FORT WAYNE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC

EDUCATIONAL & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES:AT THE END OF 2024, WE HAD JUST OVER 19,000 ACTIVE MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS, ABOUT AN 8% INCREASE FROM 2023. WE KICKED OFF OUR 2024 SEASON WITH AN EXCLUSIVE MEMBER DAY ON APRIL 26TH. MEMBERS WERE PROVIDED WITH A NUMBER OF SPECIAL DISCOUNTS AND EARLY-ACCESS OFFERINGS ALL SEASON LONG, INCLUDING A DISCOUNT IN THE WILD THINGS GIFT SHOP, A MEMBER PRESALE OF ZOOFARI TICKETS, ETC. AS PART OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) RECIPROCITY PROGRAM, ZOO MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCOUNTED ADMISSION TO OVER 150 ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA. THIS INCLUDED TEMPORARY, 100% ADMISSION RECIPROCITY WITH TOLEDO ZOO. IN AUGUST, MEMBER APPRECIATION MONTH WAS ONCE AGAIN A BIG HIT WITH OUR MEMBERS. FAMILIES ALSO ENJOYED FREE ADMISSION TO OUR WILD ZOO HALLOWEEN AND WILD ZOO WONDERLAND EVENTS. LAST YEAR'S CYBER MONDAY INCENTIVE WAS EXTENDED THIS YEAR TO BLACK FRIDAY THROUGH GIVING TUESDAY, GIVING TWO COMPLIMENTARY GUEST PASSES TO NEW, RENEWING, OR GIFT MEMBERSHIPS PURCHASED FROM NOVEMBER 29TH - DECEMBER 3RD. THIS PROMOTION DROVE HOLIDAY MEMBERSHIP SALES, WITH OVER 660 MEMBERSHIPS SOLD IN FIVE DAYS. CONSERVATION EDUCATION CONTINUES TO BE A FOCUS OF THE FORT WAYNE ZOO EDUCATORS. IN 2024 16,439 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN 1,681 ZOO EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 446 AREA SCHOOL CLASSROOMS WERE VISITED AND KIDS FOR NATURE SUMMER CAMP HOSTED 1,448 CAMPERS WHERE ZOO CONSERVATION EDUCATORS CONNECTED KIDS TO ANIMALS AND THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM. 286 TEENS FOR NATURE VOLUNTEER AND LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANTS SPENT THE SUMMER AT THE ZOO PARTICIPATING IN LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES, CONSERVATION PROJECTS, ZOO KEEPING, INTERACTING WITH ZOO GUESTS, AND VOLUNTEERING FOR OVER 23,240 HOURS. VOLUNTEERS HELP THE ZOO FULFILL OUR MISSION BY ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH GUESTS DURING THE SEASON AND HELPING BEHIND THE SCENES DURING THE OFF SEASON. 459 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS DONATED 41,184 HOURS WITH A VALUE OF MORE THAN $1.31 MILLION DOLLARS (BASED ON THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR'S CURRENT VALUE OF VOLUNTEER HOURS).

ANIMAL EXHIBITS AND IMPROVEMENTS:ANIMAL PROGRAMS: IN 2024, THE FORT WAYNE ZOO CONTINUED TO GROW AND EVOLVE IN EXCITING WAYS, FROM NEW BIRTHS AND ANIMAL ADDITIONS TO MAJOR EXHIBIT TRANSFORMATIONS THAT DEEPEN OUR COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION AND GUEST ENGAGEMENT. IN AUGUST WE CELEBRATED THE BIRTH OF A FEMALE GIRAFFE CALF, A SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION MILESTONE FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) SPECIES SURVIVAL PROGRAM (SSP). THE ZOO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN OVER 60 SSP PROGRAMS, WORKING TO ENSURE GENETICALLY DIVERSE, SUSTAINABLE POPULATIONS OF THREATENED SPECIES. EARLIER IN APRIL, WE WELCOMED THE RETURN OF TWO MALE RING-TAILED LEMURS, REINTRODUCING THEM TO THE AFRICA SECTION. THEY WERE SOON JOINED BY ANOTHER MALE AND A FEMALE. BEHIND-THE-SCENES INTRODUCTIONS HAVE GONE SMOOTHLY, WITH PROMISING SIGNS OF A COHESIVE SOCIAL GROUP FORMING. IN OUR LUSH, TROPICAL INDONESIAN RAIN FOREST DOME AVIARY, THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MARIANA FRUIT DOVES WERE ADDED AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN OBSERVED ENGAGING IN NEST-BUILDING BEHAVIOR, AN ENCOURAGING STEP FOR THIS RARE SPECIES. OUR SCHMIDT'S GUENONS (MONKEYS) ALSO HAD EXCITING NEWS: A NEW PAIR WAS SUCCESSFULLY INTRODUCED. ON NOVEMBER 16, THEY WELCOMED A MALE INFANT, ANOTHER SUCCESS FOR OUR PRIMATE CONSERVATION AND BREEDING PROGRAMS. TODAY, MORE THAN 1,500 ANIMALS CALL THE FORT WAYNE ZOO HOME. OUR DEDICATED ANIMAL CARE AND HEALTH TEAMS PROVIDE DAILY CARE THAT INCLUDES ENRICHMENT, BEHAVIORAL TRAINING FOR VOLUNTARY MEDICAL PARTICIPATION, AND ASSESSMENTS OF ANIMAL WELLBEING. WITH OVER 80 KEEPER CHATS EACH WEEK, OUR TEAM WORKS TIRELESSLY TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE OUR GUESTS WHILE ENSURING EVERY ANIMAL RECEIVES THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF CARE.