By Mary Humbyrd, coordinator of behavioral husbandry for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS)
National Zoo Keeper Week starts annually on the third Sunday of July. Representative Susan A. Davis introduced House Resolution 509 on June 21, 2007. This resolution was proposed to encourage individuals on a national level to engage in programs, activities and ceremonies during National Zoo Keeper Week that encourage species conservation and public awareness of the important role of zoos in wildlife conservation.
It is an absolute honor to celebrate our DZS zookeepers. Zookeepers are a unique bunch and have many amazing talents not often seen by zoo guests. Our animal care team is creative, innovative and can build just about anything with some zip ties and duct tape. Zookeepers brave the hottest days of summer and the freezing days of winter. Animal care specialists are on a constant quest for knowledge to improve and raise the bar to provide the best care of the animals they adore. They are involved with the animals from birth to passing and build lifelong relationships. They have their heart and soul in the profession. Zookeepers are advocates, educators, scientists and enjoy sharing their passion with anyone and everyone they encounter. As no day is ever the same, zookeepers have an incredible ability to go with the flow — but with precision and accuracy. Their passion for all living things is inspiring and enlightens all of us who have the privilege of hearing their stories.
From ice cream socials and cookouts to food trucks and Tigers games, scroll through the gallery below to see how we celebrated the DZS animal care team this past National Zoo Keeper Week!
Authored by Jordan Reichenbach, animal care team member for the Detroit Zoological Society.
When a single sentence about a trip to Peru was uttered in our morning meeting on one gray December morning, I had no idea the kind of incredible things I would experience in the month following because of it. It was pitched to me as a two-week trip to the Peruvian Amazon to set up camera traps for a study looking at small mammal populations. The trip was the culmination of a relationship between the Detroit Zoo and OnePlanet, a nonprofit organization that works with the indigenous Maijuna people in Peru to protect the rainforest and its inhabitants. This was an opportunity I knew I could never pass on — it was the perfect combination of conservation research, language immersion and exceptional collaboration.
Once I knew I would be going on this trip, the last two weeks of 2022 passed in a blur full of camping supplies, travel doctor appointments and plane tickets as I prepared for our time in the Amazon. The Detroit Zoo sent me, a mammal care specialist, and Thomas Benson, a curator of education, to join a handful of other researchers from OnePlanet. Although Thomas and I had not met before, we found ourselves thrown together before we knew it as we set off on our epic journey into conservation in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon.
Three planes and a long boat ride later, Thomas and I were introduced to Sucusari, our home base for the next two weeks, set in northeastern Peru. Here, we were also introduced to the research we would be doing and the people we would be working with. The goal for our trip was to set up camera traps throughout this region of the Amazon to monitor game mammal populations and, ultimately, show the sustainable practices of the Maijuna. We would accomplish this goal by working with many Maijuna people who volunteered as forest guides, boat drivers, cooks and more. Our days in Sucusari started at the crack of dawn, sometimes earlier, so we could get a head start on boating to the area we would be camera trapping for the day. From there, we would walk anywhere from 3 to 9 kilometers to find the perfect spots for cameras. These “walks” occasionally turned into wades, or even swims, through flooding areas of the forest. After two weeks, we were able to help set up more than half of the cameras needed for this study. We learned so much more than just how to traverse the jungle and set up cameras, though.
Thomas and I got the privilege of experiencing the beautiful nature of the Peruvian Amazon and learning from the incredible people who call it home. The Maijuna have lived in Sucusari for generations, which shows in their knowledge of and respect for the surrounding Amazon. When they guided us through the jungle day after day, we got to soak in a lot of this knowledge as they would tell us about the flora or fauna we would pass along the way. Nothing could match my astonishment while being able to witness how well they know this forest. We had Maijuna of all ages helping us, with the youngest being just 15 years old. Already, this boy was able to navigate through the jungle and confidently lead us to the perfect camera spots. The elders were also incredible guides because of their vast experience in the Amazon and the stories they could tell us about almost any plant we encountered. For example, we came across many samauma trees that Victorino, a well-respected elder in the community, explained were used for communication on long expeditions in the forest because the roots are hollow and are very loud when you bang on them. Many elders of the community have helped with this camera trapping study, or ones similar in the past, and some of them were even giving us helpful hints on the cameras and where to set them up for the best results.
This relationship between the OnePlanet team and the Maijuna people is built on a trust established over many years of working together and learning from one another. This relationship has benefited and will continue to benefit the Maijuna and their ancestral land. The camera trapping project we worked on will help the Maijuna community by showing people how important and valuable their specific relationship with the Amazon is. The Maijuna hunt for food security and income, but they do so in a way that does not lead to long-term biodiversity loss. The sustainable lifestyle of the Maijuna and how they use the jungle around them is a major reason why the environment thrives. By helping with this study, the Detroit Zoo is supporting the future of the Peruvian Amazon and the Maijuna community.
I also personally learned and grew a lot from my experience in Peru. Not only did I physically push my limits with our jungle treks and long days, but I also mentally tested myself in the best way by working with people who did not speak English and lived a very different life than the one I have known. One of the highlights of this trip for me was having story time with one of the elders, Don Sebastian, who told us Maijuna stories about the origins of specific plants and animals. These tales have been passed down through generations and to hear them told firsthand was moving and awe-inspiring. Another experience I’ll forever look back on is our very first day of camera trapping. On day one in the jungle, we encountered stingless bee colonies, watched squirrel monkeys and black-mantled tamarins leap through the canopy, and even got a classic rainforest shower. These are things that I dreamed about as an animal care staff member and a general biology lover. To see and feel these things with my own eyes was an incredible start to a whole breathtaking adventure.
Although not every day was easy, I’ll savor every moment I spent with the Maijuna and OnePlanet people in Sucusari. I feel so grateful to have gotten the chance to go on this journey, and I hope this inspires people to find out more about the Detroit Zoo and OnePlanet and how they are helping to conserve the Peruvian Amazon.
By Thomas Benson, education specialist for the Detroit Zoological Society.
As an educator, I am always looking for unique and meaningful ways to engage students in learning about the world around them. So when the opportunity presented itself for me and Jordan Reichenbach, an animal care staff member, to participate in a research project in the Amazon rainforest with the Maijuna indigenous group, we jumped at the chance.
The Maijuna are an indigenous group that has lived in the Sucusari region of Peru for centuries. They have a deep connection to the land, water and animals who call the Amazon home. This deep connection can be seen in their rich cultural heritage and made this trip a life-changing experience.
As part of the research project, in conjunction with OnePlanet, a nonprofit engaged in empowering indigenous communities to build a more sustainable future, and the Detroit Zoological Society, Jordan and I worked alongside the Maijuna to set up trail cameras in the jungle. These cameras capture images of the rich diversity of animals that have re-inhabited the Maijuna ancestral lands after the ejection of loggers, providing valuable data for conservation efforts.
As educators, we sometimes think we have a pulse on every movement and every cause. But truthfully, I had never heard of the type of conservation work, or at least the term used for it, that I was participating in. Biocultural conservation, as I would learn, is where, by helping the indigenous people preserve their culture and way of life, you, in turn, help preserve the ecosystem around them. The Peruvian government’s proposal and effort to construct a road through the heart of Maijuna lands after removing illegal logging undermines this principle and has ignited the passion behind the continuation of the trail camera project. This project aims to help preserve an essential way of life for the Maijuna — hunting — that a road would otherwise destroy. The Maijuna hold hunting as a vital aspect of their cultural heritage and identity. For generations, hunting has provided sustenance, strengthened social bonds and preserved their traditional knowledge. They recognize the importance of sustainable hunting practices and, in turn, employ traditional techniques and closely manage their lands, ensuring the long-term preservation of both their cultural traditions and the biodiversity of the surrounding ecosystem.
In many other countries across the globe, governments are debating the delicate balance between development and environmental preservation. This same issue has pitted the Peruvian government against its indigenous people and conservationists from around the world. Environmental activists, scientists and indigenous groups have joined forces, using the data collected from projects like this one to advocate for sustainable alternatives that prioritize the protection of the Amazon’s fragile ecosystem. They emphasize the need for comprehensive environmental impact assessments, consideration of indigenous rights and investments in alternative modes of transportation and infrastructure that minimize ecological harm.
The Amazon rainforest, home to countless plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth, plays a crucial role in maintaining global climate stability and supporting indigenous communities. Opposition to the road stems from a deep concern about the potentially irreversible damage it could inflict on one of the world’s most biodiverse and ecologically significant regions.
The Peruvian government faces the difficult task of evaluating the potential benefits against the potential consequences while considering the long-term impacts on biodiversity, climate change, and the rights of indigenous communities. The outcome of this ongoing debate will either serve as an example of preservation or as a global reminder of the pressing need to protect and preserve our planet’s invaluable natural ecosystems.
Participating in research in the jungle was a challenging but rewarding experience. The heat and humidity were intense, and there were many bugs and other animals to contend with. However, the Maijuna’s kind and welcoming spirit outweighed any of the negatives. Their willingness to teach us so many aspects of their way of life and the importance of preserving their culture was truly inspiring. Victorino Rios Torres was one of those teachers — his knowledge of the plants and animals of the forest and how his people use them for things from medicine to building houses to spiritual lore were awe-inspiring.
One of the trip’s most memorable moments was when one of the elders and founders of Sucusari, Sebastian “Shebaco” Rios Ochoa, joined us for dinner. During the festivities, he invited all to sit and listen as he recounted the stories of his people. One such story was the origin of the giant river otters who call the Amazon River their home. According to the story,
“One day, a group of people noticed an agua jaula full of fish. They had no idea how the fish got there, and the fish could not escape. So they put some tree sap into the water to kill the fish. All the fish floated to the surface, allowing the group to catch all the fish. But one guy did not think taking the fish was a good idea. He noticed this large tree beginning to shake, along with macaws and other animals calling down to the water as the people gathered the fish. Eventually, the people gathered all the fish and took them back to their homes, where they began preparing them to eat. The one guy, who thought something was wrong, had saved one small fish for himself but forgot to grab it, so he returned to the agua jaula. When he arrived, he was horrified by what he saw; evil spirits were starting to descend out of the tree, so before they saw him, he decided to run back to his people to warn them. But they had already eaten the fish gathered from the agua jaula under this now terrifying tree and had fallen into a deep sleep. He tried everything to wake them, but he could not. As he was trying to wake his people, the evil spirits arrived, dragging their huge claws on the ground behind them. They noticed that the people that ate the fish had nice eyes, so they caused everyone who was asleep to go blind. The one who had tried to save his people hid in the roof of one of the houses. The evil spirits noticed that one person was missing, so they looked all around to find the hidden man. They could not find him, so they left; as they were walking away, the hidden man overhead one of them say, ‘The only way to harm us is to burn the tree by the agua jaula; the smoke will send us away.’ Eventually, all his people awoke to find out they could no longer see. They asked the man why they were blind, and he was not, but he replied, ‘I am blind like you, feel.’ Using a hollowed nut, the others began to feel the void and concluded that he was missing his eyes too. The man then rallied his people in order to beat the evil spirits that had taken their eyes. He gathered what he needed, guided his people back to the agua jaula, and burned the tree that the evil spirits lived in. All types of evil spirits fell out of the tree, men, women, children, old and young. But to the dismay of the blind group sitting on the burnt log of the tree, the evil spirits threw small nuts at their eyes, giving them back their eyesight, but in return, turning them all into giant river otters.”
It was a moment of true cultural exchange, and it was an honor to learn from such a wise and knowledgeable person.
As an educator, I believe experiences like this are crucial for helping all students understand and appreciate different cultures and ways of life. By immersing myself in the Amazon Rainforest and working alongside the Maijuna, I gained a deeper understanding of them as individual people and the challenges they face in preserving their way of life. From our neighbors next door to our tambo, Jairo (Hi-ro) and Marina, to Lenora, who cooked amazing meals (many others also made amazing food for us, including the leader of Sucusari Everest Ríos Vaca) to our forest guides and new friends Jeysen (Hay-sen) and Roller (Roy-yer), The journey through the Amazon felt like a family road trip. The road was the Sucusari River and the roadside attractions were the forest’s rich biodiversity greeting us at every bend.
I hope that by sharing my experiences with students and my community, I can inspire others to think critically about the world around them and to value the diverse cultures and traditions that make our world such a rich and fascinating place.
Authored by Cameron Kniffen, Curator of Education for the Detroit Zoologocial Society.
The Arctic is a delicate and intricate ecosystem that supports many species, such as polar bears and seals, who depend on the annual ice cover for hunting and resting. Additionally, the ice cover helps to reflect heat energy from the sun, which is crucial in preventing the oceans from warming too quickly.
I, Cameron Kniffen (curator of education), and Bethany Wilson (education specialist) are embarking on a summit to Manitoba, Canada, in October as part of the PBI Climate Alliance Program. Our aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of climate change on the Arctic ecosystems and polar bear populations on the Hudson Bay. This opportunity is possible through a strong partnership with Polar Bears International (PBI) and the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI). By observing the effects of climate change on arctic sea ice and polar bear populations at Hudson Bay, our team will bring home first-hand experiences from time spent with local knowledge holders, scientists, and experts that will contribute to further engagement in this critical field.
Cam Kniffen and Bethany Wilson.
The Arctic ecosystem is a complex and interconnected web of life, with sea ice playing a critical role as the foundation of the food chain. It is often said that sea ice is to the Arctic ecosystem as the soil is to the forest. Channels formed in the sea ice by the expulsion of salt from the freezing process create a habitat for algae, the base of the food chain in Arctic waters. Tiny organisms, like zooplankton, feed on the algae and other larger species, like Arctic cod, feed on them. Seals, in turn, feed on Arctic cod, and polar bears prey on seals. Polar bears rely on sea ice to catch their primary prey, seals, as they can out-swim polar bears underwater, but bears have the advantage on top of the ice, using it to stalk their next meal.
In addition to the crucial role that sea ice plays in the Arctic food chain, it is also vital for transportation and access to food for people living in the North. Sea ice has a global impact, acting like a global air conditioner, reflecting the sun’s light and heat back into space and helping to cool the planet. As Arctic sea ice declines in extent and thickness due to human-caused climate warming, the planet absorbs more heat, which can disrupt the climate system, leading to more frequent and extreme weather events around the world.
Today, there is thinner seasonal ice in some parts of the Arctic instead of the thicker, multi-year ice that used to be more common. This young ice is much more vulnerable to rapid melting and moves more easily, resulting in a treadmill-like effect for polar bears trying to find their next meal or mate. The last 15 years have had the lowest 15 sea ice extents in the satellite record, and the amount of old, thick sea ice is the lowest it has ever been. Studies show that Arctic open-water periods are projected to lengthen dramatically by 2,100 without action to reduce heat-trapping emissions. Longer open-water periods would greatly reduce the polar bear’s ability to hunt during these months, impact ice seal abundance and affect people and wildlife around the world.
Despite the threats, it’s not too late to save Arctic sea ice. Studies show there is no tipping point, and the ice will rebound if we work together now to shift away from fossil fuels, replacing them with renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Not only will this help reduce the carbon emissions that are causing the planet to warm and the sea ice to melt, but it will also create jobs, strengthen the economy and improve the overall environment and our health. We all have a role to play in safeguarding the future of Arctic sea ice, and there are many ways to get involved, from reducing head-trapping gasses in our atmosphere to advocating for policies that support renewable energy. By working together, we can protect the Arctic ecosystem and the countless species that depend on it, including ourselves. There are some easy ways to introduce yourself to the fight against climate change:
• Support climate-conscious policies and legislation: Speak up for Arctic sea ice. Urge officials to support renewable energy-cut emissions, and protect the ecosystem. Write, call, and attend meetings to make your voice heard.
• Raise awareness and spread the word! Spreading awareness about the significance of Arctic sea ice can contribute to preserving the Earth’s climate. Share reliable information and news with others through social media and conversations to encourage collective action.
• Adopt sustainable lifestyle choices: Switching to a plant-based diet or cutting back on meat reduces our environmental impact. The livestock industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, but sustainable dietary choices can help stabilize Arctic sea ice.
As part of Polar Bears International’s Arctic Ambassador Center Network, the DZS is committed to protecting polar bears and their habitat. This summit is an important step towards understanding the impact of climate change on polar bears and the Arctic ecosystem, enabling the DZS to play a vital role in mitigating the effects of climate change on polar bears and their habitat.
Our expedition to Manitoba, Canada and involvement in the PBI Climate Alliance Program are critical steps toward understanding the impact of climate change on polar bears and the Arctic ecosystem. The partnership between the DZS, PBI and NNOCCI demonstrates the power of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in promoting conservation and sustainable practices. By working together, researchers, educators and community members can pool their resources and expertise to develop innovative solutions that will enable us all to safeguard the future of our planet.
Together, we can ensure the continued health and well-being of oceanic ecosystems and the species that rely on them, including polar bears.
Isa (right) is certainly aware of guests – but how do they make her feel?
Authored by Julia King, external researcher from Hunter College.
The Detroit Zoo’s Australian Outback Adventure is a favorite among Zoo guests for good reason – you can follow a designated path through the habitat and view 11 red kangaroos and two red-necked wallabies without any barriers! Although the opportunity to cross paths and appreciate these marvelous marsupials up close is an exciting draw for Zoo guests, it begs the question: how do the kangaroos feel about having people in their home?
My name is Julia King, I am a graduate student in Hunter College’s Animal Behavior and Conservation program, and I set out to answer this question in an investigation of kangaroo well-being.
Animal well-being refers to the overall quality of an animal’s physical, mental and emotional health. Well-being can range on a continuum from great to poor and can vary over time and across individuals. Just as no two people are the same, no two animals are the same, and therefore do not have the same well-being. Two individual animals of the same species housed in the same environment may respond to the same stimuli in different ways – one kangaroo may be intrigued by a foreign object in their habitat, while another may be fearful of the same object. Because of this, well-being is best assessed at an individual level.
Julia King places a foraging ball in the kangaroos’ favorite spot.
The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) strives to ensure all its resident animals have great well-being and are thriving. The unique design of walk-though habitats begs the question: how does the presence of people in the habitat affect the kangaroos? Wild kangaroos may perceive humans as threats and respond fearfully, so it is possible that captive kangaroos may feel similarly. Studies on zoo-living kangaroos, both at the Detroit Zoo and elsewhere, have looked at kangaroo behavior, levels of hormones related to the stress response and habitat use in response to visitor presence. These studies have shown that kangaroos may restrict their spatial use (i.e., use less of their habitat) with higher numbers of visitors in their habitat. However, there are no direct links to suggest visitors are a source of stress for inhabitants of walk-through marsupial habitats.
With the help of DZS animal welfare and mammal staff, I designed a scientific study to see whether the presence of guests inside the kangaroo habitat would have an impact on the kangaroos’ emotional well-being. The idea is simple: give them treats and make them work for it! Like people, animals may be willing to work harder for a reward when they are in a positive headspace and less so when they’re experiencing negative emotions. The kangaroos were offered yummy treats (wheat grass and willow clippings) in feeders with varying levels of difficulty, and the interactions with these treats were analyzed with respect to visitor number. If the kangaroos experience negative emotions when more guests are present, they should be less willing to work for food. Therefore, I predicted that the kangaroos would not work as hard for treats when there were more people present in their habitat.
To make the treats more difficult to access, I used location and a foraging ball challenge feeder. Going to an unusual or avoided area or manipulating a foraging ball to get treats requires more work than eating treats directly off the ground in your favorite place – it’s harder to get ice cream from a shop than from your freezer, and harder still when you must pull it out of a box and unwrap it. Treats were placed out in the kangaroos’ favorite spot, either directly on the ground or hidden within the foraging ball. Treats were also placed in a location in the habitat that kangaroos used less frequently, again either directly on the ground or within the foraging ball.
Many kangaroos seemed to enjoy engaging with and obtaining treats from the foraging ball.
What happened? As you might expect, the kangaroos were much more likely to eat the treats placed in their favorite spot, while they rarely ventured to the less favored area. There were also no observed effects of visitor presence, meaning, the number of people in the habitat did not influence when and where the kangaroos were willing to get the treats. This may be because at the time of the study, which took place November to December 2021, there were very few guests present in general. Or it may be because many of the kangaroos were born and raised at the Detroit Zoo, and they are used to seeing people on the guest pathway in their enclosure.
An unexpected result from this study was that the kangaroos were far more likely to eat the treats when they were hidden inside the foraging ball than presented freely on the ground. This may seem counterintuitive at first – why would you prefer to unbox and unwrap ice cream when you can just eat it right out of the carton? But it turns out that many captive animals may prefer to work for food even if they don’t have to. This well-documented phenomenon is called contra-freeloading, and it is the basis for many foraging enrichment designs. Environmental enrichment is just that—something that benefits a captive animals’ daily life, usually by eliciting natural behaviors. Food is never free in the wild. By providing an additional challenge like a foraging ball, eating becomes much more interactive and mimics some of the challenges associated with foraging in the wild. Working for food provides mental stimulation and a sense of accomplishment, promoting positive well-being in captive animals.
This study brings some good news to the Detroit Zoo, the kangaroos and all the people who love to visit them. First, the kangaroos do not show any negative responses to the people in their habitat, confirming the results of an earlier study at the Detroit Zoo. Second, we may have inadvertently found a fun and easy way to add some enjoyment and fulfillment to these kangaroos’ lives!
Detroit Zoological Society Blog 