Parc Ivoloina & Cheetah
Conservation Projects
2000
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
Kayla and Mary taking a break to hike the Waterburg
Plateau near CCF
Wild observer
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 longlegged 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.
black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata
variegata) as Mary practices mural techniques
Black and white ruffed lemur tests the new furniture
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