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As part of the FedEx
Cares “Delivering for Good”
initiative, the company
donated their services to
fly Carolyn and Sabiena
on a cargo plane from Los
Angeles to Chicago. The
sea lions were named after
two outstanding FedEx
team members, including
Carolyn Frisch ( third from
the left). She is joined
by FedEx team members
Dan England and Bruce
Clemmons (center) and
CZS animal care specialists
Elizabeth Miller and
Mairim Martinez (far left),
and Rita Stacey and Mark
Gonka (far right).

in the ocean. Carolyn had stranded once before. CZS was asked Inspiring Conservation
to provide Sabiena and Carolyn with a permanent home.
Carolyn and Sabiena help CZS fulfill our core mission—
Senior animal care specialists Mairim Martinez and Elizabeth to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with
Lee flew to California to prepare the sea lions for the journey. wildlife and nature. “People learn how their own actions
First, they just observed them to learn about their personalities, affect the environment,” said Stacey. “They learn to make
and their favorite foods and toys. “Carolyn is exploratory and small changes, like safely disposing of fishing gear, limiting
very interactive; Sabiena is more reserved,” said Martinez. plastic use, purchasing sustainable seafood, and reducing
She and Lee then fed and played with the animals and prepared their carbon footprint.”
for the trip to Chicago. A direct flight, courtesy of FedEx,
minimized flying time and stress on the animals. On the flight, CZS scientists are doing research to better understand
Martinez and Lee kept the sea lions cool and comfortable with and be able to prevent harmful algal blooms and domoic
water mist and ice. acid poisoning. Dr. Marina Ivancic, CZS’s veterinary
radiologist, has been heavily involved in the diagnostic imaging
After arriving safely at Brookfield Zoo, Carolyn and Sabiena of animals poisoned by domoic acid. And for the past 10 years,
were quarantined at the hospital for 2½ weeks and examined Dr. Adkesson and other CZS researchers have been studying
thoroughly. When they arrived at Pinniped Point, they were the rich and varied wildlife in Punta San Juan, Peru.
taught to respond when their names were called and to take food Recently, they’ve focused on South American sea lions and
from human hands. They learned behaviors—such as going onto Peruvian fur seals, said Dr. Adkesson. “We are researching
a scale to be weighed—so they can participate in their own care. the role of domoic acid and its impact on health in the
Peruvian ecosystem.”
Everyone’s hard work and patience has paid off: “Sabiena and
Carolyn are bright, vibrant, and eating well,” said Stacey. “They Scientists with CZS’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
have top-notch vet care and a team to care for and love them and are chronicling red-tide events off the Florida coast and how
share them with guests.” In the underwater-viewing area, “people algal blooms harm marine wildlife, including bottlenose
see the animals and interact with them and wonder what they dolphins. You’ll read more about their work in an upcoming
can do to help.” article celebrating the 50th anniversary of this landmark
program. It’s your support that makes this work possible.

BROOKFIELD ZOO | SPRING 2020 19