Archive for the ‘Featured’ Category

Apr
15

Bear Awareness Day- Saturday April 20, 2013 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Posted by in Carnivores: Spots, Stripes and Sharp Teeth!,Conservation,Featured,Spotlight on Species

Bears in East Texas??  That’s right!!  Black bears are returning to what historically was their home.  In 1992 the Louisiana black bear, (Ursus americanus luteolus), was listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife.  Today, populations are finding their way back to East Texas.  Their decline was attributed to human disturbance, hunting, and habitat loss.

In 2005 the East Texas Black Bear Task Force was formed as a subcommittee of the Black Bear Conservation Coalition www.bbcc.org .  The task force promotes the restoration of the black bear in its historic range of East Texas through education, research, and habitat management by bringing together individuals, organizations, and state and federal government representatives to support the recovery.

Representatives from Texas Parks and Wildlife will have an Operation Game Thief Trailer which highlights many of the local wildlife found in Texas.  All of the items on display in this interactive trailer were confiscated from illegal poachers.

Meet our Carnivore Keepers when they demonstrate the safe way of camping and hiking in bear country during their fun and humorous skits.  These skits will help you determine the difference between black and brown bears as well as show you what to do if you encounter a bear.  One of the many ways you can camp safely with bears is by properly disposing of your trash and recycling your recyclables.  We think that responsible camping ties in well with being good stewards of the earth so what better weekend to celebrate it on than Earth Day Weekend.  Come and join us for Bear Awareness Day on Saturday April 20th from 10 to 3 and learn how you can help not only save bears but the Earth as well.

The future of these amazing animals is in our hands.  The more we learn about coexisting with bears the safer we will be and the better chance of survival they will have.

Activites:

11:30 a.m. – Grizzly Bear Exhibit Keeper Skit- Hiking in bear country

2:00p.m. – Andean Bear Exhibit Keeper Skit- Camping in bear country

Kids can color their own bear mask

 

Displays:

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Bio Facts Table- skulls and furs

Houston Zoo info table- Educator’s guide, Camping guide, hiking guide

The Houston Zoo Commissary- displaying a variety of food that bears eat.

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Apr
08

Earth Day 2013 at the Houston Zoo

Posted by in Events,Featured,Zoo News


April 22 is Earth Day, and here at The Houston Zoo we’ll be celebrating on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.  Started in 1970, Earth Day is a day that raises awareness of ways we can protect our planet.  Earth Day is important because it reminds us to take action now and protect our environment before it’s too late.

At the Houston Zoo, every day is Earth Day.  One major focus we have: Recycling. We take recycling seriously.  Not only does our staff recycle, but we encourage our guests to recycle as well by placing recycling bins throughout the Zoo.  Over the past two years over 90 tons of recycling has been collected – that’s equal to 30 female adult Asian elephants!

Did you know you can recycle your old cell phone? There is a cell phone collection bin (chargers and batteries can also be dropped off) located near the main gift shop.  Recycling your phone at the Zoo today will not only ensure it is reused or properly disposed of, but can also help gorillas!  Read more about how cell phones are linked to gorillas in the wild here. Plus, proceeds from our cell phone recycling program benefit the Zoo’s wildlife conservation efforts.

We are always looking for new ways to be environmentally friendly. What can we all do to help our environment?  Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!  It’s as easy as 1,2,3.

1. Reduce

Reducing our intake of certain products can dramatically help our environment.  We can reduce our use of paper and plastic shopping bags by using reusable shopping bags.  Over a lifetime, use of reusable bags by just one person takes the place of over 22,000 plastic bags. Also, instead of buying cases of bottled water, use re-usable lightweight aluminum-constructive water bottles.  If everybody stopped using plastic water bottles we can put an end to the nearly 18,834,000,000 bottles that end up in landfills each year (that’s in the U.S. alone!).  We can also reduce our energy consumption by carpooling with friends to work or school and by doing something as simple as unplugging your cell phone charger when it is not being used.

 

2. Reuse

In addition to re-usable shopping bags and water bottles, you can also donate items that you no longer need or want. Items such as clothing, toys, and electronics can be dropped off at consignment shops or thrift stores.  Another way we can reuse is by purchasing used items like books and cars. Take silverware and a reusable cup to work and cut down on your use of plastic cutlery.  Borrow, rent, or share items that are used infrequently, like party decorations or tools.  All of these actions put together can help us waste less.

 

3. Recycle

Do you know all the things that can be recycled?  Recycling can be done in the following areas:  paper, plastic, metal, compost, oil, batteries, electronics, glass, and tires.  By recycling not only do we reduce waste, we also save energy. Recycling requires less energy than creating new products made from raw materials.  Recycling also reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change and, most importantly, it helps sustain the environment for future generations for humans and animals alike.

This Earth Day we challenge you to take these three steps to preserve our beautiful Earth and to spread the word.  What changes will you take on?  How will you make every day Earth Day?  If we all work together, we can make a difference and create a better tomorrow.

For more information on the Zoo’s conservation efforts or tips on what you can do to help our environment, check out the Do Your Part page on the Houston Zoo’s website.

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Feb
21

Rescued Bobcat Undergoes Root Canal

Posted by in Carnivores: Spots, Stripes and Sharp Teeth!,Featured,Zoo News

(Authored by Houston SPCA)

The adult male bobcat that was rescued from the Friendswood area back on December 12, 2012 was transported to the Houston Zoo to undergo a root canal on February 20, 2013. Several of his teeth were in poor condition and a root canal was performed  to prevent infection.  The 2-hour long procedure was performed by Dr. Maryanne Tocidlowski of the Houston Zoo and Dr. Frank Shuman of the Houston SPCA.  To prepare the bobcat for surgery, he was sedated, blood was drawn, and x-rays were taken.  The dental work involved 6 root canals which comprised 4 canines and 2 premolars.

The procedure involved drilling a hole in the top of the tooth, filing down the area around the hole, cleaning out the canal and disinfecting and drying the entire area. The hole was filled with an inert latex like material and the hole was capped with a resin based dental restorative compound.  After the surgery, the bobcat was safely transported back to the Houston SPCA where he is being monitored by our veterinary staff.

While in the care of The Wildlife Center of Texas and the Houston SPCA, the bobcat has been treated for and recovered from flea infestation, a bacterial infection and sarcoptic mange.  The bobcat was also severely emaciated and over the course of six weeks, he has gained 15% of his initial body weight.  We will continue to monitor his progress until he is ready to return to his native habitat.

The bobcat was found in poor condition in a rural area and initially brought to The Wildlife Center of Texas, a subsidiary of the Houston SPCA.  Last year, nearly 9,000 wild animals, comprising 286 different species arrived at The Wildlife Center of Texas in need of treatment and care. The Houston SPCA and The Wildlife Center of Texas are thankful once again to partner with our friends at the Houston Zoo for their knowledge and expertise in the rehabilitation of this wild animal.

The mission of the Wildlife Center of Texas is to care for injured or orphaned wildlife through rehabilitation and public education. For more information call 713-861-WILD (9453) or visit their web site at www.wildlifecenteroftexas.org.

 

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Feb
06

Building the Zoo: One Exhibit at a Time

Posted by in Featured,Meet the Staff

When you think of a Zoo, what comes to mind?  Probably animals, right? And animals are a huge part of what we do.  To make the lives of those animals comfortable, secure, and happy, there are many, many people that play a part. One very important part of Zoo life is building the habitats where the animals live, and then making sure they are safe, beautiful, and up-to-date.  And that’s the job of J.D. Devine, our Senior Project Manager at the Houston Zoo.

The flamingo exhibit in the middle of its renovation

J.D. works with a skilled team of people in our Facilities Department. They do everything from maintaining existing buildings to building new exhibits to making sure the lights stay on for Zoo Lights! There are lots of scheduled projects – 72 were completed last year alone – but often there are things that come up at the last minute. Who fixes a water main break by the reptile house? They do!

J.D. loves his job because nothing is ever the same, just like no two animals are the same. He is also passionate about constantly learning – when talking about the recently-completed renovation of the cougar exhibit, he said, “Part of our job is understanding what we have done before and how we can do it better next time.” They try new materials and new types of construction to constantly improve.

The biggest job they’ve undertaken in the last 18 months is the $1.3 million renovation of the hoofed stock barn on the west side of the Zoo. More details are to come on that in a later blog – the barn will be complete by spring break, and the exhibit will be totally ready for animals by the summertime.

The new giraffe feeding ticket booth (left) will provide a better experience for guests and staff.

If you’ve been to the Zoo lately, you can see the fruits of their labor in other recently-completed projects like the sea lion habitat renovation. You’ll also see a whole new flamingo exhibit this spring, and the giraffe feeding ticket booth will be completely renovated just in time for Spring Break, making it much easier and more efficient for guests to get their tickets to feed the giraffes.

So next time you visit, take a moment as you enjoy the animals to also enjoy your surroundings. From waterfalls near the lion exhibit to spectacular shade structures over sea lions, you’ll see the labor of love from fantastic facilities crew that makes our Zoo a beautiful and safe place for guests and animals alike.

Oct
26

Cheetah Lure Course

Posted by in Carnivores: Spots, Stripes and Sharp Teeth!,Enrichment: Keeping it Interesting,Featured

Post written by Sarah Riger

One of the main purposes for providing enrichment to our animals is to get them to exercise mentally and physically. The lure course that we use with our Cheetahs exercises both. By weaving a line of string through the exhibit that is attached to a small motor we are able to pull a lure (usually feathers, or fabric) and provide the Cheetahs with something novel to chase. When the Cheetahs catch the lure they are given a bone, or chunk meat as a reward. The Cheetahs are able to stalk, chase, and catch something like they would in the wild. This picture is of our Cheetahs, Kito & Kiburi, when they were younger chasing the lure.

Cheetah Lure Course

Cheetah Lure Course

Oct
22

Carousel Trivia

Posted by in Children's Zoo,Featured

Have you ridden a carousel lately?  We hope so, but if you haven’t, be sure to come by the Zoo and ride on our carousel, a unique, hand-carved and painted work of art.  The Wildlife Carousel has both animals you can find at the Zoo and also pays homage to animals from the great state of Texas. Bet you didn’t know that one of the characters is the only armadillo known to exist as a carousel figure!  For you trivia nuts out there, here are some more facts and figures about our Wildlife Carousel:

  • The entire carousel weighs approximately 36,500 pounds.
  • The carousel’s so-called jumper system is what makes the animals go up and down.
  • The jumper gear ratio of 4.33:1 makes the figures go up and down 4 1/3 times for every revolution.
  • A crank connected to the jumper system raises the carousel figures 10 inches up and down per revolution.
  • The carousel platform (floor) is sanded wood with four coats of polyurethane.
  • The big over head beams on the carousel are called “sweeps.” The sweeps are clean, straight grain Douglas Fir beams that are painted and varnished.
  • Each carousel figure is a hand-carved wooden figure, made up of between 60 to 80 blocks of wood, primed with alkyd primer and painted with Japan Oils.
  • The figures are covered with up to eight coats of clear enamel that contains mildew resistant additives.
  • How do you care for these wonderful animals? The answer might surprise you. Scuff marks on the figures and the chariots are removed with a gel-type hand cleaner – the same kind of hand cleaner car mechanics use to clean grease off their hands!

 

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Jun
08

Meet the Staff – Tricia Webster

Posted by in Featured,Meet the Staff

When you visit the Zoo, it is very easy to identify a member of our staff. The Houston Zoo employees (and volunteers!) make ourselves as visible as possible so that guests can recognize us. This allows us to be accessible to our wonderful guests, and provide the best experience possible.

What you may not know is that behind the scenes, we have many employees and volunteers who work extremely hard to keep the Zoo operating at such a high level. Recently, I was lucky enough to spend some time with Tricia, who is the Registrar here at the Houston Zoo.

I think there are some who might have some misconceptions about what a registrar does. Could you clear up that confusion for us?

Being a Registrar is not just about “pushing papers.”  There are a myriad of responsibilities that all directly relate back into maintaining the highest standards in data quality and recordkeeping for our animal collection.

 

This certainly seems like a pretty rare position. How many Zoo registrars are there outside of the Houston Zoo?

There are 168 as of June 2012 (professional and associate members)

 

With all of the responsibilities associated with your position, is there one area that you spend the most time on?  

We read and edit twelve to thirteen Keeper Daily Reports(DRs), which takes up the majority of our day.  We want to enter as much information from the DRs into our database called Animal Records Keeping System(ARKS) so that the staff will be able utilize it to check trends in the health and well-being of our animal collection. A close second is the preparing of the animal transaction proposals. When Curators turn the animal transaction proposals in for approval by our head veterinarian and VP, we have to check and review the local, state and federal websites to ensure that the Houston Zoo is legally compliant when we are sending and receiving animals.

 

That sounds pretty extensive!  What sort of experience must you have to do this sort of work?

I think it is very important to have a strong and varied animal background. I received my Bachelor of Science from Cornell University with a degree in Animal Science in 1994.  I worked as a zookeeper for 4 years at the Bronx Zoo and 5 years at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as an opening team cast member.  When a new position was created for Assistant Registrar (I was the first!) at Disney in 2003, I knew that was a job I would also enjoy since I liked doing the editing and recordkeeping of our hoofstock and waterfowl collection at the time.  To me, actually working with animals gave me a much better understanding of how to manage their records. I worked mostly with mammals, so when I arrived at Houston Zoo, it was a great opportunity to learn even more since the Birds and Herpetology collection here are quite large.

 

What is your favorite part of being a registrar at the Houston Zoo? 

I learn so much when I get to travel to the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and ZRA (Zoological Registrars Association) conferences. The ability to network with colleagues really helps me to learn more and keep up with the changing trends in the zoo and aquarium industry.  Presentations given at the conferences provide valuable information on U.S. Fish and Wildlife federal permit regulations, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) federal permit regulations, electronic records management, records retention, disaster preparedness, accreditation, and USDA updates. ZIMS (Zoological Information Management System) is also being discussed continuously since it is the web-based real-time global database system that will be replacing ARKS at some future date. I am extremely fortunate that Houston Zoo has allowed my Assistant Registrar Joann Thomas-Watson and I the opportunity to travel so that we can take what we have learned at the conferences and apply it directly to our records management here.

 

It sounds like you have a lot of stories. Anything interesting that you want to share?

A very important day at the zoo for me personally was October 14, 2010.  I had been working on getting the permit paperwork prepped for our Southern white rhinoceros shipment since 2007!! There were so many different parameters that had to be taken into account when receiving CITES II animals internationally.  It involved a lot of coordination with the broker, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) agency at Bush Intercontinental Airport, the customs office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, our facilities and commissary staff; this list is by no means exhaustive.  It was pretty amazing to actually witness the plane landing with our “precious cargo” and getting to be involved with all the logistics of the shipment from 6 AM to 9:45 PM.

 

Also,

I am a member of a group called Hippolotofus (website is hippos.com). We are a group of people (~1100 members) who just love hippos and travel all over the U.S. to just look at hippos in zoos/aquariums and share stories of our hippo collection. Currently I have about 450 hippos and I started collecting in 1998. Hippos are my favorite animal, and I had the distinct pleasure of working with them for 5 years.

My other obsession? For those who have seen the Registrar office, it is adorned with twilight paraphernalia!! Audiobooks, books, posters, jewelry, magnets, stickers, keychains, buttons, figurines, you name it we got it!! If anyone needs to know any trivia about the twilight series, please feel free to stop by. Joann and I are experts on it!! I hope to one day meet Stephenie Meyer (author of the twilight books) and have her sign the gazillion items in our collection :)

 

A big thank you to Tricia for spending time with me. Be on the lookout for more staff interviews!

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May
25

New at the Zoo: Giant Elephant Shrews

Posted by in Animal News & Updates,Featured,Feeding Our Animals,Mammals: Our Furry (and Hairy!) Friends,Natural Encounters,Zoo News

The next time you are in the Natural Encounters building, look closely near the ground in the Rainforest exhibit. The two little mammalian vacuum cleaners you’ll see there are recent additions to the Zoo, our Giant Elephant Shrews. “Phoenix” and “Karma” are young brothers, arriving from the Denver Zoo where they were born last year.

Shrews use their remarkably long noses to dig into the mulch and gravel to nab mealworms, crickets, and other parts of their diet. In the wild they forage for a wider range of insects and other invertebrates, so to round out their nutrition our commissary also prepares for them a custom blend of earthworms, cat food, peanut oil, protein powder, and vitamin C.

Though Phoenix and Karma are small, they are full grown adults. There are more than a dozen species of shrews that range in size from tiny pygmy shrews to these “giants.” They are found in parts of East Africa, including coastal forests of Kenya  and Tanzania, though due to their natural ability to hide in the undergrowth and tendency to live far from human habitation, they are very rarely seen in the wild. Their habitat is under threat as well, mostly due to agriculture and logging.

This video shows Phoenix nosing around the lower gravel area and munching mealworms in the Rainforest exhibit; Karma was feeling particularly shy that day and stayed well hidden in the upper mulched area. (We made sure he received plenty of mealworms as well that afternoon.)

Wish Phoenix and Karma a happy birthday when you see them!  They were born on May 27, 2011.

 

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