ANNOUNCER: ON THIS SPECIAL EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR, WE CELEBRATE BARBARA'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF CITY BROADCAST.

TO MARK THE OCCASION, SHOWCASE HEADS TO THE CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDENS TO JOIN DIRECTOR DAVE JENIKE, ALONG WITH A FEW SPECIAL ANIMAL GUESTS ALONG THE WAY.

TOGETHER THEY EXPLORE THE ZOO'S ENDURING ROLE IN CINCINNATI, ITS LEADERSHIP IN CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION, AND HOW THE ZOO CONTINUES TO ENGAGE GENERATIONS OF CINCINNATI IN CARING FOR WILDLIFE.

STAY WITH US.

SHOWCASE STARTS RIGHT NOW.

[MUSIC] KELLAR: HI, I'M BARBARA KELLAR.

THIS IS SHOWCASE.

AND WE HAVE AN EXCITING ADVENTURE TODAY.

WE ARE HERE AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ELEPHANTS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GO VISIT THEM IN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT FIRST WE WANT TO TALK TO THE NEW GRAND GRAND FROMAGE HERE, DAVE, WHO IS NOW IN CHARGE OF EVERYBODY AND ALL THE ANIMALS AND EVERYBODY.

THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, RIGHT?

JENIKE: IT IS.

IT IS.

I'M EXCITED AND HUMBLED TO BE FOLLOWING IN MY FRIEND THANE MAYNARD'S FOOTSTEPS AS ZOO DIRECTOR AND EXCITED FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR BOTH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.

KELLAR: OH WELL, WE WANT TO HEAR ALL ABOUT EVERYTHING.

YOU'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

JENIKE: YEAH.

KELLAR: YOU PAID YOUR DUES, AND NOW YOU'RE IN CHARGE.

JENIKE: YEAH.

SO I EARNED MY STRIPES IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

SO I CAME HERE AND I WAS TEACHING CLASSES FOR CHILDREN, SOME OF OUR SUMMER CAMPS AND OVERNIGHTS.

AND THEN WHEN THAYNE BECAME DIRECTOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, I WAS THEN NAMED THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

SO I GOT TO OVERSEE ALL OF THE ANIMAL OPERATIONS AND THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE ZOO, WHICH HAS BEEN A DREAM COME TRUE.

KELLAR: WOW, I GUESS SO.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD SPEND ALL MY TIME HUGGING THE ANIMALS.

I WOULDN'T GET MUCH DONE, BUT WE'RE HERE WITH THE ELEPHANTS.

AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE.

YOU CALL IT -- WHAT YOU CALL IT A -- JENIKE: YEAH, THIS IS THE THE HARRY AND LINDA FATH ELEPHANT TREK HABITAT.

AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE HAVE DONE AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO IN OUR 150 YEAR HISTORY, NOT ONLY THE BIGGEST ANIMAL, BUT THE BIGGEST HABITAT THAT WE HAVE EVER CREATED.

AND WE NEEDED TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO DO THAT FOR THE ASIAN ELEPHANTS THAT ARE HERE.

AND WE NOW HAVE EIGHT ELEPHANTS THAT ARE HERE WITH US.

AND OUR HOPE AND OUR GOAL WITH THIS HABITAT WAS TO BRING IN A MATRIARCHAL GROUP, A MOM AND A DAUGHTER, AND TO BE ABLE TO BREED THE NEXT GENERATION OF ELEPHANTS.

SO THAT WE CAN START GROWING OUR HERD HERE AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO.

KELLAR: DO YOU HAVE ANY SUSPICIONS ABOUT THAT?

JENIKE: WE HAVE HAVE NO SUSPICIONS YET.

NOTHING.

NOTHING TO ANNOUNCE TODAY.

BUT, THAT IS CERTAINLY OUR GOAL AND OUR HOPE AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, IT TOOK A HUGE, IT TOOK EVERYONE AT THE ZOO TO REALLY CREATE THIS HABITAT, TO BE A WORLD CLASS INSTITUTION THAT IS NOT ONLY LEADING WITH THE WAY THAT WE DESIGN HABITATS, BUT LEADING WITH THE WAY WE ENGAGE PEOPLE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE WITH WILDLIFE, LEADING IN THE WAY WE CREATE LASTING IMPACT BOTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE GLOBE.

LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, RIGHT BEHIND US, THERE'S A PARK THAT LOOKS RIGHT UP TO THIS HABITAT.

AS PART OF THIS RENOVATION, WE WENT IN AND WORKED WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO RENOVATE AND PUT IN A POLLINATOR GARDEN IN THAT PARK.

AND THEN WORKED WITH A LOCAL ARTIST TO PAINT MURALS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

SO THAT, YOU KNOW, AS THEY LOOK AT THE ZOO, THEY SEE MORE THAN JUST THE BARRIER ITSELF.

SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

AND THEN WORKING THE MODERN ZOO, THE ONE THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STEP INTO LEADING IS ONE THAT ALSO WORKS TO CREATE LASTING IMPACT FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.

AND WE WORK WITH COMMUNITIES BOTH IN INDIA AS WELL AS IN THAILAND, TO HELP ENSURE THAT ASIAN ELEPHANTS HAVE A FUTURE IN THE WILD.

KELLAR: HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO BUILD THIS?

JENIKE: SO WE STARTED A CAMPAIGN CALLED MORE HOME TO ROAM.

AND I THINK YOU CAN SEE THAT AS WE LOOK OUT ACROSS THIS HABITAT, IN 2018.

SO WE BEGAN TO DO THE PLANNING AND FUNDRAISING FOR THAT EARLY ON.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT DOES TAKE AMAZING SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PROJECTS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT CINCINNATI REALLY IS A ZOO TOWN.

AND IT'S A PLACE THAT PEOPLE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR CINCINNATI ZOO.

SO WE STARTED THAT PROBABLY THREE YEARS OF PLANNING, INTENSIVE PLANNING, TO DESIGN THE HABITAT ITSELF.

AND THEN A LITTLE OVER 20 MONTHS, 24 MONTHS TO GET THE HABITAT BUILT.

KELLAR: YEAH, AND GREAT, GREAT -- OUR FRIEND HARRY.

HARRY FATH AND LINDA STEPPED UP AND MADE THIS HAPPEN.

AND I HAD TALKED TO HIM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, YEAH.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE GIFT TO THE CITY, TO THE ZOO.

AND WE CAN HEAR THE KIDS DOWN BELOW US HAVING A FABULOUS TIME WATCHING THE ELEPHANTS AND RUNNING AROUND.

AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PLACE TO HAVE IN THE CITY.

JENIKE: SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE KINDS OF EXPERIENCES THAT WE CREATE, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THE WORLD TODAY IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

YOU KNOW, TODAY, 80% OF THE US POPULATION LIVES WITHIN URBAN AREAS.

SO THE ZOO IS AN IMPORTANT CONNECTION, NOT ONLY TO NATURE BUT TO WILDLIFE IN WAYS THAT I THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

AND WE TRY TO DESIGN THOSE EXPERIENCES IN WAYS THAT PEOPLE HAVE FUN.

YOU KNOW, FUN AND JOY THAT COMES FROM SEEING AN ELEPHANT SWIMMING, FROM SEEING THE ELEPHANTS INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER AS THEY WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE HABITAT.

ALL OF THAT, YOU KNOW, LEADS TO THAT IDEA OF HOPE.

I THINK HOPE FOR US IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IF WE AS A ZOO CAN HELP INSTILL HOPE IN THE NEXT GENERATION, THAT OUR ACTIONS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND THAT WHEN WE CONNECT HOPE AND ACTION TOGETHER, AMAZING THINGS ARE GOING TO RESULT.

KELLAR: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN YOU THINK OF KIDS WHO WILL PROBABLY NEVER, NEVER TRAVEL UP FAR ENOUGH TO SEE SOME OF THESE MORE EXOTIC ANIMALS, THE ELEPHANT, OF COURSE.

AND HOW MUCH -- WHAT THAT DOES FOR THEM TO KNOW AND TO SEE THE THINGS THEY SEE IN BOOKS AND PICTURES, BUT THERE IT IS FOR REAL.

AND IT ALSO TEACHES, I THINK, RESPECT FOR ANIMALS.

AND THAT'S A BIG THAT SHOULD BE A BIG PART OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE EDUCATION THAT THEY GET FROM COMING HERE.

ARE YOU JUST INUNDATED WITH SCHOOL GROUPS?

JENIKE: WE ARE.

IN APRIL AND MAY WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOL KIDS THAT COME TO VISIT, ABOUT 99,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS VISIT THE ZOO EVERY YEAR.

SO, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THOSE KIDS DO, THEY LEARN ABOUT NATURE, THEY LEARN ABOUT ANIMALS BY SEEING AND EXPERIENCING.

AND YES, WE DO WANT TO BUILD IN A RESPECT FOR NATURE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT NATURE, I REALIZE OVER THE YEARS THAT NATURE SUSTAINS US.

WE NEED NATURE, AND FRANKLY, TODAY NATURE NEEDS US.

AND THAT'S A MESSAGE THAT WE DO TRY TO GET ACROSS TO THE NEXT GENERATION AS THEY EXPLORE THE ZOO.

TODAY, YOU KNOW, OUR VISION AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE MOVING FORWARD REALLY IS TO CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE EVERYONE WITH WILDLIFE EVERY DAY.

KELLAR: ABSOLUTELY.

JENIKE: AND WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH BOTH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS THE ENCOUNTERS THAT WE DO HERE AT THE ZOO TODAY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO SEE SOME OF THOSE IN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THOSE ENCOUNTERS ARE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ANIMALS IN A HABITAT SHOWING THE NATURAL BEHAVIORS THAT THEY WOULD EXHIBIT IN THE WILD.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

AS WE'RE SITTING HERE IN FRONT OF THE ELEPHANT TREK HABITAT, WE'VE DESIGNED DIFFERENT ENRICHMENT DEVICES THROUGHOUT THIS HABITAT.

SO THE ELEPHANTS NEED TO MOVE THROUGHOUT THE HABITAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY, JUST AS THEY WOULD IN THE WILD IN ORDER TO FIND FOOD, IN ORDER TO GET IN THE WATER, IN ORDER TO INTERACT WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR HERD.

SO ALL OF THAT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL.

IT GIVES THEM A LITTLE MORE EXERCISE, WHICH IS GOOD FOR THEM.

AND ALSO MAKES IT GREAT FOR OUR VISITORS WHO CAN SEE THEM THROUGHOUT THE DAY MOVING AROUND THE HABITAT.

KELLAR: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

WELL, IS THE ELEPHANT THE LARGEST BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE WHALES.

JENIKE: YEAH, THE ELEPHANT IS THE LARGEST.

BUT I WILL SAY ONE OF MY FAVORITE ANIMALS IS THE GIRAFFE.

AND YOU KNOW, THE ELEPHANTS AS THEY MOVE DOWN TO THEIR NEW HABITAT IN ELEPHANT TREK.

NOW WE'VE GOT THE HISTORIC ELEPHANT HOUSE BUILDING THAT IS RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE ZOO.

AND AS WE THINK ABOUT A FUTURE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE VISITORS AS THEY WALK INTO THE ZOO BE ABLE TO TURN AND IMMEDIATELY SEE A HERD OF GIRAFFE.

KELLAR: OH, WOW.

JENIKE: AND TO SEE THOSE GIRAFFE, IN A WAY, BECAUSE YOU CAN GET SO CLOSE TO GIRAFFE.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY EVEN FEED THEM IN THE ENCOUNTERS THAT WE DO THERE.

ONE OF THE TRULY MOST BEAUTIFUL AND ICONIC ANIMALS ON OUR PLANET.

SO AS WE BEGIN THE NEXT 2 OR 3 YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON MOVING OUR GIRAFFE HERD UP TO THE NEW HABITAT THAT WE'RE CALLING GIRAFFE TOWER.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF OUR GIRAFFE HERD, ADD ZEBRAS TO THE MIX, AND HAVE THAT BE THE FIRST EXPERIENCE THAT VISITORS SEE AS THEY COME TO THE ZOO.

AS AS ZOO DIRECTOR, I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE ZOO HAS 150 YEAR HISTORY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE THE HOME TO THE OPERA FOR MANY YEARS.

KELLAR: OH, YEAH.

YES, WE ALL KNOW THAT.

JENIKE: WE'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS, JUST AS SOME OF OUR ELEPHANTS HAVE.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE AS GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN'S CHILDREN HAVE GROWN UP.

AND SO UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECTING THAT TRADITION IS CERTAINLY A BIG PART OF THE FUTURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RENEW AND BUILD AND INNOVATE.

THE CINCINNATI ZOO, WE ARE A WORLD CLASS ZOO.

AND WE INTEND TO STAY THAT WAY AND CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD.

BUT I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ALSO SAY WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE BOTANICAL GARDEN IN THE UNITED STATES, TOO.

KELLAR: YEAH.

JENIKE: AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THE EFFORT THAT OUR TEAM PUTS FORTH.

WE'RE JUST FINISHING UP OUR ZOO BLOOMS DISPLAY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS THAT OCCURS HERE AT THE ZOO.

WHEN THE TULIPS ALL BLOOM, GENERATIONS OF KIDS, AGAIN, COME OUT AND GET THEIR FAMILY PICTURES IN FRONT OF THE TULIPS AND ENJOY THAT BEAUTY AND JOY THAT COMES FROM SEEING THE FIRST BLOOMS OF THE YEAR.

KELLAR: THERE ARE SO MANY SEGMENTS TO THIS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY COULD ABSORB IT ALL IN ONE DAY.

I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY A SEVERAL DAY TRIP TO GET IT ALL IN.

JENIKE: IT IS, AND AGAIN, I THINK THE CONNECTION WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE MEMBERSHIP BASE.

SO PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO COME IN ON THEIR TIME AND SEE A PART OF THE ZOO AND THEN SEE THE NEXT, THE NEXT PIECE OF THAT WHEN THEY COME AND MAKE THEIR RETURN VISIT.

AND THE BEAUTY OF ANIMALS IS YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO SEE.

SO ON ONE DAY, IT MIGHT BE THE ELEPHANTS PLAYING IN THE POOL.

ON THE NEXT IT MIGHT BE GIRAFFE FEEDING.

ON THE DAY AFTER THAT IT MIGHT BE VISITING LITTLE PENGUINS ON A BEACH.

KELLAR: THE ZOO NO LONGER, I DON'T THINK, HAS ANIMALS BEHIND BARS.

JENIKE: YEAH, SO WE YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE CERTAINLY CREATED AS WE INNOVATE IN HOW WE DESIGN HABITATS, YOU'RE DESIGNING THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU EXPLORE AN ANIMAL'S NATURAL BEHAVIOR.

SO WE STUDY THEM AND WHAT THEY'RE LIKE IN THE WILD SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MODEL THAT HERE AT THE ZOO.

NOW, OF COURSE, WE NEED TO ADD SOME, SOMETIMES SOME ENRICHMENT DEVICES AND SOME THINGS THAT HELP ENCOURAGE THOSE BEHAVIORS.

BUT YES, WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO CREATE HERE AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE IS, IN TRUTH, THAT WILD ILLUSION THAT THAT MOMENT WHERE YOU STEP IN AND YOU CAN SEE THE ANIMALS AND SEE THEM AS THEY WOULD BE IN THE WILD.

THIS PLACE WHERE WE'RE SITTING RIGHT HERE NOW TALKING, THIS WAS THE FIRST CHOICE WE MADE WHEN WE DESIGNED THE ELEPHANT TREK HABITAT.

BECAUSE AS YOU TURN AROUND AND SEE THE TREES IN THE BACKGROUND.

WE WANTED THAT TO BE THE BACKDROP FOR OUR ELEPHANTS TO HAVE THE TREES FRAME IN THE SKY, TO HAVE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE BE A PART OF THIS EXHIBIT.

KELLAR: AND THE BARRIERS ARE ALMOST, THEY FEEL LIKE NATURE'S.

THEY FEEL LIKE A NATURAL BARRIER, NOT, YOU KNOW, A BAR LIKE THE POOR THING'S IN JAIL.

JENIKE: IT'S AMAZING, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE WATER ELEMENTS, THE NATURAL BARRIERS THAT WE -- BUT IF YOU SIT, AS MANY PEOPLE DO AT OUR BASE CAMP RESTAURANT AND HAVE LUNCH, YOU CAN LOOK OUT ACROSS AND SEE OSTRICH, LESSER KUDU, VULTURES, PELICANS.

KELLAR: YEAH.

JENIKE: AND THEN SEAMLESSLY LOOK BEHIND THEM AND SEE LIONS AS IF THERE'S NO BARRIER BETWEEN IT.

OF COURSE, THERE'S A MOAT.

KELLAR: AMAZING.

JENIKE: BUT THAT IS VERY INTENTIONAL HOW WE DESIGN HABITATS.

ALL OF THIS, I WILL ALSO SAY, AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T.

THIS IS DUE TO AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS HERE AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE DEDICATED TO SETTING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ANIMAL CARE.

VETERINARIANS SETTING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ANIMAL HEALTH.

EVEN OUR FACILITIES TEAM HAS GROWN INTO AND BUILT THE WORLD'S GREENEST ZOO IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

HERE AT THIS HABITAT, WE HAVE A MILLION GALLON CISTERN UNDERNEATH THE ELEPHANTS THAT COLLECTS RAINWATER.

KELLAR: WOW.

JENIKE: SO THAT WE CAN REUSE THAT RAINWATER IN OUR HABITAT.

SO WE TRY TO BE VERY FORWARD THINKING AND SUSTAINABLE IN HOW WE DESIGN.

NOW, I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND ALL OUR TIME SITTING HERE TALKING.

I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE YOU DOWN AND SHOW YOU OUR ELEPHANTS.

KELLAR: OKAY.

LET'S GO.

THAT'S GREAT.

YEAH.

SO TELL US WHAT THEY ACTUALLY EAT.

NASTOLD: OKAY.

YOU READY FOR THIS?

I'M FLYING THROUGH THIS THING.

KELLAR: OKAY.

WE'RE READY.

NASTOLD: ON ANY GIVEN DAY: APPLES, CARROTS, WHITE POTATOES, SWEET POTATOES, KALE, CORN, BROCCOLI, SPINACH.

ON A HOT DAY: A WHOLE WATERMELON.

RESTAURANT QUALITY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

WE HAVE A GREAT POLICY HERE THAT IF YOU CAN'T ENVISION YOURSELF EATING IT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FEED IT.

KELLAR: OH GOOD FOR THEM.

NASTOLD: NOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IF WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE A BAD APPLE, YOU COULD THROW AWAY THE WHOLE BAG OR YOU COULD TAKE YOUR KNIFE, CUT THE BAD PART OF THE APPLE OFF.

BAD PART GOES TO THE COMPOST PILE OR THE GARBAGE CAN.

WELL, THE GOOD PART GOES TO THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL.

OF ALL THE FOOD THEY EAT, THEY ONLY USE 40%.

KELLAR: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REST?

NASTOLD: JOB SECURITY.

I THINK YOU CALL IT POOP.

KELLAR: OH, RIGHT.

NASTOLD: BUT THAT'S A GREAT WHAT THEY EAT TODAY, 24 HOURS LATER, FOR SEEDS AND THINGS, IN THE OLD COUNTRY OF ASIA OR EVEN IN AFRICA, THAT'S A NICE PROTECTIVE SHELL THEY'RE GIVING BACK TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

KELLAR: OH, OKAY.

WOW.

JENIKE: NOW, BARBARA, I KNOW WE COULD STAY AND SPEND THE WHOLE DAY HERE WITH OUR ELEPHANTS AND WITH -- KELLAR: OH, WE GOTTA GO.

JENIKE: BUT WE GOTTA GO.

I GOT A LOT OF THE ZOO.

KELLAR: AND I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY.

JENIKE: READY TO MOVE ON?

KELLAR: WE'RE READY.

JENIKE: ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

KELLAR: SAY GOODBYE TO THESE GUYS.

JENIKE: ALL RIGHT.

KELLAR: BYE.

HE'S SAYING GOODBYE.

YES.

JENIKE: BARBARA, WE ARE AT ROO VALLEY.

THIS IS THE LITTLE PENGUIN HABITAT.

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPOTS IN THE ZOO.

KELLAR: OH, MY GOSH.

OH, THEY'RE SO SWEET.

JENIKE: YEAH.

AND LET ME INTRODUCE DAN BURNS.

KELLAR: HI, DAN.

JENIKE: DAN IS ONE OF MY KEEPERS, SO HE CAN TELL US ALL ABOUT THESE BIRDS.

KELLAR: TELL US ABOUT THE PENGUINS.

BURNS: SO THESE ARE OUR LITTLE BLUE PENGUINS.

THEY COME FROM THE SOUTHERN COAST OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

AND THESE ARE THE SMALLEST OF THE 17 SPECIES OF PENGUIN.

KELLAR: YEAH.

BURNS: IT'S REALLY COMMON FOR EVERYBODY TO THINK THESE ARE BABY PENGUINS, BUT THESE GUYS ARE ALL FULL GROWN.

THIS HERE IS CONEY, ONE OF OUR MOST FAMOUS LITTLE PENGUINS.

HE'S ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD.

ONE OF THESE GUYS OVER HERE IS ABOUT NINE.

KELLAR: NO, WAIT.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT'S TONY?

BURNS: BECAUSE IF HE TURNS AROUND, YOU CAN SEE THAT CONEY HAS -- KELLAR: OH, CAN I HOLD HIM?

BURNS: YOU CAN TOUCH HIS BACK.

YOU CAN SEE EACH ONE OF THESE GUYS HAS A LITTLE COLOR BAND ON.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WHAT IS THAT FOR?

BURNS: THAT'S JUST SO THAT WE CAN EASILY TELL THEM APART.

THAT'S JUST LIKE A NAME TAG.

KELLAR: OH, SO THAT YOU LOOK AT TO SEE IF.

OH MY GOSH, HOW WONDERFUL.

YEAH.

JENIKE: SO THESE ARE THE SMALLEST PENGUINS IN THE WORLD.

BURNS: YES.

JENIKE: THEY LIVE DOWN IN AUSTRALIA AND OFF THE COAST OF NEW ZEALAND, AND THEY'RE AMAZING.

BURNS: AND IT'S AMAZING THAT THESE GUYS ARE NOT ACTUALLY ENDANGERED.

THEY'RE CONSIDERED LEAST CONCERN, WHICH IS AWESOME.

THERE'S ALMOST 500,000 OF THESE BIRDS IN THEIR VARIOUS COLONIES, THE LARGEST BEING THE PHILLIP ISLAND COLONY OFF OF MELBOURNE.

THESE GUYS ACTUALLY MOSTLY DON'T HAND FEED.

THEY GET WHAT I CALL THE UNLIMITED FISH BUFFET IN THE EVENING.

KELLAR: OH, OKAY.

BURNS: WE'LL FEED THE WHOLE COLONY BETWEEN 10 AND 15 POUNDS OF FISH A DAY.

KELLAR: OH WOW, THAT'S A LOT.

BURNS: IT'S A LOT OF FISH.

JENIKE: YEAH, AND THERE AREN'T MANY ZOOS THAT HAVE LITTLE PENGUINS, RIGHT?

BURNS: NO, THERE AREN'T.

KELLAR: OH, MY GOD.

AND THEY'RE BLUE.

BURNS: THEY ARE BLUE.

KELLAR: BLUE, OH MY GOSH.

THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL AND SO ADORABLE.

BURNS: YEAH.

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL BLUE COLORATION ACTUALLY HELPS THEM HIDE FROM PREDATORS.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN INTO THE OCEAN AT THEM, THEY WOULD JUST BLEND INTO THE OCEAN DEPTHS.

KELLAR: YEAH.

NOW THAT GUY ON THE END, HE LOOKS MORE RUFFLED THAN THE REST.

SO IS HE UPSET OR?

BURNS: HE IS NOT UPSET.

THAT IS ACTUALLY THAT IS BRISKET.

BRISKET IS GETTING A NEW SET OF FEATHERS, THAT'S CALLED MOLTING.

KELLAR: OH, OKAY.

BURNS: SO THESE GUYS ARE BIRDS.

ALL BIRDS MOLT.

KELLAR: YEAH.

BURNS: MOST BIRDS WILL DROP A FEATHER HERE AND A FEATHER THERE, YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL.

THESE GUYS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE WATERPROOF CONSTANTLY, THEY'LL SPEND ABOUT 12 HOURS A DAY SWIMMING.

SO THEY CAN'T DROP A FEW FEATHERS.

KELLAR: YEAH.

BURNS: INSTEAD THEY GO THROUGH WHAT'S CALLED A CATASTROPHIC MOLT.

AND THEY WILL MOLT ALL OF THEIR FEATHERS AT ONCE.

KELLAR: OKAY.

JENIKE: YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT?

LOOK OUT WHEN YOU SEE THE VISITORS HERE BE ABLE TO BE SO CLOSE TO THESE LITTLE PENGUINS.

NOW, EVERYBODY DOESN'T GET TO BE OUT ON THE BEACH LIKE YOU.

YEAH, BUT TO SEE THEM SO CLOSE AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM ACTUALLY FLYING UNDERWATER, DOING WHAT PENGUINS NATURALLY DO IS ENTHRALLING FOR EVERYONE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

BURNS: AND I MEAN, IF THE BIRDS CHOOSE TO SWIM UP TO THE GLASS LIKE THEY OFTEN DO, THE VISITORS CAN ACTUALLY BE AS CLOSE TO THE BIRDS AS WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

JENIKE: ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE ANIMALS, BARBARA, I'D LOVE TO STAY HERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

KELLAR: OH, I KNOW, I KNOW, WE HAVE TO GO.

JENIKE: WE ARE HEADED NEXT TO SEE SOME RED PANDAS.

KELLAR: PANDAS.

I LOVE PANDAS.

BURNS: ALL RIGHT.

KELLAR: OKAY.

THANK YOU.

BURNS: YOU'RE WELCOME.

KELLAR: YOU GOT IT.

YOU HAVE A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU.

JENIKE: WE ARE HERE AT A RED PANDA HABITAT.

AND I'M HERE WITH MARY, ONE OF OUR HEAD KEEPERS AT CHILDREN'S ZOO.

AND YOU WORK WITH THE RED PANDAS EVERY DAY.

ABBOTT: I DO.

SO THIS IS LENORE AND AUDRA.

THEY ARE TWO RED PANDAS FROM WESTERN CHINA, AND THEY ARE BOTH SEVEN YEARS OLD.

KELLAR: OH MY GOSH.

ABBOTT: AND THEY LOVE TO MEET AND GREET AND INTERACT WITH FOLKS.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST GETTING SOME LEAF EATER BISCUITS.

THAT'S ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE TREATS.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO FEED THEM A FEW APPLES.

LENORE AND AUDRA.

KELLAR: OH.

TWO GIRLS.

TWO GIRLS.

AUDRA AND LENORE.

JENIKE: LET'S LET HER EAT THAT APPLE FOR A SECOND.

YOU KNOW, THE RED PANDAS LOVE THIS SPACE.

THIS HAS BEEN A HABITAT WHERE WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD GREAT LUCK WITH RED PANDAS.

YOU KNOW, MANY OF THESE ANIMALS WITHIN ZOOS, WE SHARE ANIMALS ACROSS THE ZOOS IN NORTH AMERICA SO THAT WE CAN MANAGE THE GENETICS OF THESE CUTE LITTLE ANIMALS.

AND WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

HOW MANY?

ABBOTT: WE HAVE, WE'VE HAD OVER 100 CUBS BORN HERE.

KELLAR: OH MY GOSH.

THAT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.

ABBOTT: YEP.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES.

KELLAR: OH IT IS?

ABBOTT: YES.

YES.

JENIKE: SO THEY'RE REALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ONE OF MY FAVORITE ANIMALS TO COME VISIT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GENTLE AND SO UNIQUE.

IN THE WILD, THEY'D SPEND A LOT OF TIME, IN FACT, WHEN I COME TO THIS HABITAT, I OFTEN LOOK UP IN THE TREES FOR THEM.

RIGHT?

ABBOTT: YEP, ABSOLUTELY.

THEY ARE TREE DWELLING ANIMALS, SO THEY'RE ARBOREAL.

EVERYTHING YOU SEE ABOUT THEM IS BUILT FOR THAT LIFE IN THE TREES.

AND AGAIN, THEY HAVE THOSE LONG TAILS FOR BALANCE.

THAT FUR MATCHES THE COLOR OF THE MOSS.

JENIKE: SO I HAVE TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.

KELLAR: SURE.

JENIKE: HAVE YOU EVER CLIMBED UP IN A TREE AND TAKEN A LITTLE NAP ON A BRANCH?

KELLAR: NO.

JENIKE: THAT'S WHAT THESE GUYS DO EVERY DAY.

SO IF YOU COME TO THE ZOO YOU'RE GONNA SEE THEM TAKING A LITTLE SIESTA.

KELLAR: ARE THEY RELATED TO CATS?

ABBOTT: THEY ARE NOT.

THEY ARE NOT.

THEY'RE VERY UNIQUE IN THAT THEY ARE IN THEIR OWN FAMILY.

SO CATS ARE PART OF THE FELIDAE FAMILY.

THESE GUYS ARE IN A FAMILY CALLED THE AILURIDAE, AND THEY ARE THE ONLY ANIMAL IN THEIR FAMILY, MAKING THEM VERY, VERY UNIQUE.

KELLAR: OH, MY GOD.

ABBOTT: THAT IS IT.

KELLAR: THAT IS AMAZING.

YEAH.

BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE A CAT.

COULD BE A DOG.

I MEAN, YEAH, THEY'RE REALLY -- ABBOTT: AGAIN, PEOPLE REFER TO THEM AS THE FIREFOX.

THEY'VE ALSO BEEN REFERRED TO AS BEARCATS, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A BEARCAT.

KELLAR: I KNOW I'VE MET BEARCATS.

ABBOTT: SO MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY WALK LIKE BEARS, BUT THEY HAVE VERY CAT LIKE FEATURES.

JENIKE: YEAH, BUT IN ADDITION TO LOVING APPLES.

KELLAR: YES.

JENIKE: DO THEY EVER EAT ANYTHING?

ABBOTT: THEY LOVE BAMBOO.

JENIKE: YEAH.

ABBOTT: SO IF YOU COME TO THE ZOO A NUMBER OF TIMES, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN IT GROWS ALL OVER THE PARK.

KELLAR: I'VE SEEN IT.

ABBOTT: AND AGAIN, WE GO OUT EVERY MORNING AND WE CUT IT FRESH FOR THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY.

KELLAR: WHY DO THEY CALL THEM PANDAS IF THEY'RE NOT RELATED TO ANYBODY?

ABBOTT: SO THEY WERE ACTUALLY CALLED PANDAS LONG BEFORE WE KNEW THE GIANT PANDA EXISTED.

AND PANDA IS FROM A NEPALESE WORD MEANING BAMBOO FOOTED OR BAMBOO EATER.

SO THEY WERE NAMED PANDA.

AND THEN ABOUT 50 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, THEY DISCOVERED GIANT PANDAS, WHO ARE BEARS, PART OF THE BEAR FAMILY.

BUT THIS IS THE ORIGINAL PANDA RIGHT HERE.

JENIKE: ALL RIGHT, MARY, BARBARA, I HATE TO DO THIS TO YOU AGAIN, BUT GUESS WHAT?

WE'VE GOT ONE MORE STOP ON OUR TOUR, AND I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO SEE THE TALLEST ANIMAL.

KELLAR: OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.

JENIKE: BARBARA, WE ARE HERE AT GIRAFFE RIDGE WITH THE TALLEST ANIMAL IN THE WORLD AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE, TERESA.

TRUESDALE: NICE TO MEET YOU.

KELLAR: YOU'RE SO LUCKY.

YEAH.

JENIKE: AND, TERESA, TELL US, WHO DO WE HAVE HERE BEHIND US?

TRUESDALE: OH, WE HAVE OUR GIRAFFE TOWER.

THIS IS ZEKE, TESSA, FENNESSY AND ZOE.

WE HAVE TWO MALES AND TWO FEMALES.

TESSA IS OUR OLDEST.

SHE'S 19 YEARS OLD.

ZEKE IS THE YOUNGEST.

HE'S HERE ON THE LEFT.

HE'S FIVE YEARS OLD.

AND TESSA IS CURRENTLY PREGNANT WITH HER FIFTH CALF.

SHE'S A REALLY GOOD MOM.

ZEKE IS THE DAD.

AND THEIR GESTATION IS AROUND 15 MONTHS.

SO WE EXPECT THIS CALF AROUND LATE OCTOBER.

JENIKE: AND THAT'LL BE GREAT FOR US AS WE, YOU KNOW, AS WE GET READY, YOU KNOW, OUR GIRAFFE TOWER IS GOING TO MOVE UP TO A NEW HABITAT CALLED THE GIRAFFE TOWER, WHICH IS GOING TO BE RIGHT UP THE HILL WHERE THE ELEPHANTS MOVED OUT, THE OLD HISTORIC ELEPHANT HOUSE.

KELLAR: OH MY GOD.

JENIKE: BE THEIR NEW HOME AND IT'LL GIVE US ENOUGH SPACE TO ACTUALLY EVENTUALLY DOUBLE THE SIZE OF OUR HERD.

KELLAR: WOW.

JENIKE: WHICH WILL BE AMAZING.

KELLAR: SO HOW TALL ARE THEY, ACTUALLY?

TRUESDALE: THE FEMALES ARE AROUND 14FT TALL.

AND FENNESSY'S OUR TALLEST.

RIGHT NOW HE'S AROUND 15.5 FEET TALL.

MASAI GIRAFFE CAN GET UP TO AROUND 18 FEET TALL, BUT THAT'S KIND OF -- I ALWAYS SAY THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE SHAQUILLE O'NEAL OF GIRAFFE.

THAT'S A REALLY TALL INDIVIDUAL.

AROUND 15-16 IS PROBABLY A GOOD HEIGHT FOR A MALE.

JENIKE: ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT GIRAFFE, THEY ARE ONE OF THE TRULY ICONIC ANIMALS IN THE WORLD.

AND YET, HERE YOU ARE.

YOU CAN GET SO CLOSE TO THEM.

KELLAR: OH, YEAH.

JENIKE: AND THIS EXPERIENCE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INSPIRING PEOPLE WITH WILDLIFE, THIS MOMENT FOR SO MANY CHILDREN AND ADULTS IS WHAT IS SO SPECIAL.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THESE ANIMALS RIGHT UP TO OUR MAIN ENTRANCE AND ACTUALLY HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO FEEDING IN THE FUTURE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

JENIKE: WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, BARBARA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO VISIT US AT THE ZOO TODAY.

KELLAR: I THANK YOU.

JENIKE: OH, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE INVITE YOU BACK IN A FEW YEARS.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN GIRAFFE TOWER.

KELLAR: I'M GOING TO BE THERE.

JENIKE: THE BIG NEW HABITAT FOR THESE GUYS.

KELLAR: OKAY.

JENIKE: IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING.

ANNOUNCER: JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR RIGHT HERE ON CET.