Wildlife Conservation – Notes from the Field

Conservation is Sweet: DZS Plants Fruit Trees in the Heart of the Amazon

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By Claire Lannoye-Hall, director of education for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS). 

Follow Claire on her journey through Peru when you read this blog on StoryMaps!

For more than two decades, the DZS has partnered with CONAPAC, a nonprofit organization in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. With the generous support of Amazon Explorama Lodges, a travel company with more than 50 years of commitment to the region, the partnership supports the conservation of this globally essential ecosystem. Each year, thousands of students and teachers receive school supplies, teachers participate in professional development workshops, and families have access to clean, safe drinking water. 

In addition to the partnership’s commitment to education and safe drinking water, we support economic opportunities for interested communities. As part of this initiative, several thousand fruit trees have been planted in select communities as a source of added nutrition for families. As the trees mature and produce excess harvest, fruits are sold as a source of income. 

During the first week of December 2023, four team members from the Detroit Zoo traveled down to Peru to participate in fruit tree planting. The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation provided funding for fruit trees that are native to the Amazon rainforest to be grown and transported. Pedro Paurcarcaja, an arborist in Iquitos, Peru, grew the trees from cuttings and seeds. Each tree was cared for and allowed to grow to a size that could be successfully transplanted. The trees were then placed in crates by type and transported down the Amazon and Napo Rivers on a cargo barge. Thousands of trees were delivered to the designated communities. 

Each morning, we joined a group of volunteers and representatives from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, CONAPAC staff and an experienced guide and translator from Explorama. We all took a boat to reach the designated community. Some of the trees went to individual families who expressed their interest and commitment to growing trees on land they have available. The families were responsible for planting their trees. Several hundred additional trees were planted in community spaces and for the schools. 

Before our arrival, the communities prepared areas previously used for agriculture, such as corn and banana palms. With shovels and post-hole diggers in hand, the FTPF representative carefully demonstrated how to plant the saplings to ensure they had the best chance of surviving. We worked alongside members of the community, especially the children, and planted the trees designated for the community and school areas. The planting wrapped up each morning shortly before lunchtime.  Spending several hours at each community provided opportunities to learn each other’s names, communicate in various forms (even if it was just smiles!), and gain a glimpse into the day-to-day life of our partners. 

For the final two days, we visited an additional community in the afternoon. Both communities planted trees several years ago through the FTPF initiative and proudly showed us the trees’ growth. Ramon Castilla shared with us that more than 90 percent of their trees had survived, which is an impressive feat considering the risk of insect and flooding damage. Their success was a testament to the trees being planted in the right areas and their commitment to caring for them. The community of Jorge Chavez treated us to fruit fresh off the trees, including papaya and star fruit. 

The community visits were also an opportunity to check in on the water purification systems, ensuring things were working correctly and the communities had access to safe, clean drinking water. For more information about CONAPAC’s clean water programming, click here.

Conservation work, especially when conducted in international settings, often does not address the needs or fundamental rights of the people who are directly impacted by laws and regulations that are put in place in the spirit of protecting animals and natural resources. While time-consuming, building meaningful relationships with individuals and communities who live adjacent to or share the same space as essential conservation areas can create vitally important allies. To do this well takes time and an investment in the wealth of knowledge and expertise of individuals who have lived for generations in the conservation areas. This partnership exemplifies the benefits of what collaborative conservation can accomplish. 

To contribute to the vital conservation work in the Amazon rainforest, click here.

Collaboration in Conservation: A Striped Newt’s Story

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By Mark Vassallo, curator of amphibians

It’s just before dawn in the Apalachicola National Forest of Northern Florida, and light is glinting off the dew of the long-leaf pine trees as the humidity peaks. These conditions are just right for one of nature’s most adaptable animals to undertake an incredible journey. A striped newt (Notophalmus perstriatus) stirs under the water of a temporary pond.

Today, this young newt is preparing to travel from the relative safety of this ephemeral pond, to which he has been introduced with the help of the Coastal Plains Institute (CPI) and the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS). CPI has been dedicated to preserving the long-leaf pine ecosystem since 1984 and continues to work to maintain this unique habitat through scientific research, land management, and environmental education within Florida. The striped newt, recently listed as “threatened” in Florida, needs all the help it can get.

This very pond where the newt plans to emerge has been constructed and maintained through the work of CPI. The DZS and CPI have been collaborating on releases such as this one since 2017, and this particular newt has been bred and raised at the Detroit Zoo by staff who specialize in amphibian care with this moment in mind, the opportunity to re-introduce species and preserve biodiversity.

Newts are raised at The Detroit Zoo.

The striped newt can adapt to life outside the water, an ability that amphibians have been perfecting for millions of years. When conditions are right, the striped newt’s skin will begin to thicken and granularize, helping to hold moisture more efficiently than its typically slippery and smooth skin. The newt’s tail will become narrow, round, and less like a paddle, making traveling over dry ground much more efficient. This life stage is known as an “eft.”

As the newt slips out from under the water and moves onto land, its bright skin coloration advertises its toxicity to any potential predators who wouldn’t mind getting an early morning snack. Moving deliberately through the ground cover, the newt encounters a drift fence and travels along the edge of it. After a few feet, it drops into a 5-gallon bucket, which CPI staff soon recovers and processes. This fence and the corresponding bucket are all part of a scientific study undertaken by CPI to measure the success of introductions such as this one. Monitoring these drift fence arrays is no easy task, and CPI volunteers are tasked with checking these traps every day for up to seven months of the year.

Many months ago, the amphibian care staff at the DZS’s National Amphibian Conservation Center (NACC) began preparing to breed our resident population of striped newts. All the conditions for reproduction had to be just right. The correct water quality, depth, and egg-laying materials were painstakingly researched and implemented. With the addition of a specialized water filtration system, known as a reverse osmosis system, the amphibian department staff had complete control over the “makeup” of the newt’s water. It could reach the correct parameters to mimic the natural environment where these newts live in the ephemeral wetlands of Florida and Georgia. The plumbing required for this filtration unit was installed and tested by the DZS’s maintenance staff. The work required careful drilling through the walls of the NACC to run plastic plumbing lines to deliver the filtered water to the bio-secure and husbandry spaces where animals are kept. This was no small feat and proved to be a great example of how the DZS’s conservation success is a team effort spanning all the departments of the Zoo.

After all this effort to prepare, the real success occurs when the striped newt begins the reproduction process. The male will hold the female in an embrace known as amplexus; during this embrace, the male rubs the female’s snout with his chin and releases pheromones, which are fanned towards the female with his paddled tail. Once the female is receptive, the male will drop what is known as a spermatophore. From this point, the female will accept the spermatophore, and internal fertilization will occur.

Once the eggs are laid, usually on long emergent vegetation that has been placed in the habitats of the striped newts, the baby newts will begin to develop. This process can take several weeks and can be affected by temperature. The larvae are tiny, sometimes measuring about 8 millimeters, and very thin, resembling a small piece of wood or a twig, making them difficult to see with the naked eye. These tiny larvae are fed small invertebrates and aquatic worms, which have also been cultivated by the talented staff at the NACC. Once the newts have reached about 13 millimeters, they are eligible for release, counted and carefully shipped to Florida when conditions are just right in the wetlands for release. 

After a long journey from an egg in the bio-secure breeding room at the NACC to the Florida wetlands, our newt is now being counted and sent into the forest by the staff and volunteers at CPI. This newt will likely spend years in this “eft” life stage, moving through the long-leaf pines and feeding on invertebrates. If conditions are right in the coming years, the newt will be beckoned back to the temporary ponds by rainfall and favorable environmental conditions, where it could potentially breed naturally and help bolster the numbers of this unique and increasingly rare amphibian. In 2023, the DZS and CPI introduced 227 striped newts back into the wilds of Florida, increasing the numbers of this important animal and furthering the case for collaboration in conservation.

Volunteers from Coastal Plains Institute release newts into the wild.

The striped newt repatriation project ended the season with a beautiful surprise. Several months ago, CPI staff dip-netted two large, gilled paedomorphs out of the new, rubber liner-enhanced release pond, where CPI staff released 227 young larval striped newts. The newts had been raised here at Detroit Zoo, sent to Florida on July 11, then released on July 12 after an acclimation process. In the coming weeks, four of the 227 were encountered in drift fence buckets and inferred to be exiting the pond and going terrestrial as efts. No others were seen after that. We worried that most animals were lost to predation by turtles and predaceous invertebrates. However, to end the season and ascertain whether some newts had survived and opted to live an aquatic life, CPI captured the two paedomorphs.

These paedomorphic animals may represent a persistent aquatic ‘population’ there. We hope and expect they will go on to reproduce. That will be determined next year by dipnet and drift fence sampling. This is the best news of the 2023 striped newt repatriation project field season and one of the highest points in the 11-year ongoing recovery efforts.

DZS raise newts and prepare them for wild release.

Celebrating the Panamanian Golden Frog

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By Mark Vassallo, curator of amphibians for The Detroit Zoological Society.

The Panamanian golden frog — or “La Rana Dorada” as it is known in Panama — is an iconic and potentially extinct amphibian from the elevations of the Central portion of the country. The golden frog, known for its bright yellow coloration and association with luck and fortune, has captured the hearts and spirit of the native Panamanian culture. On the upper reaches of “La India Dormida” or “Sleeping Indian” mountain in El Valle, Panama, there is a petroglyph that depicts a frog. This image has been estimated as originating before the 1400s and could represent one of the earliest tributes to one of the region’s most important animals.

El Valle, Panama is a gorgeous town nestled in the crater of an extinct mega volcano that has been dormant for more than 300,000 years. This fertile valley is home to a unique variety of plants and animals and is the former home of La Rana Dorada. El Valle is also the site for the annual Golden Frog Festival, which takes place in August. This event celebrates the golden frog with parades, concerts, educational displays and public offerings of support for this endangered amphibian. This year, I was fortunate enough to witness the events of this extraordinary week of festivities firsthand and was blown away by the pride and respect the Panamanian culture places on the golden frog and conserving the legacy tied to their heritage. 

Since 2015, I have represented the Detroit Zoo while traveling to Panama to assist the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center Foundation (EVACC) in the establishment and upkeep of a bio-secure population of Panamanian golden frogs on the grounds of Hotel Campestre. This unique facility houses and breeds the golden frog and other threatened and endangered amphibians from Central Panama. The EVACC is a nonprofit organization run by Edgardo Griffith and Heidi Ross, a husband-and-wife team of biologists who have dedicated their lives to preserving the golden frog and the biodiversity of Panama. The EVACC foundation helps organize The Golden Frog Festival.

One of the first days of the event is a parade where all the local school children dress up like the golden frog — their attire is usually yellow with black spots mimicking the tell-tale markings of this cherished animal. As the procession starts, marching bands play, and the whole town comes to see the event. 

As the week progresses, the events include an evening of friendly competition between the various marching band troops from the area. In Panama, these marching bands are not your typical high school variety band. They incorporate stylish moves as they seamlessly mesh several varieties of music into the eye-catching display that brings sound and energy into the night. They wear special uniforms specific to their troop and continuously try to outdo one another with more incredible stunts and inspiring music as they proceed down the parade route to the church of San Jose. Here, the parade comes to an end.

Throughout the week, all people — from Panamanians to Dutch tourists — are allowed to pledge their support publicly through the signing of a mural that announces each person’s intent to preserve the golden frog — and, subsequently, the heritage of the Panamanian people who have inhabited this valley for thousands of years.

It is difficult not to be moved by such a display of national respect and acknowledgment for an amphibian. Coming from a background of zoo and aquarium science, I have seen how multitudes of charismatic megafauna have been widely celebrated and invested in, usually leaving the “little guys” like frogs to fend for themselves in a landscape dominated by “flagship” species like the panda bear or the blue whale. Amphibians are experiencing a crisis that is incomparable to any other taxa. Almost half of the Earth’s amphibian biodiversity is at risk or extinct. In the golden frog, there seems to be some hope for a representative that has comparable significance and also the potential to elevate the plight of amphibians into the public light.

The Panamanian culture has continued to hold the torch for this species, purely as a gesture of respect to the fantastic biodiversity that calls this country home. In celebrating La Rana Dorada, they also celebrate resiliency of a country that has chosen a frog as its champion, a golden frog. As one of the primary slogans of the EVACC foundation says, “salva lo que amas” or “save what you love.”

A Delicate Balance: Preserving the Peruvian Amazon — Part Two

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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.

A Delicate Balance: Preserving the Peruvian Amazon — Part One

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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.

Arctic Sea Ice Day is July 15: Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Arctic Ecosystems, Sea Ice, Polar Bears

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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.

• Support research and conservation organizations such as Polar Bears International (PBI), the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI), the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and more. Support Arctic research and conservation by donating time or resources to organizations working to prevent climate change and protect 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.

Restoring Snail Populations in Tahiti

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Authored by Erica Graber, snail care specialist at the Detroit Zoological Society.

On April 15, 2,413 total partula nodosa snails were released into Papahue Valley, Tahiti, making this the largest wild release that has ever happened for this species. Partula nodosa, also known as Polynesian tree snails, are considered extinct in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature —making this record-breaking release extremely important. 

Of the 2,413 partula nodosa released, 1,449 were from our collection at the Detroit Zoo! In November 2022, we sent 1,500 snails to the St. Louis Zoo in preparation for this release. From there, we shipped the snails to Tahiti in early April. Once they arrived in Tahiti, they were all marked with UV reflective paint, making them more visible on the trees and easier to track during post-release checks — even in the dark. They were placed in slow-release containers so they could leave and head up to the tree canopies at their own pace.

The Detroit Zoo released 1,500 snails to restore populations abroad.

Multiple partula snail species were driven to near extinction after African giant land snails were introduced to the islands as a food source for the people living there. Unfortunately, the African giant land snails escaped and thrived in the island habitat, causing them to quickly become invasive and destroy the vegetation, wreaking havoc on the island’s fragile ecosystem. Predatory rosy wolf snails were introduced as biological control, which backfired when they only went after native snail species, including partula snails. Partula snails are vital to maintaining tropical forest health as they eat decaying plant matter and fungi and recycle those nutrients into the soil. They are also an important part of Polynesian culture, as their shells were used in ceremonial jewelry and the decorations of the indigenous islanders. Losing this species is devastating both to the balance of the forest ecosystem and the history of the people living there.

At the Detroit Zoo, we have a room dedicated to our snails. As of May 23, we have 41 Kritter Keepers housing 3,595 snails. Each tank has paper towel as substrate, a feed tray, a cuttlebone and a fake plant to hide and climb on. The food is a mixture of organic nettle powder, ground organic oats, ground trout chow, a powdered calcium supplement and Teklad snail stress powder. When ready to use, we mix it with water to create a paste that we spread across the feed tray for the snails to easily eat. We keep the humidity in the room between 60 and 80 percent, and the temperature is consistently at 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep the humidity up, which can be challenging in the dry winter months, up to five humidifiers run at once. We also mist the tanks daily to keep the paper towel moist. 

The snail room at the Detroit Zoo keeps the animals in optimal conditions.

As this species is extinct in the wild, we must track how many snails are in our captive population. Every month, I count all the snails and separate them based on size — newborn, juvenile, sub-adult and adult. Newborns are tiny, less than 3 millimeters. Juveniles are between 3 and 7 millimeters. Sub-adults and adults are similar in size, more than 8 millimeters, but the adults are most distinguishable by the thick white “lip” around the shell opening.

As a result of all these conditions being just right, Detroit Zoo team has been able to consistently breed this rare snail and contribute to the reintroduction process. The recent release of 1,500 snails was record-breaking for our facility — our previous record was 100 snails in May 2015. 

Our captive population is still flourishing and growing. There is talk of doing releases more frequently — as soon as September! With the commitment of Detroit, St. Louis, Akron, Woodland Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and all the other facilities working together to protect this species, the future is looking big and bright for these little snails.

Erica Graber helps organize this project at the Detroit Zoo.

Amazon Rainforest Conservation Partnership Helps Rural Communities

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In March 2020, my suitcases were packed, and a group of 40 volunteers was ready to fly down to Iquitos, Peru to deliver school supplies to remote communities along the Amazon and Napo rivers in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. 

Three days before my flight, Peru closed its borders in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.  The Peruvian school year starts in March, so schools didn’t open for months, and even then classes were hosted only virtually. This provided an opportunity for many of the students who lived in cities to attend but left behind the communities on the river, which had no devices or access to the internet. For two full years, Adopt-a-School community partners had no access to formal education. Even more devastating than the education gap, Peru holds the highest rate of COVID-19 fatalities out of any country in the world. 

This year, as I packed my bags again, I couldn’t help but wonder if we would be able to travel. With new variants being identified regularly, I was very conscious of the responsibility that comes with international travel. I needed to keep myself and  the communities we would be visiting healthy, as well as my family when I returned home. I took extra precautions, including wearing an N95 mask the entire time I was traveling through airports and on planes. As health care workers know all too well, wearing an N95 mask for 24 hours straight is challenging and not comfortable! 

When I arrived in Iquitos, I met with our partners at Conservación de la Naturaleza Amazónica del Peru AC (known as CONAPAC), the Peruvian nonprofit that facilitates the Adopt-a-School program and several other important projects in the rainforest. A small group of volunteers that had been scheduled for the 2020 trip joined us for the school supply deliveries. We reviewed our ambitious schedule of visiting nine schools each day for five straight days and packed all the school supplies onboard the cargo boat that would be traveling with us on the river. 

We traveled out to the farthest of Amazon Explorama’s lodges, Explor Napo, and settled in for the three nights we’d be staying there. On Monday morning, we packed our lunches, divided into three groups and headed out on the river. Each of the three boats had three to four  people aboard, plus the boat driver. The rides to the schools vary, from as little as 15 minutes to sometimes more than an hour. I was visiting one of the largest communities that first morning, and we spent about 45 minutes on the boat until we arrived at Urco Miraño. 

We spent several hours in the community, distributing a school supply packet to every kindergarten, elementary and high school student (more than 100 all together!), and their teachers. We also delivered supplies for the schools in general and notebooks for the community leaders. Access to quality learning materials is an equity issue. Most families living in rainforest communities don’t have easy access to cities to purchase materials, nor do they always have the financial means to do so. While the Peruvian government provides a school building and teachers, the gap in learning materials puts the remote communities at a distinct disadvantage from their peers in cities. Living in one of the world’s most biodiverse and ecologically important areas makes access to a quality education imperative to the future of the region. 

The process of traveling to communities and sharing school supplies repeated throughout the week. Toward the end of their school year (likely in September), we will reach out to all the teachers in the communities to ask what supplies they need for their classroom. That way, we can tailor the 2023 delivery to their needs. All the materials are purchased in Peru, which supports the local economy, ensures materials fit with local curriculum guidelines and drastically reduces shipping and customs fees. The supplies are purchased with donations from an international group of donors, many of whom have traveled to the rainforest previously. If you would like to support the Adopt-a-School program, ensuring access to educational opportunities in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, please visit our website for more information. 

– Claire Lannoye-Hall is the director of education for the Detroit Zoological Society.

Piping Plover Captive Rearing Program Celebrates Most Successful Year to Date

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The year 2020 has quite literally gone to the birds. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted people and wildlife around the world, 2020 is a milestone for endangered Great Lakes piping plovers – marking the most successful outcome of the Detroit Zoological Society’s Piping Plover Captive Rearing Program since it began nearly 20 years ago. 

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) program is funded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and falls under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which was established in 2009 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In July, the EPA celebrated the year’s significance for this endangered species with the release of four Detroit Zoo-reared piping plovers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. This year, a total of 39 Detroit Zoo-reared piping plovers were released in northern Michigan. 

Photo courtesy of Alice Van Zoeren.

“It’s a bittersweet moment,” said Bonnie Van Dam, associate bird curator for the Detroit Zoological Society. “When you’re hatching the eggs and caring for the baby plovers, you get to know them individually – and it’s so exciting to watch them head into the wild knowing they will help bolster the population of this incredible bird.”

Some of the rescued piping plover stories are harrowing – like the three eggs and single hatchling that were left alone in the middle of an intense storm; their mother was killed by a coyote and their father fled. Field monitoring staff pulled the chick and eggs and kept them warm until they could be transferred to the Zoo. 

“We were able to pick them up from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, care for them and monitor them closely. Three out of the four chicks survived and were later released. Those are the stories that stick with you,” she said. 

Under normal circumstances, a DZS-led team would have incubated abandoned piping plover eggs in the captive rearing facility at the University of Michigan’s Biological Station in Pellston, Michigan. Due to the pandemic, the eggs were instead sent to the Detroit Zoo.

“We couldn’t let the pandemic prevent the rescue and rearing of these endangered birds. So, at the request of the USFWS, abandoned eggs were brought to the Detroit Zoo this year for incubation and rearing. The plovers were then sent to the Biological Station, where the birds were able to get more acclimated with their natural environment prior to their release,” said Van Dam.

Video courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Since the launch of the DZS-led piping plover salvage-rearing program in 2001, 299 captive reared birds have been successfully released. Currently, there are 64 pairs and 79 nests in the wild. In 2018, the USFWS recognized the DZS for its leadership in the recovery of this endangered species.

– Alexandra Bahou is the communications manager for the Detroit Zoological Society.

Notes from the Field: Protecting Amphibian Biodiversity in Peru

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You heard recently from one of our education experts about how the Detroit Zoological Society is working with Peruvian schools to conserve the rainforest through outreach and education. Conservation of the biodiversity in the Peruvian rainforest has been a priority of the Detroit Zoological Society for over a decade, and we have many programs in the rainforest that help to achieve this goal. One of our programs focuses specifically on amphibians, and that is where I have the great fortune to visit this incredible location.

Boana calcarata

There are over 600 species of frogs in Peru, with more species discovered every day. With this high number of species, Peru is called a “biodiversity hotspot.” These “hotspots” are very important to monitor for changes, because while there are many species they are all very dependent on one another. Small changes can cause drastic effects. Amphibians are some of the most sensitive animals, because their skin absorbs everything in the environment. If amphibians begins to get sick or have difficulty surviving, that is an excellent clue that something is wrong in the environment. All over the world, amphibians are currently having difficulty with changes we are seeing in the environment- because we are seeing global changes, it is extra important to study the animals in areas like the Amazon, where amphibians are in higher concentration, to try and understand patterns in these changes.

Boana calcarata call image

The convict tree frog (Boana calcarata) is a frog found in the Napo River region. This sound recording and image were made by the National Amphibian Conservation Center during a survey.

In order to keep an eye on the amphibians in the Peruvian Amazon, staff from the Detroit Zoo’s National Amphibian Conservation Center conducts surveys for frogs twice a year. This means we physically go out and look for frogs. Because we know we cannot possibly see all the frogs, also record the songs of frogs at night. Hearing the songs can help us guess numbers of animals singing and help us to hear the songs of species that are difficult to find on visual surveying. In addition to surveys, we monitor weather data in the Napo River valley. We have our own weather station that collects year-round information about the valley region. We also use small data loggers to collect immediate, specific “microclimate” changes where we visualize species breeding (for example: on a specific plant or under leaf litter). The weather data helps us understand both immediate changes in behavior of frogs, as well as changes in populations over time.

Weather stationDr. Ruth Marcec-Greaves downloads six months’ data from the weather station.

While data collection and surveying are important, fostering appreciation of animals in the local community is the primary goal of the visits to Peru. Our hope is that educating the community and creating excitement in future generations will help to preserve these animals for the future. The “Club de Protectores de Anfibios,” or Amphibian Protectors Club, is a club comprised of high school students that are local to the Napo River valley region. The club was founded in order to help impart enthusiasm for amphibians and the environment.

In Peru, there are many misconceptions surrounding frogs. There is a general belief that frogs are bad luck and should be kept away from homes. When the Detroit Zoo staff visited the Amphibian Protectors Club in June of 2019, the club members taught us how the Amphibian Protectors Club is changing the community. The club members performed a play in which they explained another local belief is that a woman will become pregnant if she spends time around frogs. Told from the perspective of high school students, this was a chilling superstition. Through the play, the students explained that by participating in the club they have learned not only that this is a myth, but also frogs are important for human health and humans need to protect frogs. The club members have taught their friends and families frogs are important and have begun to see more frogs in their villages since this change in attitude.

Night HikeAn Amphibian Protector’s Club member observes a frog up close on a night hike.

The students from the club went on an overnight excursion with the National Amphibian Conservation Center staff, where we visited one of our regular field research sites. We took a late night hike in order to see frogs calling and breeding at this special location. At this site, we saw species of frogs the students do not commonly see in their villages. After a good night rest, the club rose early in the morning to hike to the nearby canopy walkway- a breathtaking experience where the club members were able to look down on the rainforest from the treetops. While these students live in the rainforest, many of them have not seen their tropical home from this perspective. They were inspired by this view, observing the unique habitat of rare and diverse species. One club member called it “the view of the animals,” and asked very advanced questions about some of the plants and insects he observed.

Canopy

This was an incredibly rewarding trip. The students showed us that their appreciation for the amphibians is making a difference. While I will not see them in person for a few months, the students will continue to speak with me over a WhatsApp chat (they named our group “Whatsappos,” because “sapo” means toad in Spanish). While I am away, the club meets monthly to survey in their home towns and the students will send me photos and descriptions of frogs the see. Over the app, we talk about the species and have a question and answer session. Their excitement is inspiring and infectious, and I am confident their enthusiasm will be what helps save species.

– Dr. Ruth Marcec-Greaves is the director of the Detroit Zoo’s National Amphibian Conservation Center.