Creating Bear-idise: Continuing to understand and reduce pacing in zoo-housed carnivores. Principal Investigator: Kelsea Wertzberber (Memphis Zoo)
This study continues an investigation into understanding the cause, and finding ways to reduce or eliminate, pacing and other stereotypic behaviors in our Zoo’s wolves, black bears and polar bears.
Reproductive Technology Advancement for the Louisiana Pinesnake. Co-Principal Investigators: Steve Reichling (Memphis Zoo) and grant-funded appontment
This grant provides support funds which augment federal dollars to advance our Zoo’s success in snake artificial insemination, create a gene bank for wild pinesnakes, and improve genetic diversity in the captive assurance population.
Minimizing the Impact of Reintroduction Programs: Post-release survival of a captive-bred amphibian. Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Sheila Poo (Memphis Zoo) and Dr. Cheryl Goudie (University of Memphis)
This investigation will provide guidance for structuring amphibian reintroduction programs and improve their success.
Small Mammal Diversity and Distribution in an Urban Forest. Principal Investigator: Dr. Betsy Roznik (Memphis Zoo)
This research will be the first to characterize the small mammal fauna in Overton Park, and begin to shed light on their ecology.
Developing Semen Collection, Cryopreservation, and a Genome Resource Bank for White-Bellied Pangolin, Phataginus tricuspis. Co-Principal Investigators: Beth Roberts (Memphis Zoo), Dr. Felicia Knightly (Memphis Zoo) and Dr. Copper Aitken-Palmer (Brookfield Zoo)
This funding joins the independent successes in pangolin reproduction research at Memphis and Brookfield zoos into a powerful collaboration.
The Role of Patch Connectivity in Urban Forest Bird Communities in the Midsouth. Co-Principal Investigators: J. Fields Falcone (Overton Park Conservancy) and Dr. Betsy Roznik (Memphis Zoo)
This Park stewardship initiative is a rigorous scientific examination of the urban ecology of Midsouth birds, with an emphasis on the Old Forest of Overton Park.
Conserving Critical Bat Pollinators: Promoting the value of fruit bats among fruit growers. Co-Principal Investigators: Mary-Ruth Low (Project Pteropus), Dr. Sheila Poo (Memphis Zoo), and Whitney Steinfeld (Memphis Zoo
This outreach effort will educate durian farmers in Malaysia on the crucial role fruit bats play in pollination, and produce a documentary film.
Individual Identification of Male Elephants in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Principal Investigator: Caitlyn Koser (Memphis Zoo)
This study continues our durable partnership with Elephants for Africa by providing staff and equipment to gain a better understanding of male elephant behavior in Botswana where conflict with humans is a problem.