NEWS FROM THE ZOOS

AZA CEF Awardees

AZA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 1998 Conservation Endowment Fund. The AZA Conservation and Science Office received a total of 56 proposals, representing $1,045,500 in requests, by the May 15th deadline. Many excellent proposals were submitted, and they competed for $290,000 available from AZA Endowment and Disney Funds. Below are some of the 19 proposals that were selected for awards:

"Population Assessment and Propagation of the Barrens Topminnow (Fundulus julisia) and Imperiled Freshwater Fish of the Eastern Highland Rim, Tennessee." Christopher Coco - Tennessee Aquarium: $19,992

"Determining the Migratory Routes of a Restored Population of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus cygnus buccinator) Using Satellite/Radio Telemetry." Sumner Matteson - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR); Edward Diebold - Riverbanks Zoological Park and Botanical Garden; Fred Koontz, Ph.D. - Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo: $9,615

"Antigenic Heterogeneity of Ophidian Paramyxovirus." Edward Ramsay, D.V.M., Stephen Kania, Ph.D., Melissa Kennedy, D.V.M. - University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine: $16,900

"Noninvasive Study of the Ecology of Wild Bush Dogs in Paraguay." Robert Klemm, Ph.D. - Sunset Zoo: $8,480

"Mexican Wolf SSP Keeper Training Workshop." Susan Lyndaker Lindsey - Wild Canid Survival and Research Center: $6,000

"Characterization and Hormonal Control and Aggression in Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri walleri) Bachelor Groups." Linda Penfold, Ph.D., Steven Monfort, D.V.M., Ph.D - Conservation and Research Center: $16,070

"Sperm Cryopreservation and Controlled Gamete Release for Enhancing Toad Propagation." Terri Roth, Ph.D. - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: $8,150

"Western Pond Turtle Project." Frank Slavens - Woodland Park Zoological Gardens: $18,500

"Diagnosis and Prevention of Tragopan Herpesvirus Disease." Don Bruning, Christine Sheppard - Dept. of Ornithology, Wildlife Conservation Society: $16,500

"Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea Education Project." Annette Berkovits - Wildlife Conservation Society-Education Department: $20,000

Information on applying for next year's awards and applications will be available on the AZA web page (http://www.aza.org/programs/cef/) and from the C&S Office beginning in November.

New, Rare Polka-Dotted Stingray At The San Antonio Zoo

Five rare young fish from the Amazon basin are making the San Antonio Zoo's Friedrich Aquarium their new home. Leopold's stingray (Potamotrygon leopoldi) is one of several species of freshwater stingray that inhabits the rivers and streams of tropical South America. The indigenous peoples of this region fear the ray more than the infamous piranha. Closely related to their marine relatives, these fishes have a barbed tail capable of delivering a venomous sting. Leopold's stingray is considered among the most beautiful of the rays with a coloration of velvety black covered with yellow spots.

Endangered Coquerel's Sifaka at St. Louis' Zoo Primate House

Two young sifaka (shee-fahk) (Propithecus verreauxi coquereli) brothers have been sent to the St. Louis Zoo from the Duke Primate Research Center. The Zoo was selected because of its extensive experience with numerous other lemur species. Sifakas are among the most endangered of the 33 lemur species found in Madagascar, and are rare in captivity. The Saint Louis Zoo is only the second North American zoo to exhibit sifaka, and one of only four worldwide. Duke's researchers have recently learned to increase longevity and reproductive success, enabling them to transfer offspring to qualified zoos. When more females are born into the captive population, these two males will be paired and allowed to reproduce.