................11
New Website...................................11
Friends of CREW............................12
Community Contributions
Help CREW Carry out its
Mission
T
he Cincinnati community has long been recognized for its loyal support of
its beloved Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. That same local generosity is also providing substantial assistance to CREW. CREW’s goal to save
some of the world’s most endangered plants and animals cannot be fully realized in Cincinnati alone, so CREW scientists must travel to other zoos, gardens,
states, countries and continents to carry out their work. All this travel is expensive, and getting more so every day. Thanks to the tremendous generosity
of Delta Airlines, CREW scientists have been traveling for free to most of
their destinations the last two years whether it is a trip to Bok Tower Gardens
in Florida to deliver rare Florida plants propagated at CREW or a visit to the
United Arab Emirates to bank semen from the endangered Arabian sand cat.
In a similarly generous act, a local company called Weldco led by a wonderfully philanthropic individual has for the past three years provided free liquid
nitrogen and surgical gases to support CREW’s Frozen Zoo & Garden and lab/
surgical work performed by the plant and animal research divisions as well as
the Zoo’s hospital staff. This type of in-kind donation alleviates operating costs at CREW so that more
resources are available for programs and expanding
projects. There are so many more examples, like the
laparoscopy equipment donated by Ethicon Endosurgery, the ultrasound unit donated by Sonosite,
and the anesthetic machines and stainless steel caging
donated by Procter and Gamble. This outpouring of
community support not only demonstrates the commitment Cincinnati has to CREW but also its concern
for endangered plants and animals and its desire to
help, in whatever way possible, to save wildlife.
Size DOES Matter - but Hibernation is Optional
When Breeding Boreal Toads
T
he widely publicized world-wide amphibian crisis has recently inspired zoos across the globe to step up efforts to propagate these fascinating species before they are lost forever. Unfortunately, this effort may be a little late for many amphibians since it could take many years of research to understand the species-specific needs for successful reproduction within this
diverse group of animals. A decade ago, CREW scientists recognized the growing crisis and initiated a toad reproduction research program. Data from one of
CREW’s studies, a five-year project analyzing the effects of hormone treatments
and hibernation on breeding success in Boreal toads, recently were compiled and
analyzed. One of the many surprising findings is that female toads do not need to
be hibernated prior to producing eggs. In fact, more non-hibernated than hibernated female toads produced eggs, and many eggs developed into tadpoles proving they were fertile. There was also a strong positive correlation between body
mass and egg production. Apparently it is more important for egg production that
the female toads eat well all winter building up body mass instead of hibernating. These results were unexpected since this species lives in Colorado where it
experiences a long hibernation every winter. Until now, it was widely believed
that hibernation was necessary to stimulate successful breeding in this species.
(Project supported by grants from the AZA Conservation Endowment Fund and Boreal toads (Bufo boreas)
Colorado Division of Wildlife.)
2
Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
CREW ReView
Going to Battle for a Warrior of a Salamander
A
ll around the world, amphibians are undergoing a crisis. From loss of habitat to the emergence of deadly diseases, amphibians are facing extinction at rates higher than any other group of animals in the world. CREW scientists and CZBG
amphibian keepers are going to bat for one of these delicate species, a salamander in Alabama, called the Black Warrior waterdog. As the name suggests, this large, gilled, aquatic salamander lives in the Black Warrior River Basin, but fewer than
1,000 of them are left. Furthermore, their habitat of less than 2,000 acres is severely fragmented, and its quality continues to
decline. In fact, degradation of water quality is suspected to be the leading cause of declining waterdog populations. This species spends virtually all of its life at the river bottom in constant contact with any changes in sediment composition that would
occur from point or non-point pollution. In order to establish a healthy population of Black Warrior waterdogs in captivity
that would have the best chance of breeding successfully, CREW scientists must gain a comprehensive understanding of baseline health, reproduction and life history patterns in the wild. Many amphibian
species have been brought into captivity only to have reproductive efforts fail
due to our lack of knowledge regarding species specificities. CREW scientists
and CZBG amphibian staff recently initiated a study in Alabama to survey and
collect biological data on reproduction, health and water quality of this unique
salamander species. These data will be critical for developing and promoting
a conservation breeding program that will ensure the long term survival of the
Black Warrior waterdog. CREW wages many battles to save endangered species and in this case it is for a warrior of a salamander, the waterdog. (Project
supported by a grant from Ms. Iris de la Motte.)
Black Warrior waterdog
A Contraceptive Vaccine to Control Domestic
Cat Overpopulation
T
he domestic cat has become the most popular pet
in the United States, with more than 70 million cats
providing companionship to their human owners. Unfortunately, there are another 30-50 million cats that
have reverted to a feral existence, devastating wild bird
species and often dying horrible deaths due to disease or
injury. Developing a humane method to control these
feral cat populations is the focus of a new study initiated
at CREW, with funding provided by the Morris Animal
Foundation. CREW scientists, working in collaboration
with Washington State University and Amplicon Vaccine, are testing a contraceptive vaccine that hopefully
will decrease or eliminate reproduction in domestic cats
after a single injection. The vaccine, containing a microencapsulated protein, luteinizing hormone -releasing
hormone (LHRH), coupled with a novel adjuvant, is designed to release the protein slowly over time and stimulate the cat’s immune system to remove its own natural
LHRH from circulation. Without LHRH, both male and
female cats become sterile. In this pilot study, several
female domestic cats at CREW will be vaccinated and
then monitored over a one year period for estrus behavior, ovarian hormone levels and offspring production.
If results are favorable, a follow-up study may be initiated
to assess vaccine effectiveness with a targeted population
of feral cats. (Project supported by a grant from the
Morris Animal Foundation.)
Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 3
Signature Project Updates
Making A SCaRCe Commitment to
Small Cat Conservation
T
he Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has a worldwide reputation for the diversity of its small cat population and its
success in breeding many of these endangered species in captivity. The Zoo currently maintains 13 small cat species - far more
than any other zoo in North America - and, over the past 25 years,
has successfully bred 16 different species. Our reputation with
small cats has been further enhanced over the past ten years by
our leadership role in managing small cats within the Association
of Zoos and Aquariums, our reproductive and disease research
studies based at CREW, our support for in situ conservation of
small cats in range countries such as Mongolia, Thailand, South
Africa and Brazil, and our education and awareness initiatives
conducted through the Zoo’s Education Department.
Despite our numerous successes, one challenge associated with
our small cat program has been trying to exhibit and breed cats
in the Cat House while simultaneously striving to educate the
public and conduct our vital research. Although some individual
cats do reproduce while on public exhibit with thousands of zoo
visitors looking on, many other cats are reluctant to breed in this Pallas’ cats are one of many small cat species that will benefit
environment and likely would benefit from a quieter, more iso- from SCaRCe
lated setting. Frequently, the cats that are most valuable genetically are those that are most resistant to reproducing while on
public display.
We believe that the solution to this challenge lies with the Small Cat Reproduction Center (SCaRCe), the first dedicated
small cat breeding facility built by any zoo in North America. The State of Ohio, through its 2009 capital appropriations bill,
recently gave our conservation efforts a major boost by allocating $1.5 million dollars to support construction of this facility.
Beginning in late 2009, SCaRCe will be built on a portion of a 528 acre offsite property owned by the Zoo in nearby Warren
County. When completed, SCaRCe will have the capacity to maintain up to 16 breeding pairs of small cats, focusing primarily on the five species (ocelot, black-footed cat, fishing cat, sand cat, Pallas’ cat) managed in Species Survival Plans (SSP) but
also including other small-sized felids in need of conservation attention. The emphasis of SCaRCe will be on natural breeding
of SSP-recommended pairings for improved genetic and demographic management of these threatened populations. SCaRCe
also will house a veterinary clinic for medical procedures as well as endocrinology and gamete biology laboratories for use
by CREW scientists. This breeding facility reinforces the Zoo’s commitment to small cat conservation through its Small Cat
Signature Project and represents one component of the Zoo’s innovative Cat Canyon capital project.
Andalas Adapts to Sumatra (and Thrives)
A
recent visit to the Cincinnati Zoo’s first-born Sumatran
rhino calf, Andalas, in his current home at the Sumatran
Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) on Sumatra revealed many encouraging
changes both with Andalas and with the program itself. Andalas appears to be mature weighing in at 770 kg (1700 lbs) and
is now the largest rhino at the reserve. His neck has thickened
making him look much more like his father, Ipuh, and his interest in the female rhinos has become apparent, suggesting he will
soon be breeding them. Despite all of these changes, Andalas
has maintained his childhood love of people and the attention
they give him. He is the most well behaved rhino in the reserve
for blood collection, foot exams, ultrasound exams and many
other hands-on procedures that help the staff maintain his excellent health. Andalas has never been sick nor seriously injured
and he has adapted to the new forest environment, the change in
diet and exposure to many new insects that he hadn’t encountered in the US, without a hitch. As heartening are some of the
facility and programmatic changes at the SRS that have evolved
Dr. Terri Roth visits Cincinnati Zoo’s first-born Sumatran rhino calf,
in recent years: extensive shade is provided over all stall areas
Andalas, in his current home.
to protect the rhinos from too much sun; soft mats are provided;
and footbaths for the staff are now placed in front of every rhino
enclosure to reduce the risks of transferring disease if one of the rhinos happens to get sick. Perhaps the most notable and
encouraging change in the system is the regular ultrasound exams conducted quite competently by the SRS veterinary staff
to help critically time introductions between female and male rhinos. This improvement in the management routine was
made possible by the donation of a portable ultrasound unit from Sonosite that was generously provided to the Cincinnati
Zoo for donation to the SRS. All are anxiously awaiting the first time Andalas successfully breeds a female rhino, meanwhile, Andalas is clearly benefiting from the outstanding care and wonderful home the SRS provides.
CREW Endangered Species Garden
Revitalized
E
C
ndangered plants at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden are getting a new
face, thanks to a combination of the redesign of the area between the new Zoo
Hospital and the CREW Building and to a grant from the Association of Zoological Horticulture (AZH). Established as the Gertrude MacRae McIlwain Endangered
Species Garden at CREW in 1991, it graced the front of CREW for 18 years, with
common and endangered species that represented four habitats of our region.
With the redesign of the road leading up to CREW, it was decided to redo the
garden and give it a fresh look. The new garden design will focus on individual endangered species, rather than habitats and will include species that
CREW’s Plant Division has worked on, in addition to other species that are
endangered regionally, nationally, and internationally. Some examples are the
Alabama leatherflower, the Roan Mountain bluet, and the Heartleaf plantain,
all of which have been propagated and cryopreserved by the CREW’s Plant
Division. The Wollemi pine is a critically endangered species that was first
discovered in the Wollemi National Park in Australia in 1994 and had been
known previously only from fossils. The Lakeside daisy and the Running
buffalo clover are Federally endangered species that are found regionally—
the daisy near the shores of Lake Erie and the clover right here in Hamilton
County. (Project supported by a grant from the Association of Zoological HorCREW Center with Endangered Species Garden.
ticulture.)
Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 5
CREW Awarded Prestigious National
Leadership Grant
REW recently received a highly regarded federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This
prestigious award of $835,000 over three years will support two of the Zoo’s four Signature Projects: rhinos and small
cats. Specifically, this IMLS funding will support CREW’s efforts to demonstrate the feasibility and value of incorporating
genome resource banks and assisted reproduction into the management and breeding
of endangered rhinoceroses and imperiled small cats. The project will involve collaborative work in five international countries including Indonesia, Brazil, Mongolia,
India and South Africa. Results could benefit zoos nationally and internationally
while revolutionizing the way endangered animals are managed to enhance genetic
diversity. This award also provides further recognition of CREW as one of the nation’s visionary leaders in the conservation of endangered animal populations.
4
CREW ReView
6
7
®
New Pennyroyals for CREW
The “Bear” Necessities of
Polar Bear Reproduction
C
limate change is destroying the vital sea ice habitat of the polar bear, placing the
species at risk of extinction and making them an icon for global warming. While
Zoos have maintained and bred polar bears through a carefully managed Species Survival
Plan, the current population is not self-sustaining. In addition, research on polar bear reproductive physiology is limited. However, it is understood that polar bears are seasonal
breeders that mate in the early spring, experience delayed implantation until the fall and
produce cubs in early winter. A non-invasive method for monitoring reproductive function in polar bears would facilitate the management of captive and wild bears. In 2004,
CREW scientists initiated a study of female polar bears at CZBG. In 2007, a male polar bear was moved to CZBG to breed
with one of the females. While animal keeper staff collected fecal samples from our female bears throughout each year,
CREW scientists developed the assays needed to generate the first
meaningful fecal hormone profiles in polar bears. In 2008, CREW
expanded its case study to include several polar bears at other AZA
institutions. The primary goal of this pilot project is to determine the
efficacy of fecal hormone analysis for determining when ovulation
and implantation occurs and when a pregnancy is a true pregnancy
and not a pseudopregnancy. CREW scientists share hormone results with each institution, indicating which females may need to
be denned up in preparation for parturition. Therefore, appropriate
management practices can be carried out according to each bear’s
known physiological status. CREW is not only learning the bear
necessities of reproduction but working to ensure the long-term survival of polar bears. (Project supported by a grant from the AZA ConHormone profile from female polar bear “Berit” at CZBG
servation
Endowment Fund.)
following breeding in Winter 2007.
Exploring Flora Finder
O
ver the past year, the Ohio Environmental Education Fund has provided funding to CREW’s Plant Division to make the Local Flora Database, known as
Flora Finder, more accessible to teachers and students. A highlight of that project
was a free, all-day Teachers’ Workshop held February 2, 2008, at the Harold C.
Schott Education Center. It was attended by twenty teachers from the Greater
Cincinnati area.
The workshop trained teachers to use Flora Finder to facilitate hands-on, inquiry based projects with their students. It focused on the database, plant collecting, making herbarium specimens, and plant identification and classification. GPS
units, herbarium presses, and tree and wildflower guidebooks were purchased with
Science teachers at the Local Flora Project
grant funds for use in the projects. As a result, this spring 261 students in grades
Teachers’ Workshop.
3-12 participated in projects led by workshop participants.
Flora Finder is now available to anyone interested in learning about our local
environment. The database can be found on the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden website at http://www.cincinnatizoo.org/earth/CREW/localfloralproject.html.
There are instructions for searching the website to learn about plants that are or
have been in the Greater Cincinnati area. Supporting materials can be borrowed
from the Plant Division at CREW for educational projects. And, new information gathered in the course of projects can be sent back to CREW for inclusion
in the database. More information can be obtained on the website or by email at:
lfp@cincinnatizoo.org. Thanks to the Ohio Environmental
Education Fund, students can gain a better understanding
and appreciation for their local flora and environmental heriStudents identify and press plants found on their
tage.
school grounds to make herbarium specimens.
8
CREW ReView
Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
S
ome endangered plants live a doubly dangerous life. One of these is the Todsen’s false pennyroyal (Hedeoma todsenii), growing at White Sands Missile Range
(WSMR), New Mexico. While it is unlikely that an errant missile could wipe out the
entire species, it does grow in a very risky spot.
CREW developed procedures for propagating and cryopreserving this pennyroyal
using tissues collected from the Sacramento Mountains, to the east of WSMR. This
species has now also been found in the San Andres Mountains on the western edge of
the missile range. In order to increase the genetic representation at CREW, we made
arrangements with WSMR to collect cuttings from one of these recently discovered
populations. Getting to the plants required climbing to 6500 feet on the slope of Grandaddy Peak. Cuttings were made and delivered to CREW by overnight courier and immediately placed into culture. Next, genetic differences within this population will be
identified and compared to plants from the Sacramento Mountains.
Why such an interest in this plant? Because it was only recently discovered, we are
challenged to learn about it quickly to ensure its survival. In fact, we don’t even know
the extent of its endangered status. Exploration of appropriate habitats has led to the
discovery of more plants. It appears that although
seed production is low, it can also spread via runners
through the soil. Preventing habitat disturbance may
be the most critical factor contributing to the long-term survival of the species. Until we
know more about its biology, it is hard to predict its future, but the samples propagated
and stored at CREW will help ensure its survival for years to come. (Development of the
protocols used in this project were supported by grants from the IMLS, in collaboration
with The Arboretum at Flagstaff and The Center for Plant Conservation.)
The Eisenberg Fellowship—Legacy of Two
Dedicated Volunteers
T
he CREW Plant Division is a grateful recipient of the incredible generosity of two dedicated volunteers. The Eisenberg
Fellowship, a gift from the estates of Stanley and Marion Eisenberg, will provide a stipend to students at CREW pursuing
careers in biology or conservation. Marion served as a volunteer in several areas, including the
“Ask Me” stations on Zoo grounds. Stanley worked in CREW’s Plant Lab, performing data entry
and organization. Like that of many of our volunteers, their reach went far beyond their work at
CREW.
Stan had a particular impact on research assistant, John Clark, a recent college graduate when
he came to CREW in 1996. In 2008, John completed his Ph.D. in molecular systematics and
accepted a position at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. John writes of Stan, “Stanley was responsible for getting me to where I am today. In fact, he often directly assisted in my transformation – through much-needed lectures! More often, however, his example alone silently shaped me
in ways that I am only now starting to appreciate. To me, this epitomizes what volunteerism is all
about: a sharing of one’s self for the benefit of others.”
Stanley was a phenomenally sharp man with a great wit and a keen sense of purpose. Most
notable was his passion for life-long learning. Says daughter Marilyn of her father, “He was enthralled by science and innovation and greatly disturbed by man’s greed which led to harming the
environment, eliminating species of plants and animals and causing huge disparities in income.”
Just as Stan and Marion had a strong influence on John’s career, John inspired them to establish
the Eisenberg Fellowship to simultaneously benefit future generations of students and wildlife. The Eisenbergs
Through the Eisenberg Fellowship at CREW, their legacy lives on. For more information about
how you can leave a legacy to benefit CREW, please call Mary Newman at (513) 569-8218.
Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 9
CREW Scientific Highlights
Book Chapters
Pence VC. 2008. Ex situ conservation of ferns
and lycophytes – approaches and techniques.
In: Ranker TA and CH Haufler (eds.). Biology
and Evolution of Ferns and Lycophytes. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; Pp.
284-300.
Pence VC. 2008. Cryopreservation of bryophytes and ferns. In: Reed BM (ed.). Plant
Cryopreservation: A Practical Guide. New
York: Springer; Pp. 117-140.
Pence VC, SM Charls, BL Plair, MA Jaskowiak, GD Winget, and LL Cleveland. 2007.
Integrating in vitro methods for propagating
and preserving endangered species. In: Xu
Z, J Li, Y Xue, and W Yang, (eds.). Biotechnology and Sustainable Agriculture, 2006 and
Beyond. Proceedings of the 11th IAPTC&B
Congress, August 13-18, 2006, Beijing, China.
Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer; Pp.
363-373.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Haffey, MB, RD Pairan, PR Reinhart and
MA Stoops. 2008. Urinalysis in three species of captive rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis and Diceros
bicornis). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
39(3): 349-357.
Scientific Presentations
Oyuntuya B, W Swanson, B Munkhtsog, S
Ross, M Brown, A Fine and R Samiya. 2008.
Assessment of seasonal reproductive traits in
a wild Mongolian felid, the Pallas’ cat (Otocolobus manul). Proceedings from the Society of
Conservation Biology Annual Conference p.
123 (abstract 55.3). Oral presentation, Chattanooga, TN.
Pence VC, SM Charls, BL Plair, and JR
Clark. 2008. Micropropagation of the Federally endangered Cumberland sandwort (Arenaria cumberlandensis Wofford & Kral). In
Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology 44:
S70. Poster presentation, Society for In Vitro
Biology, Tucson, AZ.
Pence VC, SM Charls, K Lindsey, and S Murray. 2008. Micropropagation of the Federally
endangered Autumn buttercup (Ranunculus
aestivalis L. Benson). In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Plant, 44: S70. Poster
presentation, Society for In Vitro Biology, Tucson, AZ.
Plair B, K Kuchinski, J Ryan and D Boodoo.
2008. Translocation of Blue-and-Yellow Macaws to Nariva Swamp, Trinidad. Ist International Wildlife Reintroduction Conference.
Poster #51, Chicago, IL.
Harris LA, BG Steinetz, JB Bond, S Lasano
and WF Swanson. 2008. Refinement of a
commercial bench-top relaxin assay for pregnancy diagnosis using urine from domestic
and non-domestic felids. Journal of Zoo and
Wildlife Medicine 39:170-179.
Plair B, K Kuchinski, S Warren, J Ryan, D
Boodoo, M Lal, S Ramsubage and A Ramoudar. 2008. Blue- and yellow-macaws get a second chance in Trinidad. Parrots International
Symposium 2008. Invited oral presentation,
Long Beach, CA.
Roth, TL and CK Vance. 2007. Corticosteroid-induced suppression of in vitro lymphocyte
proliferation in four captive rhinoceros species.
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 38(4):
518-525.
Stoops, MA, CJ DeChant, RD Pairan, MK
Campbell, ES Blumer, HL Bateman, JB
Bond, JR Herrick and TL Roth. 2007. Development of techniques for successful ar-
tificial insemination in the Indian rhinoceros
(Rhinoceros unicornis). Proceeding from the
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Annual Conference Pp. 183. Oral presentation,
Knoxville, TN.
Other
Pence VC. 2006. Propagating and preserving
pawpaws (and other rare plants) from Florida.
Palmetto 23: 8-11.
Grants Awarded
Funding Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services. Project: Integrating genome
resource banks and assisted reproduction into
collection management to preserve and enhance endangered rhinoceros and imperiled
small cat populations. Role: Principal Investigators. Duration: 12/08 – 11/11. Amount:
$835,916.
Funding Source: Association of Zoos and
Aquariums Conservation Endowment Fund.
Project: Non-invasive reproductive monitoring
and pregnancy diagnosis in Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus). Role: Principal Investigators.
Duration: 2/09 – 1/10. Amount: $22,472.
Funding Source: Ms. Iris de la Motte. Project:
Physiologic Reference Values in Black Warrior
Waterdogs. Role: Principal Investigator. Duration: 6/08 - 6/09. Amount: $10,000.
Funding Source: William P. Anderson Foundation. Project: CREW Scientist for the Future
overnight program. Role: Principal Investigator: Duration: 2/08 - 4/08. Amount $10,000.
Funding Source: Morris Animal Foundation.
Project: Feral cat contraception using a singledose, micro-encapsulated LHRH vaccine.
Role: Principal and Co-Investigator. Duration:
10/08 - 9/09. Amount: $8,000.
CREW Wish List
Autoclave
CREW scientists rely on the autoclave
to sterilize media, containers, and instruments for their important work. CREW’s
autoclave has exceeded the normal 10-15
year lifespan by experiencing 17 years of
constant use and has recently required
numerous repairs. A new autoclave is
needed to eliminate these ever-more frequent interruptions in work and the continuing need for costly repairs of an antiquated machine. Cost: $27,000.
Ultrasound Recorder
CREW researchers conduct numerous
10
ultrasound exams every year on animals
all around the park. A portable, handheld,
battery operated, digital recorder is necessary to record these exams in a computer
friendly format for later review and permanent record. Cost: $250.
Ergonomic Pipettes
Pipetting thousands of samples each day
can take its toll on the hands of our scientists who analyze hormones in cats, rhinos and polar bears. To reduce this strain,
three different sizes of ergonomic pipettes
are needed for the endocrine laboratory.
Cost: $1,400 for all three.
Lyophilizer Parts
Additional glass canisters and adaptors are
needed for the machine that freeze dries
all of our fecal samples prior to hormone
analysis. The new parts will improve the
productivity of the endocrine laboratory.
Cost: $750.
Refrigerator
The refrigerator in the Media Prep Lab is
aging, the seals are broken and it is frosting up. This critical piece of equipment is
used to store the chemicals and hormones
needed for preparing media for our endangered species propagation program and it
needs to be replaced. Cost: $700.
Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
CREW ReView
Scientists for the Future
C
REW was the venue for close to 60 high school students who experienced what it is like to be a CREW scientist for
a night. This unique opportunity for Cincinnati Public Schools’ high school students was funded by the William P.
Anderson Foundation. Participants came prepared for hands-on research and thought-provoking discussions about how
CREW is Saving Species with Science®. They conducted behavioral observations on rhinos and Pallas’ cats, cloned plants
and joined in an informative discussion about CREW’s research and
conservation efforts. Surprises included behind the scenes encounters with a few critically endangered species. When asked what they
liked most about the program, some reflections were “You rarely learn
about Sumatran rhinos and endangered plants”; “I enjoyed myself a
lot during this program and learned a lot about the importance of saving plants”. In response to what they would change about the program,
many said “I would not change anything, it was very fun”; “I wish
more people could come to this program”. One teacher commented
“Thank you very much for every effort you made to make this a great
learning experience for our students. They had fun and learned a lot!”
(CREW is grateful to the William P. Anderson Foundation for its support in creating “Scientists for the Future”.)
CPS students learn about assisted reproductive techniques
Wild About Wine –
Eat, Drink and Save Wildlife
T
he Wild About Wine CREW fundraiser event is fast becoming one of the best
wine tasting parties in town. This year’s series of four wine tasting nights and
a Zoo Brew beer tasting in October will draw an attendance three times that of the
2007 series. The event’s growing success can be attributed to the great setting (Cincinnati Zoo), the diverse entertainment (animals, CREW demos, silent auctions)
the wonderful wine donated by Party Source and beer donated by Sam Adams and
outstanding food provided by a variety of our local restaurants (Allyns, Habaneros, Penn Station, Buffalo Wild Wings and City Barbeque). The popularity of
this event is probably due to the
fact that it is just
plain hard to beat
eating, drinking and having a
good time to help save some of the world’s most
imperiled plants and animals. All the proceeds from the event
benefit CREW, and the 2009 series promises to be as good, or
better, than that of 2008. Make sure you don’t miss out! Wine
tasting dates for 2009 are: March 26th, May 7th, June 18th
and August 27th. Zoo BREW will be in October. For more
information and advance ticket purchase go to:
www.cincinnatizoo.org. Tickets for the series make great
holiday gifts!
New website
This summer the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden launched its new website – www.cincinnatizoo.org.
The site provides easy access and up-to-date information on how CREW is Saving Species with Science®
as well as What’s New at the Zoo. The site is still under construction so please visit often.
Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
11
Friends of CREW
Our sincere gratitude to the following who gave $100 or more in 2007:
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Albers
Mr. Anatole Alper
William P. Anderson Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. James R. Andre
Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Arnold
Mr. Kenneth A. Ayer
Beth and Bob Baer
Tom and Bev Barden
Allan and Anita Beach
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Bell
Lois G. Benjamin
Mr. Todd Berger
Mrs. Robert M. Bergstein
BGK Charitable Fund
Mrs. Eliza L. Biederman
Mr. and Mrs. Elroy E. Bourgraf
Glenn and Donna Boutilier
Dallas W. and Helen B. Bowyer
Charitable Trust
Mr. and Ms. Brian E. Boyer
Ms. Rosalyn J. Bradley
Ms. Jeannie S. Browne
Gary and Angie Butterbaugh
Dr. Mark K. Campbell
Rob and Heather Carlisle
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph R. Carruthers
Ms. Candace F. Carson
Ms. Mary Kay Carson
Mr. Samuel C. Cauffield
Central Indiana Cage-Bird Club, Inc.
Cincinnati Town & Country Garden
Club Community Fund
Mr. Martin J. Cissell
Dr. Melissa Colbert and
Dr. Robert Colbert
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Comins
Tucker and Michael Coombe
Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred A. Cote
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Cubbison
Joseph W. and Marcia B. Cushall
Dr. Anthony R. Dalessandro, DVM
Ms. Iris de la Motte
Mr. Guy T. DeDiemar
Mr. and Mrs. James K. Dempsey III
Mr. William DeTalvo
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Detzel
Dr. and Mrs. Donald A. Dietrich
Ms. Mary E. Dodson
Charles M. Dolgas and
Karen M. Abell
Mr. Michael Donovan
Mr. and Mrs. Paul J. Duffy
Ms. Suzanne F. Dunbar
Mr. and Mrs. John C. Dupree
Lucile and Richard Durrell
Special Fund II
Mr. William R. Eckerle
Ms. Cynthia L. Eddy
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome H. Eichert
Mr. Fables Wildlife
Conservation Fund Footsteps
Mr. and Mrs. R. Daniel Fales
Mr. Ross A. Feld and
Dr. Ellen W. Feld
Ms. Lynn Ford and
Mr. Stephen Kukanza
Ellen Fox
Ms. Lois A. Fox
Dr. Craig Froehle and
Dr. Lori Aronson
Ms. Christy Frost
GE Foundation Matching
Gifts Program
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Gelwicks
Sharon and Robert Gill
Family Fund
Mrs. Jennifer W. Glassmeyer
Annick Gloutnay
Mr. and Mrs. Earl J. Goldsmith, Jr.
Ms. Delia Gott
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph N. Green
Mr. and Mrs. Roger W. Gross
Dr. and Mrs. Frederick D. Haffner
Mr. and Mrs. John Halase III
Ms. Kim Haley
Mr. and Mrs. Narley L. Haley
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart F. Hall
Dr. and Mrs. H. Brian Halsall
Mr. and Mrs. Keith D. Hamilton
Mr. and Mrs. J. Dean Hanley
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Hanrahan
Mr. Richard J. Hardesty
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey P. Harris
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Harris
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Hartmann
Mr. Larry M. Henak
Mr. Ondrej Hess
Mrs. Ellen G. Hill
Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy S. Hilton
Mr. Richard J. Hindman
Mr. and Mrs. H. Rowe Hoffman
Mr. and Mrs. Steven A. Hoffmann
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Holden
Ms. Karen S. Holtzapple
Mr. and Mrs. Craig Honkomp
Mr. Stanley A. Hooker III
Mr. and Mrs. John Howie
Miss Deborah L. Huffman
IBM Int’l Fdn - IBM Corp.
Mr. and Mrs. George James
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Janowicz
Mrs. Margaret M. Jeffrey
Mr. and Mrs. Drew Johnson
Mr. Robert A. Johnston
Delle C. and Ted Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Jones
The David J. Joseph Company
Ms. Annamarie Kahler
Mr. and Mrs. Grant A. Karnes
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Kasting
Ms. Jean E. Kessel
Ms. Carol Klei and
Ms. Suzanne Klei
Dr. and Mrs. Scott A. Kleiner
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kralovic
Ms. Kim Lachance
Dr. and Mrs. John L. Leibold
Jack and Mary Ann Lennon
Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Licht
Ms. Corinne Lightweaver
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lindstrom
Dr. Jennifer M. Loggie
The Lum Family
Mr. and Mrs. Louis W. Lutz
Miss Margaret MacPhee
Ms. Elizabeth A. Martin
Mr. and Mrs. William D. Martin
Ms. Terri McDaniel
Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. McLaurin
Mr. William J. McQuaide and
Ms. Valerie Stapleton
Mrs. Mary Ann Meanwell
Janet E. and David L.
Meeker Fund
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Menke, Sr.
Ms. Lynne Meyers Gordon M F A
Dr. and Mrs. Steven R. Moore
Ms. Margaret E. Morris
Ms. Marianne Murphy
Ms. Mimi Muterspaw and
Ms. Kathi Ryan
Myco International Inc.
Mr. Donald Myron
Eric C. and
Suzanne K. Nielsen Fund
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife
3400 Vine Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-1399 USA
J. Robert Orton, Jr. Charitable
Lead Annuity Trust
Ms. Marilyn Z. Ott
Dr. and Mrs. O’dell M. Owens
Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Parker
Drs. Terry and Valerie Pence
Mr. and Mrs. D. Lee Penn
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory L. Phillips
Mr. Thomas W. Pippert
Mr. Douglas Piroh
Raithel Family Fund
Irene and Daniel Randolph Family
Rhein-Family Foundation
Ms. Joanne Rheiner
Rieveschl Foundation
Mr. Forrest Rinehart and
Ms. Janet K. Rinehart
J. David & Kathleen A. Roberts
Family Foundation
Ms. Laura V. Robertson
Ms. Elizabeth S. Rogers and
Mr. Ernst J. Bever
Rev. and Mrs. Glenn N. Rogers
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rolf
Dr. Terri L. Roth and
Dr. William Swanson
Ms. Pamela W. Roy
Mr. J. R. Rudolph
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene P. Ruehlmann
Mrs. Laurie J. Ryan
Mr. Jack Schiller
Stuart and Roselyn Schloss
Mr. and Mrs. Gustav E. Schmidt
Dr. Janis E. Schmidt and
Mr. David Pariseau
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Schmidt
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schneider
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Schuman
Ms. Mary D. Schweitzer
Scripps Howard Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Shipley
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley D. Shores, Jr.
Mr. Eli E. Shupe, Jr. and
Ms. Toby Ruben
Mr. Paul R. Sidey
Ms. Jackie Simon
Mr. Gordon S. Skinner
Ms. Mary M. Skrentner
Smarter Learning Systems
Ms. Christine Smith
Mr. and Mrs. William H Sohmer
SonoSite, Inc.
Dr. Donna L. Stahl
Ken and Carol Stecher
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman
Mrs. Mary Ruth Stevens
Mr. Ralph E. Stevens
Ms. Martha A. Stimson
Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Strebel
Mr. and Mrs. Chester C. Sudbrack, Jr.
Mr. Samuel J. Sullivan
Diana and Frank Szecskay
Ms. Linda A. Tache
Dr. and Mrs. David E. Taylor
Mr. Robert Taylor
Ms. Julie M. Temperley
Ms. Judy A. Tessel
Mr. James L. Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Morley P. Thompson, Jr.
Ms. Arlene A. Thorwarth
Richard and Janet Todd
Mrs. Martha M. Upson
Ms. Mary VanHarn
Mrs. Ruth H. Venable
Ms. Sharon R. Vincent
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wachs
Mr. Richard E. Walther
Paul and Kathleen Wehner
Dr. Alison Weiss and
Dr. Peter Monaco
Mr. Harvey M. Weitkamp
Weldco/Buildco Incorporated
The David F. and Sara K. Weston Fund
Mrs. Ruth S. Whitehead
Mr. Peter Whitford
Mrs. Nancy P. Wickemeyer
Mr. and Mrs. Logan W. Wiley
Carol Williams
Ms. Debra Williamson
Ms. Susan K. Willson, Ph D
Mr. Robert J. Wolfram and
Mrs. Melinda Rote
Ms. Deanna L. Womack
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin S. Wood
Robert and Barbara Wright
Wright State University
Ms. Betty A. Wuest
Susan and Drausin Wulsin
Craig and Mary Beth Young
and Family
NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
CINCINNATI, OHIO
PERMIT #1505