The Navajo Nation Zoological and
Botanical Park is the only tribally operated zoo in the United States.
We are located in Window Rock, Arizona, the capital of the Navajo Nation.
Admission is free!
The Zoo exhibits animals native to
Navajoland, nearly all of which have sustained non-releasable injuries or
were orphaned. Our 40 species include cougars, bears, gila
monsters, eagles and more. We are also a member of the Mexican
Wolf Species Survival Plan.
The Zoo has existed on the
reservation for more than 30 years, but due to conflicts with traditional
viewpoints and tribal funding crises, was also nearly closed many times.
In September 2007 I became the curator of the Zoo, and with my five staff
members began to transform the neglected facility.
Highlights
ZooFest Event
ZooFest is a creation of Matthew
Holdgate’s, with the purpose of enticing the public to see the improvements
to the Zoo. The free, family friendly event includes prizes,
inflatables, face painting, games, music, food, guest speakers and more.
In 2008 the event was attended by 3,000 people; in 2009 our audience doubled
to 6,000 attendees. ZooFest was featured on the front page of
the local newspaper in both 2008 and 2009. More importantly,
this year’s event cost the Zoo almost nothing, thanks to thousands of
dollars in corporate sponsorships and donations. You can read
more about ZooFest here.
Discovery Center Renovation
In Matthew Holdgate’s second year, the
Zoo completed a $20,000 renovation of the Discovery Center building.
The new exhibits, designed by Matthew using modern zoo principles, host 20
native species and utilize UV bulbs, misting systems, and artificial rock
features. Educational signage includes both biological and
cultural information. As one reporter observed, “The indoor
Discovery Center was a hit. A recording of native flute music
set the scene as visitors entered the center. Elders smiled and
nodded upon reading the Navajo animal stories as children tried out their
tongues on the creatures’ Navajo names. The dual signs are a
collaboration between Zoo Director Matthew Holdgate, possibly the most aptly
named zookeeper in the country, and renowned Diné (Navajo) storyteller Sunny
Dooley.” You can see before and after pictures of the Discovery
Center here.
Media Development
Technology now allows even a small
tribal zoo to develop media items on the same level as those of zoos across
the country. Professional brochures, newsletters, and graphics
were Matthew Holdgate’s first step in leaving behind the historical “save
the zoo” campaign and initiating our new motto: “It’s a Whole New Zoo!”
You can see examples of Matthew’s work here.
Revenue Generation
Many of the attempts to close the
Navajo Zoo were due to a mistaken belief that zoos are profitable
enterprises. In fact, zoos throughout the world rely on external
funds to operate and promote their goals of recreation, education,
conservation and research. Matthew Holdgate’s efforts to generate
funds at the Navajo Zoo include the Adopt-an-Animal program, which provides
funds for animal food and enrichment. In 2008 the program raised
$2,800 through 28 adoptions; so far in 2009 we have raised $4,900.
Matthew also initiated a corporate sponsorship campaign, with over $5,000
raised so far this year through in-kind, project, and event sponsorships.
You can learn more about sponsorships opportunities
here.
Eagle Sanctuary
In 1962, the Bald and Golden Eagle
Protection Act was amended to permit Native Americans to possess eagles and
their parts for cultural and religious use. Tribal members
seeking feathers could only procure them by applying to the USFWS National
Eagle Repository, with a waitlist sometimes lasting for years.
Recently, two tribes received federal authorization to distribute feathers
directly to tribal members by developing eagle sanctuaries that house
non-releasable eagles and collect their feathers. Navajo eagle
feather distribution rights are a personal and professional goal of Matthew
Holdgate’s. The Navajo Nation is poised to become the third
tribe in the country to gain eagle feather sovereignty as Matthew lobbies
various tribal entities for the funds necessary to construct an eagle
sanctuary at the Navajo Zoo. Matthew’s efforts to develop an
eagle sanctuary at the Navajo Zoo were featured on the front page of the
Gallup Independent. You can access that article
here.
Certifications & Awards
Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife – 2008 Supervisor of the Year
Association of Zoos and Aquariums – Managing for Success: Career Development
Association of Zoos and Aquariums – Managing for Success: Organizational
Development
University of New Mexico – Essentials for Managers: 10 Week Course
Research Interests
Some Possible Areas of Graduate
Study:
Indicators of Positive Welfare
Determining indicators of positive animal welfare has
been called an “ambitious task,” but one well worth the effort. Research has
already identified potential physiological indicators, including heart rate,
immune response, and even saliva protein composition (as well as “classical”
adrenocortical levels). Potential behavioral indicators include facial
expressions, vocalizations, play behavior, affiliative behavior,
self-grooming, and information gathering (exploration). Further research is
necessary to discern the validity of these methods, and to provide
opportunities for the expression of behaviors that improve welfare.
Predictability
The effect of predictability on appetitive events (such
as feeding) can have a pronounced impact on the welfare of captive animals.
Most research suggests that an unpredictable feeding schedule improves the
welfare of animals by reducing abnormal, agonistic and food anticipatory
behavior (FAA). Studies also suggest that spatial unpredictability and
signaled predictability can improve welfare. Meanwhile, research in
anticipatory behavior seems to suggest that if such a signal is used, time
should be allowed before the presentation of the reward to allow the animal
to enjoy the assumedly positive anticipatory experience. More evidence for
this exists in studies of the preparatory response hypothesis, which
suggests that preparation for positive events may increase the reinforcing
nature of such events. Certainly, many opportunities for research exist
within this area. Research topics could include: comparing behavioral and
physiological differences between groups fed with varied temporal, signaled,
and/or spatial predictability.
Research on captive animal welfare suggests that aversive events should be
made predictable in an effort to reduce their negative behavioral and
physiological effects. The ‘safety-signal hypothesis’ proposes that this can
be best accomplished through signaled predictability. Providing feedback to
the animal in the form of an unmistakable and reliable signal indicates the
onset of the aversive stimulus (and thus, the when it will not take place).
Animal welfare may benefit from an indicator of this ‘safe’ time, as it
reduces fear and apprehension of the next aversive stimulus. Research topics
could include: comparing behavioral and physiological differences in animals
receiving or not receiving a safety signal during an aversive event
(shifting, health inspection, busiest times of the day/days of the year,
etc).
African Wild Dogs
Pack cohesion within captive African Wild Dogs is an
essential element of their welfare and highly correlated to reproductive
success. Factors such as group size and dynamics are important
considerations for both the animals and those that exhibit the species.
These same social relationships are essential for managing parturition – an
important component of this SSP-managed species. Introducing enrichment
geared towards pack development may be one way to improve welfare. Possible
research projects include: the introduction of social enrichment and
subsequent analysis of pack cohesion (such as spatial associations) and
physiological measurements.
California Condors
The accumulation of microtrash (and subsequent
deleterious effects) are common in nestling California Condors, yet rare in
adults. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that nestlings have
less access to fibrous material that may be necessary to form pellets for
the regurgitation of indigestible material. Research topics could include an
analysis of Condor pellets to determine common fibrous material ingested,
and the provisioning of fibrous material to nestlings.
Although the availability of marine mammal carcasses makes the Pacific Coast
an attractive site for current and future releases of the California Condor,
these “lead-free” food sources may contain other hidden dangers, such as the
contaminant DDT and PCBs. It is of critical importance for the existing
Condor population in Central California (and any future release sites in
coastal Oregon or the PNW) that the long-term health and reproductive
success of Condors feeding on marine mammals are studied. Research topics
could include: diet and health (via tissue samples) of coastal Condors,
analysis of eggs/nestlings/reproductive success of coastal Condors, and
tests of marine carcasses for contaminants at current and/or potential
Condor release sites (studies of this type are underway by the Yurok tribe).
Aversion conditioning is often used with Condors to promote natural
behaviors or correct behavioral problems. It is hoped that this type of
conditioning can be extended to the problem of microtrash ingestion. An
aversion training study was started at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, but
tapes of the sessions were subsequently lost (Mee et al, 2007), and there
may be much left to learn in this area. Research topics could include:
measuring the success of aversion conditioning that has already been
performed, and comparing the success of different methods of microtrash
aversion conditioning (within or between institutions).
