#chattzoo

[jenthehumanist]

Volunteering at the zoo today.

It was 21F this a when I got here. It’s warmed up to 40F and Phil the Jaguar has come out of his inside enclosure.

He’s beautiful

[jenthehumanist]

Volunteering with Komodo dragons today.

[chattanoogazoo]

Celebrating African American Scientists in Zoos and Zoology! 

Happy Black History Month from the Chattanooga Zoo! To celebrate, we’re honoring Black scientists who have changed the world of zoos and zoology forever through their work and discoveries. Mary J. Wilson and Charles Henry Turner are two Black scientists with incredible stories who have made significant contributions in the field of zoology throughout their lives.  

Mary J. Wilson was born January 2th, 1937, in West Baltimore, where she would reside for her entire life. Her mother became sick and passed away when she was only five years old. Despite the pain of that loss, Wilson would grow into a woman who was nurturing as she was fearless. Wilson's daughter, Sharon Wilson Jackson, said that her mother “was a no-nonsense lady,” (The New York Times Magazine).

Mary J. Wilson graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and chose to pursue a profession that fit her love for animals. She began her first job at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore when she was 21 years old, she quickly became the first African American senior zookeeper, working with mammals from the beginning of her career. Wilson initially had no zoo experience or specialized animal training but was known to have “a willingness to work hard and love animals,” (The New York Times Magazine).

At the time, most female zookeepers specialized in “nursery” animals like birds or small mammals, but not Wilson. She was drawn to larger animals and worked with elephants, gorillas and tigers, and often went above and beyond to ensure the animals received the highest standard of care.

In the 1960s, when an infant gorilla named Sylvia moved into the Baltimore Zoo (now the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore) without her mother, Wilson took the gorilla under her wing, personally providing attention, love, and care to Sylvia. Wilson told the Baltimore Sun in 1996 that she had to care for the infant like you would a human baby. “Sylvia was like a baby to me. She was this cute little, reddish-colored gorilla.The first thing when I came in the morning, I used to give her a bath. Then I’d feed her breakfast. I’d cook three-minute eggs for her. She just became like my little daughter,” Wilson explains (The New York Times Magazine).

As Sylvia grew up, she outgrew her exhibit at the Baltimore Zoo. Sylvia was moved to the Cleveland City Zoo where she met an infant gorilla who had lost her mother, just like Sylvia. The zookeepers quickly noticed a special bond forming between Sylvia and the infant. Sylvia acted like a mother to the baby gorilla, despite never having children of her own. Instead she learned these skills for Mary J. Wilson and passed the love Wilson had shown to her along to another animal in need. “They said it was because of how I raised her that she was good with that youngster,” Wilson said (The New York Times Magazine).

Wilson worked at the Baltimore Zoo for 38 years where her legacy would pass down to her daughter. There was no pressure for Sharon Wilson Jackson, her daughter, to pursue a career in animal care. Instead, she said that Wilson just wanted her to do her best in whatever path she chose. However, Jackson developed a deep passion for animals like her mother did, possibly due to the fact Wilson often cared for animals at home throughout her career, exposing Jackson to a wide variety of species. Jackson pursued a career in Zoology and became the first Black woman employed by the Omaha City Zoo. 

Wilson retired from the Baltimore Zoo in 1999 and passed away in 2020 at 83 years old. She suffered from dementia, and when she lay sick in her hospital bed, Jackson tried to find ways to talk to her mom despite her declining mental state. Wilson never responded until Jackson asked about an elephant named Joe who bobbed his head to communicate. Wilson responded to the memory of her animal friend, allowing her to talk to her daughter in her final days. 

Charles Henry Turner is another groundbreaking Black scientist who did a different sort of work in the animal world.Turner was born in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was encouraged by his parents to make learning and education his biggest focus. He graduated as the valedictorian from Gaines High School in 1886 then earned his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D in zoology from The University of Cincinnati. He is the first African American to receive a Ph.D from the university. 

Next, he began pursuing a career in teaching. He first taught at Clark College from 1893 to 1905, then at Sumner High School in St. Louis. Perhaps his most impactful work was completed at Sumner High, not at a college facility or laboratory. He did all of his research there and would retire with over 70 published research papers including behavioral studies of the honey bee, mound-building ants, and cockroach audiology. Turner did not limit himself to study only the world of insects but also studied the brains of annelid, avians, and crustaceans. During Turner's research he discovered new species of ants, crustaceans, bees, pigeons, wasps, spiders, cockroaches, and moths. Sumner High is where he discovered that insects could hear and alter their behavior based on previous experiences. This has paved the way for all future entomologists (insect scientists) to understand their insects. Generally, his discovery told us that insects could learn and recognize patterns. 

Due to Turner’s studies we now know that honey bees have color-vision and vivid memories that allow them to tell other hive mates exactly what distance, location and quality of a flower field they just returned from. He was also able to discover that spiders could assess a damaged piece of their web and find a concept to best fix their web.

Turner retired after 33 years of teaching and passed away on February 14, 1923. His legacy lives on through literature and other forms of appreciation. A children's book called “Bug Watching with Charles Henry Turner” by M.E. Ross is one of the most popular. Turner's biography is available as “The Biography of Charles Henry Turner, Pioneer of Comparative Animal Behavior Studies.” In 1923, the first school for African American disabled children, the Charles Henry Turner Open Air School for Crippled Children, was founded, now called Turner Middle School. His first teaching job, Clark College, also named Turner-Tanner Hall in his honor.  

Mary J. Wilson and Charles Henry Turner are two scientists we should honor and appreciate for years to come. Wilson and Turner have both helped today's zoologists learn more and connect with animals on a deeper level. Wilson deepened our understanding of intelligence and relational capabilities, and she helped us see how following a passion for animals can have a lasting impact. Turner’s study of insects changed how scientists understand the minds of various species and, due to his studies, people can better appreciate the intricate and complex lives of insects. We celebrate Wilson and Turner as the amazing scientists they were, and their contributions to zoos and zoology.

[chattanoogazoo]

Animal Care During the Cold Snap

Two weeks ago, Chattanooga was hit with a cold snap complete with ice, snow, single-digit temperatures and a wind chill to match. The Chattanooga Zoo closed to the public for a few days due to the unsafe cold and icy conditions, but our team worked around the clock to keep our reZOOdents safe and warm throughout the winter weather. After all, what’s more fun than an overnight stay at the Zoo? (Although that’s usually more of a summer activity.)

The Zoo’s Emergency Response Team, made up of specially trained zookeepers and facilities personnel, stayed overnight on Monday and Tuesday, January 15 and 16, to ensure the safety of every Zoo animal. The team would take turns walking the entire Zoo, ensuring that the power was on, animals were comfortably inside and/or close to heat lamps and all enclosures and fencing remained intact due to the possibility of falling limbs or trees. The team also assisted with animal care and facility upkeep throughout the day on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 16 and 17, as other staff members were unable to come to the Zoo due to treacherous road conditions.

“Ensuring the safety of our animals and staff is our top priority in any situation,” said Amanda Bartlett, animal care supervisor. "During an event like this, overnight staff are responsible for frequent checks of animals and enclosures. A power outage in the cold is one of our primary concerns. If that were to happen we are prepared to set up backup generators, move in propane heaters, and relocate animals to heated spaces if necessary."

Leading up to the cold weather, Zoo staff planned ahead by performing checks on all heat lamps, providing extra bedding, blankets and/or straw for animals, keeping some animals inside through the duration of the cold snap and preparing extra meals in advance for both the animals and the Emergency Response Team.

In addition to extreme cold, the Emergency Response Team is also prepared to handle animal escapes, venomous snake bites, fire, injuries to staff or guests and even train derailments. Each member of the team is first aid and CPR certified.

While the Emergency Response Team worked hard to keep everyone safe, some animals, like the red pandas, snow leopards, and coyotes, enjoyed a bit of colder weather!

The Zoo is extremely thankful for the hard work of our emergency response team and their dedication to our wonderful reZOOdents and the Zoo grounds!

[chattanoogazoo]

2023-2024 Asian Lantern Festival

From Nov. 16, 2023, to January 14, 2024, the Chattanooga Zoo will keep its doors open after-hours for its second-ever Asian Lantern Festival. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. each night of the festival, attendees will take an evening tour of the Chattanooga Zoo with a large collection of stunning lanterns, games and moving, interactive displays to light the way.

“This event helps bring our community together to make unforgettable memories while also inspiring a deeper appreciation of animals and our natural world,” said Darde Long, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Zoo. “This year, to create a newly enchanting experience for our patrons, we’ve updated the displays to feature an entirely new collection of lanterns that showcase Chinese culture, a winter wonderland, a variety of undersea life and, of course, our beloved zoo animals.”

The lanterns, which took over a month to construct and span the entire zoo property, feature large displays of butterflies, holiday lights, a wide variety of animals, a giant crab, a dragon that’s 30 feet tall and much more.

Additionally, Santa Claus will visit the festival and take pictures with attendees at no additional cost on Dec. 15, 16, 22 and 23. For closing weekend, Jan. 13-14, The Pop-up Project will present an interactive performance across the Zoo grounds including dancers, live music and aerialists.

This year’s newly revamped Asian Lantern Festival is supported by Chick-fil-A of Chattanooga, the presenting sponsor. 

The festival occurs Wednesday through Sunday each week until its final night on January 14, 2024. The festival is open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each night.

Tickets are available at chattzoo.org/events/alf-2023. General Zoo admission tickets are not required, only an Asian Lantern Festival ticket is required for entry. Additionally, Asian Lantern Festival tickets do not grant general admission to the Zoo throughout the day.

For more information about other Chattanooga Zoo programs, events, animals and more, visit chattzoo.org or call 423-697-1322.

[noogamade]

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[noogamade]

From @chattanoogazoo 📸 by local creators @jgadvertising ・・・ #LOOKUP & see what you are missing! @jgadvertising #chattzoo #cha #chattanooga #noogagram #nooga (at Chattanooga Zoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuWq3unnjJN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kk0chr1xzy4q

[chattanoogazoo]

Becoming a Vet Tech 101

When I tell people what I do for a living the most common response I hear is “That is so cool”. And it is. My job is challenging, interesting, inspiring, and simply awesome. So you may be thinking “How do I get to be a veterinary technician?” Well, this blog post is all about becoming a veterinary technician.

Veterinary technicians are the nurses of the vet world. Our education is typically 2-4 years at an AVMA accredited program, depending on whether you would like to have an Associates (2 year) or a Bachelor’s (4 year) degree. 2-year programs are more common and most cities and/or state community colleges have an AVMA accredited veterinary technician program.  Admission for the program will vary from school to school, but like with other A.A. and B.S. degrees you can be accepted straight from high school and many technicians do. Once you are finished with your program, you are eligible to sit for the VTNE, Veterinary Technician National Exam, aka the boards. Passing this exam will make you eligible to become a licensed technician. Some states have other requirements, such as a second test or a background check, to become licensed.  Each state has a different title for these technicians. In Tennessee, we have Licensed Veterinary Medical Technicians, LVMT. In other states we are Registered Veterinary Technician, RVT, Licensed Veterinary Technician, LVT, Certified Veterinary Technicians, CVT. Some states have started switching over to using veterinary nurses, the term used in the rest of world and one that more accurately describes our profession.

So you have your degree, passed your boards, and got your license, now what? Well, one of the perks of becoming a veterinary technician is it is a very versatile job.  You are able to work with dogs and cats only in a private practice, emergency clinic, specialty clinic, or animal shelter. You are able to work with large animals on farms. You are able to work with exotics in private practice or in zoos. You could work with wildlife or laboratory animals. Licensed veterinary technicians are in high demand. If you choose to specialize you could advance your career by getting a VTS in a specialty field like anesthesia, behavior, oncology, zoo, or dentistry. This profession really allows you to find what you are passionate about and have a rewarding career.

Here in Chattanooga, our veterinary technician program is at Chattanooga State Community College. They are partnered with us to have their students come out to assist with our annual spider monkey physicals. 

This gives them the opportunity to see what zoo veterinary medicine is like and a chance to use their skills in a real examination.

It’s a rewarding partnership for both the school and the zoo to help train the next group of veterinary technicians. - Lacey Hickle, Veterinary Technician at the Chattanooga Zoo