1. pets
2. zoo

The Alaska Zoo
ANIMAL
TRACKS
SPRING 2015
www.alaskazoo.org
HOURS OF OPERATION
APRIL: 10:00am-5:00pm
MAY: 9:00am-6:00pm
JUNE, JULY & AUGUST:
Open 9:00am-9:00pm daily
SEPTEMBER: 9:00am-6:00pm
Call (907) 346-2133 (Staff Directory)
Main Office
(907) 346-2133
Gift Store
(907) 346-1088
Information
(907) 346-3242
Facsimile
(907) 346-267
www.alaskazoo.org
IN THIS ISSUE:
WHAT’S NEW AT THE ZOO
Restoring Little Campbell.........1
Feast for the Beasts................... 1
Zookeeper Diary...................... 2
Toddler Programs.................... 2
Discovery Tours....................... 2
Summer Family Nights............. 2
Kid’s Day.................................. 3
Kid’s Fun Run.......................... 3
Bear Aware............................... 3
Migratory Bird Day...................3
Potter Marsh Day......................3
Event Sponsorship.................... 3
SUMMER CALENDARS..........4-5
An Enriching Experience......... 6
Keeper Talks............................ 6
Lynx Spotlight........................... 6
EdZOOcate Yourself............... 7
Summer Adventure Camps...... 7
Distance Learning..................... 7
Off to McNeil Sanctuary.......... 7
CORPORATE PARTNERS..... 8
The Polar Bear Project.............8
Pet Memorial Program............. 8
Annual Zoo Passes....................8
Planned Giving..........................8
Rental Facilities.........................8
LOOK WHAT’S NEW AT THE ALASKA ZOO
restoring little campbell creek
by Patrick Lampi, Executive Director
The South Fork of Little Campbell Creek flows through the Alaska Zoo complete with
Dolly Varden char, a native fish. A few springs feed the creek on zoo grounds, with most
of it protected from people and animals. Studies conducted have shown that the water
quality is higher as the creek leaves the zoo compared to when it comes in from the
hillside. It is amazing how protected areas like the zoo allow vegetation along the banks
and the gravel creek bed to filter the stream.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been restoring streams in the Anchorage bowl to
allow fish migration and passage. After review, the decision was made to restore our
section of the creek to a more natural
path. The work will be this spring and
summer just west of our small foot bridge.
We expect little impact to visitors, as it
will take 45 days and only the small
dead-end trail by the pond will be closed.
We are planning to create a new habitat
for our moose in this area. As we begin,
updates will be posted for visitors and we
plan to add permanent interpretive signs
highlighting the importance of healthy
streams for our community.
Feast for the Beasts ~ June 25, 2015
Featuring Jack Hanna
Feast for the Beasts is the Alaska Zoo’s most popular after-hours affair and our largest
annual fundraiser. This Gala is set for Thursday, June 25, 2015.
Enjoy a fabulous dinner, live music, special
animal encounters and a live and silent
auction under canopies on the lawn.
Our special guest speaker this year will
be Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Jack is
returning for another visit to the Alaska
Zoo to share his passion for wildlife and
conservation. He is an inspiration to us all!
ALASKA ZOO STAFF
Admissions Manager: Dorothy LaBrec
Adoption Coordinator: Carrie Smoldon
Coffee Shop: Jamie Gagnon
Curator of Animals: Shannon Jensen
Development Director: Jill Myer
Education Director: Stephanie Hartman
Events Manager: Doug Stewart
Executive Director: Patrick Lampi
Facilities Manager: Kevin Pickel
Gift Shop Manager: Sue Hedge
Office Manager: Heather Schaad
Volunteer Coordinator:Heather Doncaster
Zoo Founder: Sammye Seawell
Alaska Zoo
4731 O’Malley Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
Photo from www.jackhanna.com
Mission of the Zoo
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO 69
ANCHORAGE, AK
1
Ticket sales begin May 1st on our website at
www.alaskazoo.org. Contact Development
Director Jill Myer at (907) 341-6435 if you
would like to make an in-kind donation of
items or services for our auctions.
To promote the conservation of Arctic,
sub-Arctic and like climate species through
education, research and community enrichment.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Matt Larkin - President
David Brown - Vice President
Lea Filippi - Treasurer
Terri Mitchell - Secretary
Celine Kaplan
Lynnette Sullivan
Donna McCray
Patrick Cashman
Matthew Knell
Kristina Woolston
Michael Barnes
Anchorage School District does not endorse these materials or the viewpoints expressed in them.
Lynx Spotlight, see page 6
Animal tracks
Spring 2015
Zookeeper diaries: Caring for Molly
by Head Zookeeper, Thomas Smith
Molly, our female snow leopard, arrived back in 2002 at
the age of four years old. Snow leopards live 12 to 15
years in the wild, so she has now joined the ranks of
the elderly at her current age of 17 years. I have been
one of her caretakers during that entire time. She has
a wonderful temperment and very quickly became a
favorite of mine. When you work with wild cats, you see
the same behaviors you see in domestic cats - playing,
pouncing, stalking and sleeping through much of the
day. One of her favorite toys is a burlap sack stuffed with
straw and scented with spices and even Axe Body Spray.
Snow leopards are an endangered cat native to the
mountains of Central Asia. Their powerful legs allow
them to leap 50 feet horizontally and 15 feet vertically.
They are endangered due to the spread of agriculture and
livestock grazing, in addition to being poached (illegally
hunted) for their fur and bones. Organizations like the
Snow Leopard Trust are working hard with local people
to save this incredible species.
In 2014, we noticed she had developed a wheeze in her
breathing and a cough. She had an extensive checkup with x-rays which revealed two tumors, one in
the chest and another developing in her throat. After
lengthy conversations among zoo and veterinary staff,
her advanced age forced the decision to provide her
comfort and care without surgery. These are never easy
decisions. Molly continues to eat well and visit all of her
favorite spots in her habitat. We will continue to monitor
her closely. As zookeepers, we work with a variety of
animals and we cannot help but develop favorites. Molly
is mine.
To learn more about snow leopards, visit our snow
leopard page at www.alaskazoo.org and check out the
Snow Leopard Trust page, www.snowleopard.org.
summer fun under the midnight sun
sing-a-long and storytime
Discovery tours
Our weekly Sing-a-Long and Storytime programs are held
all year long for toddlers and young children with adults
in attendance. Sing-a-long is every Monday at 10:30am
and Storytime every Wednesday at 10:30am. Dancing,
musical instruments, reading animal stories, encounters
with zoo animals - these programs have it all! Regular
admission rates and annual pass use apply.
Summer Discovery Tours provide tourists and residents with
behind-the-scenes access during summer months. Tours are
daily from 12:15pm to 2:15pm starting Memorial Day and
ending Labor Day. Tour fee is $20 per youth ages 3-17 and
$28 per adult. This includes zoo admission and the tour. No
reservations, just arrive at admissions before noon on the
day you wish to tour and pay at that time.
Be sure to join us for our Zoolstice Summer Solstice Event on June
20th! This is tons of fun under the Midnight Sun! Sponsored by BP.
Summer Family Nights
lectures start june 2, live music starts june 5
Sponsors:
Our Summer Family Nights start June 2 and run weekly through June, July
and August. The “Wildlife Diaries” lectures (formerly known as Tuesday
Night at the Zoo) will be held every Tuesday at 7pm, with Friday Night
Live Music every Friday at 7pm. All lectures and live music are held on
the Coffee Shop lawn, with a covered stage and tents available in the
event of rain. The Coffee Shop will be open late and the zoo is open
until 9pm during summer months. Regular admission rates and
annual pass use apply, with no additional fees. Topics, musicians
and zoo contact information at www.alaskazoo.org. Join us for a
little summer evening relaxation, zoo-style!
2
Animal tracks
Spring 2015
Your Spring Event Line-up at the Alaska Zoo
Kids day ~ Saturday, April 18th ~ Free admission for kids ages 17 and under
This annual event for families and kids at the zoo is sponsored by Alaska
USA. It is part of the city-wide Anchorage’s Promise Kids Day celebration.
Kids ages 17 and under are admitted free and the zoo will be full of fun
animal presentations, activities for kids, keeper talks and the petting zoo
will be open. Zoo activities will run from 11am to 4pm.
kids fun run ~ Saturday, may 2nd
Kids flock to the zoo trails for this awesome running event. Registration
opens online on April 1st at www.alaskazoo.org and races fill quickly.
Registration is $25 per runner. This Healthy Futures event is presented by
Alaska McDonald’s.
Bear Aware event ~ Sunday, may 10th ~ Moms are free for Mother’s Day
Zoo visitors of all ages refresh their bear safety information in a fun, outdoor
setting! Watch bear-resistant trash can tests, enjoy hands-on activities, crafts
and more from 12pm to 4pm. Discover what attracts bears and how to minimize
risks in bear country. The Anchorage Bear Committee and Bear Aware partners
include the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Zoo,
Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Botanical Garden and Visit Anchorage.
international migratory bird day ~ Sunday, may 17th
Bring your flock to the Alaska Zoo for this bird event! Discover how
habitats are critical to the survival of birds and every organism on earth.
Explore activity stations, games, a craft station for kids, winning Jr. Duck
Stamp artwork and more from 11am to 5pm. Celebrate migratory birds with
event partners Alaska Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Audubon Alaska, Ducks Unlimited, Bird TLC and Alaska Zoo.
Education birds from Bird TLC will be with handlers for up-close viewing.
potter marsh discovery day ~ saturday, june 6th
Potter Marsh Discovery Day will be June 6th at Potter Marsh from 11am to 4pm.
From birding to archery, fly-casting to science exploration kits, this event will
show people how to embrace the outdoors as a resource for learning. Event
partners include Alaska Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Alaska Zoo, Bird TLC, Audubon Alaska,
Ducks Unlimited, Anchorage Museum, Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge,
Department of Environmental Conservation and Anchorage Parks and Recreation.
sponsorship opportunities
Brand your business by becoming an Alaska Zoo Sponsor
The Alaska Zoo has offered 45 amazing years of conservation,
education and animal care to the people and wildlife of Alaska
as well as visitors to our state. We have a very broad reach in
the community, so let us reach out to our support base and
help you effectively communicate your business message.
Zoo sponsorship builds brand awareness and loyalty to your
business, increases your customer base and demonstrates
your commitment to non-profits and conservation efforts. Your
business can sponsor the zoo through opportunities including
education programs, conservation projects, visitor coupons,
on-site sampling, promotions and more. To learn more about
becoming a sponsor, contact Development Director Jill Myer at
(907) 341-6435 or jmyer@alaskazoo.org.
3
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
5
Storytime
10:30am
10:30am
11
12
Sing-along
Storytime
10:30am
10:30am
18
19
8
9
13
14
15
16
daily
downtown
summer Shuttle
Starts
20
21
10:30am
10:30am
summer camp
season begins
Access Zoo Day
Bear aware
camp
26
27
Armed
Forces Day
Military: Half Price
22
Storytime
25
Check-In 8:30-10am
Races Start: 10am
7
Sing-along
Memorial Day
2
6
Access Zoo Day
17
24
9:00am-6:00pm
Sing-along
10
International
Migratory
Bird Day, 11-5pm
open 9am to 6pm daily
4
3
Bear Aware
day, 12-4pm
Mother’s Day
Mothers Free
May 2015
May 1st
zoo hours
open daily
28
29
foxin’ around
marine mammal
madness
23
30
Storytime
Sing-along
10:30am
Discovery Tours Start,
Daily until Labor Day
turtle hurdles
fancy feathers
creature
features
31
summer camps in yellow, register at
www.alaskazoo.org
shuttle service starts May 15, runs daily to and from downtown anchorage through sept. 20
Discovery tours start may 25, daily through labor day
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Keeper Talks Start June 1,
Schedule at Admissions
Wildlife Diaries and Friday Family Nights
Start Weekly on June 2
Discovery Tours: 12:15-2:15pm Daily
JUNE 2015
open 9am to 9pm daily (except Jun. 25)
Extended
Zoo Hours
Start June 1st
9am to 9pm
1
Sing-along
10:30am
Pawsitively
crafty
moose on the
loose
7
8
Sing-along
10:30am
zoo photo
safari
9
world oceans
day
tiger tales
e.r. zoo m.d.
10:30am
beary
interesting
22
21
Sing-along
Predators of
the sky
10:30am
zoo babies
pokey
porcupines
28
29
29
Sing-along
11
6
12
13
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
curious
corvids
17
you otter
know!
18
Storytime
19
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
10:30am
zoo scene
investigators
23
wildlife diaries
Lecture:7:00pm
5
calls of the
wild
10:30am
16
wildlife diaries
Lecture: 7:00pm
herd
heroics
10
10:30am
15
4
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
Storytime
Sing-along
4
3
Storytime
Wildlife Diaries
Lecture: 7:00pm
14
Father’s Day
Fathers Free
2
Wildlife Diaries
Lecture: 7:00pm
SATURDAY
24
Zoolstice
Open until 10:00pm
feisty felines
pack antics
25
26
10:30am
feast for the
beasts annual
fundraiser
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
jammin’ salmon
canine
companions
crazy camel
caravan
Storytime
20
*Early Zoo Closure*
30
10:30am
wildlife diaries
Lecture:7:00pm
deer drama
colossal cats
*june 25: zoo closes early for feast for the beasts
summer camps in yellow,
register at www.alaskazoo.org
27
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Keeper Talks, Schedule at Admissions
Discovery Tours: 12:15-2:15pm Daily
Downtown Shuttle Runs Daily
JULY 2015
open 9am to 9pm daily
5
6
Sing-along
Owl-trageous
13
10:30am
home sweet
habitat
back from the
brink
19
20
Sing-along
10:30am
art in the
outdoors
15
10:30am
the power of
flight
leaping lynx
22
18
what does the
fox say?
are you smarter
than a raven?
zoo photo
safari
otterly
awesome
23
24
25
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
10:30am
28
17
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
10:30am
27
11
incredible
ice bears
16
Storytime
21
10
animal fact or
fiction
Storytime
Sing-along
9
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
wildlife diaries
LECTURE: 7:00pm
26
SUNDAY
8
Storytime
14
wildlife diaries
Lecture: 7:00pm
4
Happy 4tH of
july! zoo open
Harbor seal
plunge
Pet Perks:
zoo style
7
enrichment 101
3
Friday Night
CONCERT: 7:00pm
birding 101
10:30am
Sing-along
2
10:30am
wildlife diaries
Lecture: 7:00pm
12
1
Storytime
summer camps in yellow, register at
www.alaskazoo.org
Wildlife Diaries Lectures Weekly through Aug. 25
Friday Night Music Weekly through Aug. 28
antlers, horns,
hooves, oh my!
polar bear
preservation
30
29
31
Storytime
10:30am
wildlife diaries
LECTURE: 7:00pm
the bear truth
reptile
rendezvous
Who’s afraid of
big bad wolf?
Whoooos
and hawks
Bottom of the
world dwellers
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
10:30am
SATURDAY
Keeper Talks and Discovery Tours End
September 1
Keeper Talks, Schedule at Admissions
Discovery Tours: 12:15-2:15pm Daily
Downtown Shuttle Runs Daily
AUGUST 2015
open 9am to 9pm, daily through aug. 31
1
40th Anniversary Celebration!
wildlife diaries lectures end august 25,
Friday Night Music Ends August 28
summer camps in yellow, register at www.alaskazoo.org
2
3
Sing-along
10:30am
Yippin’
coyotes
zookeeping 101
sensory safari
10
Sing-along
10:30am
arctic v jungle
Zoo chew
30
17
Sing-along
10:30am
surviving the
arctic
Loveable
leopards
Singalong
10:30am
12
24
25
wildlife diaries
31
Lecture: 7:00pm
Un-fur-gettable
ungulates
13
10:30am
19
wild about
wolves
20
15
21
22
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
10:30am
26
10:30am
14
birds, BEES &
WINE ADULT
TOUR
wacky weasels
Storytime
Storytime
creatures of
the night
8
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
Storytime
18
7
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
zoo scene
investigators
wildlife diaries
Lecture: 7:00pm
6
10:30am
11
wildlife diaries
Lecture: 7:00pm
16
23
5
Storytime
9
Homeless
animals
dAY
12-4PM
4
Wildlife diaries
Lecture: 7:00pm
27
28
29
Friday Night
Concert: 7:00pm
Singalong
10:30am
5
Animal tracks
Spring 2015
an enriching experience
By Rachel Landerman, Enrichment Coordinator
The zoo began its official enrichment program in 2014 with the goal of
providing our animals the most fulfilling life possible. The AZA Behavior
Scientific Advisory Group (BAG) defines enrichment as:
“A dynamic process for enhancing animal environments
within the context of the animal’s behavioral biology and
natural history.”
Pets in our homes need toys, treats, exercise and new experiences.
Wildlife in a captive setting benefit from these things in the same way.
This can include auditory, dietary and olfactory stimulation as well as
enrichment that ignites behaviors seen in the wild for different species.
My average day involves designing and creating both activities and objects
for each of the animals at the zoo. Training sessions are also a form of
enrichment. Staff train with birds, wolves, polar bears, fox, squirrels,
porcupines and many other animals in our zoo. The training challenges
their cognitive abilities and enhances their bond with staff. Other forms
of enrichment include cardboard boxes sealed with goodies inside, blood
trails (made with the remaining blood in our red meat bags during diet
prep), large toys, animal carcasses, substrate bins, painting and even
bubbles. Other projects in the works include hanging swings, ball pits
(similar to the ones kids jump in) and giant wind chimes. There is no limit
to creativity when it comes to enrichment!
Keeper Talks
Join our zookeepers this
summer for informal talks
about their favorite animals.
Keeper Talks will begin June
1st and end on Labor Day.
Times, topics and locations
will be posted daily by
our admissions entrance.
Lynx spotlight
By Christin Groth, Zookeeper
Scientific Name:
Lynx canadensis
Conservation Status:
Stable populations
The C
Canada Lynx is the only cat species
nativ
native to Alaska. These cats are built for
the s
snowy forests of the Northern Hemisphere. In North America,
they are found in Alaska, Canada and northern Lower 48 states.
They stay warm with thick fur which changes shades with the
season to give them every advantage during the hunt. They
seaso
have large, furry feet with retractable claws which make them
ideal predator of the snowshoe hare, their most desired
an id
prey. They target prey with keen senses of hearing, smell and
eyesight. They are fully camouflaged, down to the long black
eyes
ear ttufts. They use powerful hind legs to sprint, dodge, dart and
jump after prey to keep the chase short and successful. After
hunt, they lay low until their next meal.
the h
We have two lynx, Tony and Julie. Tony was born and arrived in 2007 as an orphan
from the Matanuska Valley.
Julie was one year old when she arrived in 2014 from the
Vall
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. While all cats are able to sleep the day away, Julie and Tony
are often quite animated. T
They love playing with enrichment and each other, showing
off their amazing physical ab
abilities and quirky mannerisms.
6
Animal tracks
Spring 2015
edzoocate yourself
The Alaska Zoo EdZoocation Department is gearing up for a summer full
of animal ambassador presentations and hands-on programs to delight
and inspire the Anchorage community and tourists alike! From Summer
Adventure Camps to special field trips, outreach programs and zoo events,
the Education Department works hard to offer several fun, educational and
immersive experiences to fit all your program needs.
Summer Adventure Camps
By DeAnna Thoma, Camp Coordinator
for ages 6-12, register online
Our Summer Adventure Camps offer inspiration for
children ages 6-12 to love everything wild! Each camp
features a different topic, new hands-on activities, fun
games and awesome behind-the-scenes encounters
with zoo animals and staff. Don’t miss out on any of
the WILD fun we’ll be having all summer long.
Camps will be Monday through Friday, 9am to 3pm, all
summer. Fees are $70/day or $300/week for zoo pass
holders or $85/day or $375/week without a zoo pass.
Register online at www.alaskazoo.org, look for the
Camp link under the Education menu.
distance learning in action
By Abby Kerney, Distance Education Coordinator
The Education Department has entered new frontiers with
our exciting Distance Learning programs! We are now able
to reach audiences across Alaska, the nation and beyond
through videoconferencing technology. Our first launch, called
Arctic Discoveries, brings audiences in real-time contact with
staff on zoo grounds via the internet to explore how animals
live and are cared for in an Arctic enviroment. Our Arctic
Discoveries programs are for non-formal educators, with new
standardized programs on their way soon. You can expect to
see expanded topics along with packets aligned to standards
for kindergarten through high school in the near future.
Photos by the Alaska Zoo Education Department
Off we go to Mcneil river state game sanctuary!
By Stephanie Hartman, Education Director
In June 1015, the zoo’s Camp Coordinator DeAnna Thoma and myself will have the good fortune to find ourselves
surrounded by the brown bears of the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary! This incredible opportunity is thanks to a
special access permit through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for educators. Through this experience, our
Education Department will update and build new programs focused on McNeil River brown bears, the role of brown
bears in healthy ecosystems and the importance of careful management and conservation of Alaska’s sanctuaries
and resources. Keep an eye out for new programs upon our return!
Photos of McNeil River brown bears by Katie Larson
7
Animal tracks
Spring 2015
Planned Giving
Planned gifts to the Alaska Zoo will help us to grow
for current and future generations. Your children,
grandchildren and their children will have a wonderful
zoo to appreciate due to the generosity of those who
had the foresight to make planned gifts. Your gift will
have a lasting impact on the zoo and the Anchorage
community as a whole. Planned giving at the zoo
include cash gifts, a donation of stocks/securities or
listing the Alaska Zoo as a beneficiary in wills, trusts,
retirement plans and insurance policies. Contact
Development Director Jill Myer to make your planned
gift at (907) 341-6435.
annual zoo passes
Annual passes to the Alaska Zoo come with many perks
such as free admission for one year from the date of
purchase, discounts on adventure camps and select
events, guest pass options and discounts in our Gift Shop
and Coffee Shop. Our passes are the best deal in town!
Visit www.alaskazoo.org for details.
Corporate pARTNERS
Your investment in the Alaska Zoo shows a partnership
with one of Anchorage’s most popular family destinations.
Your support sends a message to employees, clients and
the community about your commitment to environmental
education and wildlife conservation. Thank you.
alaska zoo corporate partners
ACE Transport
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Denali Winery
Alaska Dream Catering
Alaska Employee Benefit Specialists
Alaska Glazing
Alaska Northern Outfitters
Alyeska Pipeline
Alaska Railroad
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union
Anchorage Daily News
Anchorage Well and Pump Supply
ARAMARK Park & Destinations
Arctic Office Products
Arctic Wire and Rope
BDO USA, LLP.
Body Renew
BP
California Closets
Carlile Transportation Systems
CIRI
Clarion Downtown Suites
Coffman Engineers
ConocoPhillips
Contach /Culfabco
CRW Engineering Group
Dittman Research & Communications
Dowland Bach
ExxonMobil
Global Diving & Salvage
GMW Fire Protection, Inc.
Hattenburg Dilley and Linnell
H. Watt and Scott
K Refrigeration
Kincaid Grill
KOHL’s
KTUU
McDonald’s of Alaska
McKinley Capital
Microcom
MOA Solid Waste Services
NMS Lodging
Nordstrom
Odom Corporation
Pet Stop
Rabinografix
Renegade Equipment
Simmons Masonry
STG, Inc.
TelAlaska
United Rentals
Watterson Construction
Weidner Apartment Homes
Wells Fargo
WineStyles
Hold your party, meeting
or wedding at the zoo
The Alaska Zoo is a
popular and unique
place for events of all
types. We offer three
rental venues to choose
from, providing you
with options to design
your perfect occasion.
Facility showings are by appointment only, contract and
deposit required to book. Contact our Events Manager at
(907) 341-6459 or email rentalevents@alaskazoo.org.
The Polar Bear Project
Construction Begins This Summer!
The time has arrived - time to begin construction on
the Polar Bear Project! We are 90% funded for Phase I
and construction will get underway this summer 2015.
These are exciting times for zoo staff, volunteers, our
Board of Directors and every individual and business
that has contributed thus far. THANK YOU!
As we make a final push leading up to construction this
season, we are asking for your help to get us to our
funding goal for Phase I. We accept donations through
our website and you can also contact our Development
Director Jill Myer with donation questions or options for
giving to this project. We even have fun ways to make
a donation by purchasing Polar Bear Project mugs and
rare “Binky” prints by the late Fred Machetanz. All of
these options are available at www.alaskazoo.org. We
truly appreciate your support!
foundations
Atwood Foundation, M. J. Murdock Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation
Newsletter photos by John Gomes,
official photographer of the Alaska Zoo,
unless otherwise noted.
View John’s still images, videos and
aerial photography from the Zoo and
around Alaska at
www.akjohn.com
8
honor your pets
Are you looking for a special way to honor a loving
pet that has passed away? Please consider making
a donation in their memory to our Pet Memorial
program. Your pet will be memorialized on zoo
grounds and your donation in their name will go
toward veterinary care for our animals. You will
receive a poem and you choose a plaque which will
be displayed on the memorial board at the zoo. If you
would like to donate, contact Development Director Jill
Myer, jmyer@alaskazoo.org or (907) 341-6435.
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