Houston Zoo WILDLIFE Magazine Summer 2010

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Printed on 10% post-consumer waste recycled paper with soy-based inks

Houston Zoo, Inc. Board of Directors

Wildlife Production TeamEditor: Rochelle JosephCreative Director: Melanie Campbell-TelloDesign: Melanie Campbell -TelloPhotography by: Stephanie Adams, Brian Hill, Kristi Holder, Rick Barongi, Greg & Carol Lille, Baylor College of Medicine, Andreas Wilting, Dale Martin, and Stephen KaufmanPostmaster: Send address changes to: Wildlife Magazine Houston Zoo, Inc. 1513 Cambridge Street Houston, Texas 77030

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www.houstonzoo.org

Zoo Hours:

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The Zoo is closed Christmas Day.

Wildlife is published by Houston Zoo, Inc., 1513 Cambridge Street, Houston, Texas 77030. ©Houston Zoo, Inc., 2010. All rights reserved. Subscription by membership only.

The Houston Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

On the cover: Chimpanzee

DIRECTOR'S DEN 2

THE AFRICAN FOREST PROGRESS 3

KEEPERS 8

CONSERVATION 10

SUPPORTING THE ZOO 12

TRAVEL 13

MEMBERSHIP 16

EDUCATION 17

CHILDREN'S ZOO 20

D E P A R T M E N T S

14

18

6

4

The Houston Zoo is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.

CHIMP INN

ELEPHANTS

DINOS

CHIMPANZEEFAMILY TREE

Eduardo AguirreE. William BarnettFreda Wilkerson BassNandita BerryJack S. Blanton, Sr.Winfield M. Campbell, Sr.Cathy Campbell BrockMichael CordúaJonathan Day Linnet DeilyAnne DuncanSusan EhrhardtBarbara GoldfieldMartyn GoossenRobert Graham Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr.Stephen Kaufman

Donald R. Kendall, Jr. Glenn L. LowensteinDaniel C. McNairStacy MethvinAli MoshiriStephen D. NewtonCharles OnsteadBarbara SamuelsTony Sanchez IIICathryn SelmanLouis SklarHerman L. StudeShawn TaylorLori VettersGeorge R. WillyE. W. Bill Wright IIIAustin Young

The Official Airline of the Houston Zoo

GIRAFFE BARN & EXHIBIT

1

RESTAURANT, OUTDOOR SEATING & GIRAFFE FEEDING PLATFORM

2

GIFT SHOP & RESTROOMS

3

TRADING POST

WHITE RHINO BARN & EXHIBIT

5

4

CHIMP HOUSE, VIEWING AREAS & EXHIBIT

6

Wow — do we have a lot happening at the Zoo in 2010! February began with

a major renovation of our jaguar exhibit which added a pool and waterfall for

these water-loving cats. Then we upgraded several areas of our Children’s Zoo

to make it even more kid-friendly and naturalistic. At the end of April our Zoo

Friends’ volunteer organization put on one heck of a ball, 'A Way to Africa,' rais-

ing over a half million dollars for the Zoo!

April was also elephant pregnancy watch for the Zoo as both staff and volunteers

camped out in our new McNair family elephant barn waiting for our 19-year-old

Asian elephant, Shanti, to give birth. We now have a big, healthy new elephant calf

named Baylor born on May 4, 2010. We’re very optimistic that this calf won’t have

to worry about a deadly elephant herpes virus due to the incredible advances in re-

search by the Baylor College of Medicine’s team of dedicated scientists. The BCM and

Zoo partnership is the type of unique and innovative approach required to save both

wild and zoo elephants from this serious threat.

For the first time in over 60 million years dinosaurs have returned to the Zoo! No,

they’re not real as some guests asked, but are incredibly realistic, with moving parts

and ferocious calls. DINOSAURS! will only be here from Memorial Day to September

so make sure you don’t miss them.

During the summer our first African Forest residents will arrive: a family of ten

chimpanzees. They won’t be available for their public debut until late November,

giving them ample time to adjust to their spacious new digs described in this issue.

In September we’re hosting the annual AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums)

Conference for 2,000 zoo and aquarium professionals. This is the premier zoo confer-

ence in the world. The keynote speaker is Jim Collins, author of, among other books,

the best-selling Good to Great.

We cap off the year with the December opening of the African Forest, the largest and

most beautiful animal habitat we’ve ever created at the Zoo!

On a personal note, this summer marks my ten-year anniversary at the Zoo. When I

arrived in 2000 we were just about to open the $6 million McGovern Children’s Zoo.

Since that time we’ve added another $80 million in improvements to your Zoo and

are recognized as one of the top zoos in the country. A key milestone was the priv-

itization of the Zoo in 2002, which allowed us to dramatically improve every facet of

our operation.

Obviously, we would not have been able to do a fraction of these improvements if

it weren’t for the support and generosity of you, our members and donors. You also

helped us achieve an all-time attendance record for the month of March – 245,000

guests. Let's hope the dinos and the African Forest give us some more record atten-

dance months in 2010 and beyond!

,,

DIRECTOR'S DEN

2 | HOUSTON ZOO | www.houstonzoo.org

,,

We cap off the year

with the December

opening of the African

Forest, the largest and

most beautiful animal

habitat we’ve ever

created at the Zoo.

RICK BARONGIZoo Director

GIRAFFE BARN & EXHIBIT

1

RESTAURANT, OUTDOOR SEATING & GIRAFFE FEEDING PLATFORM

2

GIFT SHOP & RESTROOMS

3

TRADING POST

WHITE RHINO BARN & EXHIBIT

5

4

CHIMP HOUSE, VIEWING AREAS & EXHIBIT

6

Progress continues on the most exciting project the Zoo has undertaken in its entire 88-year history! The African Forest site, pictured above, is more than halfway through construction and the excitement is mounting as we prepare to receive our first new animals – the chimpanzee family. The difference between this and our Winter 2009 issue’s aerial shot is quite dramatic.

WILDLIFE | SUMMER 2010 | 3

AFRICAN FOREST UPDATE

THE AFRICAN FOREST: RAPID GROWTH

2

1

3

To the far left, the large structure with strik-ing brick work and the tell-tale tall, narrow doors is the Masai giraffe barn. The walls are complete and the roof is on. The inside is ab-solutely beautiful, with wood beams across the high ceiling and lots of light.

The next building to the right is the restau-rant. Those soaring wooden arches are inte-rior architectural additions.

The large cement building next to it, just above the white roof of our Medical Center gate, is the sizeable new gift shop, which was not even visible in the last picture.

4

5

6

Continuing up and right of center, the gray walls you see are the start of the rhino barn beside what will be their exhibit yard. The small roofed building behind the rhino barn is the Trading Post, which you will be hearing more about in the months to come.

Lastly, that very large light colored building furthest right, is the chimp house, which will be completed first. The smaller cement structure at the far upper right will become the glassed viewing area into the chimps’ expansive out-door habitat. You can read more about the chimps' wonderful new home on the next page!

Learn how you can contribute to making the African Forest come alive at www.houstonzoo.org/africanforest.


The centerpiece of the African Forest will be our new

chimpanzee habitat. During operating hours our chim-

panzee family will spend most of their time outside,

but at the end of the day they will retire to their indoor

facility to bed down for the night.

In the old days of zoo design, most nighttime animal

holding areas were nothing more than small, dark,

sterile cubicles, but our new chimp building is raising

the bar to a new standard of comfort and spaciousness.

With an indoor living space of over 4,000 square feet,

our chimps will be living in the lap of luxury.

The chimp building has been designed for both chimp

and keeper comfort and safety. The entire building is

air conditioned and heated with 16 skylights that not

only let natural light in, but open for fresh air. Eight

individual chimp rooms, measuring approximately 12’

x 8’ with 20’ ceilings, surround a giant central day-

room, which is 25’ x 46’ and 23’ high.

While all rooms interconnect so the chimps can choose

where they want to be, it also will allow us to tem-

porarily separate animals in case of behavioral or

medical issues. One of the rooms is dedicated solely to

training and vet care. Additionally, there will be plenty

of space for the keepers to feed and interact with the

chimps. It has its own kitchen, food storage, computer

area, and human bathroom.

Another unique feature will be the three feet of natu-

ral bark mulch that will cover the dayroom floor. This

natural substrate material will provide a softer sur-

face for playing and more enrichment opportunities.

All the rooms will have numerous ropes, climbing

structures and platforms for making nests to sleep in,

as many chimps do in the wild.

There will be two high-definition cameras inside the

dayroom to capture all activities of the chimps, day

and night. These cameras will also be linked to our

distance learning system, allowing young patients at

the Texas Medical Center to enjoy these incredible

animals while talking to a keeper.

And if that isn’t enough, our “Chimp Inn” also comes

with a lifetime of complimentary room service and free

room rates!

THE CHIMP INN

5WILDLIFEWILDLIFE | SUMMER 2010 | 5

When the African Forest opens in December, zoo guests will see

a family of ten chimps out in their new, naturalistic habitat.

This means the zoo’s primate staff has a lot of work to do.

Our first task was to find chimpanzees. Timing and maybe a

little luck was on our side when we learned of ten privately

owned chimpanzees that needed a home. Zoo Director Rick Bar-

ongi and Primate Curator Hollie Colahan traveled to California

to meet the chimps and their owners, Carol and Greg Lille, who

have raised these chimps and are now retiring. This group was

ideal for our needs. The Lilles were impressed with our plans

and decided to donate the chimps to the Zoo. This is truly a win-

win for everyone, especially the chimpanzees.

By June, the chimp building will be completed and staff will

then spend a few weeks getting ready – everything from hang-

ing ropes for them to play on to stocking the kitchen with their

favorite treats! Meanwhile, the chimpanzees will be placed into

carriers specially designed to transport them in comfort,

and ride in an air conditioned truck for the 30 hour trip to

Houston.

During their first weeks here at the Zoo, only a small group

of people, including the Lilles, will work with the chimps.

This consistency will help them settle in to their new home

and routine more quickly. Once acclimated, we’ll start the

process of putting them together into one large group. All

ten chimps know each other, but not all of them have been

living together recently. This reintroduction process could

take a few hours or a few months… it’s all up to the chimps.

In late September when the outdoor exhibit is complete,

we’ll start letting them outside during the day. By the time

the African Forest opens to the public, our chimpanzees will

be ready to show off their new home and introduce all of

Houston to a chimpanzee’s world.

THE HOUSTON ZOO WELCOMES A NEW FAMILY


CHARLIE

LULU

Sally

Annie

Willie

ABE

chimpanzee family tree

LUCY

Riley

Mac

Maizey


CHARLIE

LULU

Sally

Annie

Willie

ABE

chimpanzee family tree

LUCY

Riley

Mac

Maizey

Now that you’ve read all about where the chimps are from, how they got

here and where they will live, it’s time to meet them!

While this family tree tells you who’s who, it’s really just an introduction.

If you’d like to learn more about our en-gaging chimp family, please visit www.

houstonzoo.org/chimps where each chimp has their own personal page! The best way to get to know them though, will be to come visit them as soon as the African Forest opens in December.

Having chimps at the Zoo will do more than delight and entertain visitors; it will help raise awareness for their endangered counterparts in Africa, and teach us all the importance of protecting wildlife.

CHARLIE, 38The Patriarch

LUCY, 38The Caretaker

MAIZEY, 24Best Pal of Annie

RILEY, 27The Boss-in-Training

MAC, 16The Kid Brother

ABE, 37Mr. Laid Back

LuLu, 32Mama of Four

SALLY, 24Sister to Annie

ANNIE, 23 Sister to Sally

WILLIE, 6The Mischievous Tyke

T h i s p r ima t e – a R i n g - t a i l e d L emu r – i s a v e r y s o c i a l a n ima l a nd l i v e s i n t h e w i l d o n t h e A f r i c a n i s l a n d o f Madaga s c a r a nd a f ew nea r b y i s l a n d s .{


The Houston Zoo is growing every day, and with the opening of the new African Forest exhibit set for December of this year, one area that’s also growing is the Primate Department. Our current team of two supervisors and 13 keepers will add an additional supervisor and two more keepers to oversee the 10 new chimpanzees to be housed in the African Forest.

Primate keepers start the day with a quick meeting at 7:00 a.m. The next or-der of business is to give breakfast and any medications to the animals while tidying up their outdoor habitats. Once the animals are out on exhibit, it’s time to clean their night houses. Because primates are similar to humans, they can transmit diseases very easily, so keepers help ensure the safety of all by wear-

ing masks and gloves while cleaning. Foot baths are also used upon entering and exiting all primate area buildings to help prevent cross contamination.

Then it’s time for keepers to give the animals their daily enrichment.

“Our goal is to continually help them to live the same type of life in the Zoo as they do in the wild,” explains Primate Supervisor Lynn Killam. “We’re always looking for new ways to enrich our animals and all of us really enjoy watching them have fun.”

Enrichment varies based on the animal, but typically con-

sists of the use of different scents, foods and toys. Some of the most popular are various sizes of cardboard boxes,

rolls of paper towels and our bubble machine.

In addition, the primate team works hard to raise money for the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Borneo. In 2004 they hosted their first Pongos Help-ing Pongos gallery event, featuring artwork cre-ated by the orangutans themselves for purchase by event attendees. All funds raised go toward conser-vation efforts. So far in 2010, Zoo staff has raised over $28,000 in Pongos Helping Pongos fundraisers, bringing the total amount for this project to over $150, 000 over the last six years!

“That’s pretty remarkable, since it is mainly done by our Zoo keepers,” said Primate Supervisor Dena Strange. “We’re all very proud of this project.”

Perhaps one of the most unique characteristics of the Primate staff is the bond that they all not only share as

a department, but with their animals. Because primates are very similar to humans, the keepers are afforded

continual opportunities to create new ways to enrich and train them, which keeps the team on their toes. From learn-

ing the complexities of husbandry for each animal to over-coming the potential dilemmas of animal introductions, this

team works together as one to accomplish many goals that they would not be able to as individuals.

THE HOUSTON ZOO’S PRIMATE TEAM GROWS

FROM RIGHT TO LEFT: Rachel Vass, Elliott Rosenthal, Judy McAuliffe, Amy Berting, Dena Strange, Joy Oria, Lynn Killam, Diane Shea, Tammy Buhrmester, Helen Boostrom, Cindy Leeson, Marjorie Pepin, Lucy Dee Anderson, Ron Santos, Alissa Fuhrman, Cheka Kazen


It’s been fifty years since Jane Goodall stepped onto the

beach at Gombe, Tanzania to begin her study of wild chim-

panzees. With that, the chimpanzee would become pro-

foundly more than just a wild beast in a children’s book or

a character in Tarzan movies. Chimpanzees exhibited in-

dividual personalities and a wide range of emotions. They

showed both empathy and aggression toward each other, a

complex social structure, and cognitive thought. And they

were found to be both

foragers and hunters

– utilizing primitive

“tools.” Until this dis-

covery, anthropologists saw tool making as a defining trait

of mankind. When Jane wrote of her discovery to Louis

Leakey, the man who set her on course for her life’s work,

he replied: “Now we must redefine ‘tool,’ redefine ‘man’ or

accept chimpanzees as humans.”

Today, chimpanzees are distributed across Central and

Western Africa in fragmented populations and continue to

decline across their historical range. Sadly, they are believed

to be extinct in five of the 25 countries they once inhabited,

while populations in four other countries are on the verge of

extirpation. It’s believed that only 10 countries have chim-

panzee populations of 1,000+ individuals. Can you imagine

if there were only 10,000 humans left on earth?

The long term sustainability of chimpanzee populations is

threatened for a variety of reasons. Illegal bush meat trade,

commercial and ille-

gal logging, mining

operations and con-

verting their habitat

to agricultural land are all contributors. A lack of coordina-

tion between government agencies, extreme rural poverty,

and a shortage of incentives to protect wildlife are other

factors.

There are few places left on earth where humans do not co-

exist with native wildlife, few national parks and protected

areas where humans did not co-exist with wildlife, and even

fewer places where the decision to designate a protected

Wha t we ha ve l e a r n ed i s t h a t s imp l y l a b e l i n g a s p e c i e s a s e ndange r e d i s n o t e nough t o p r o t e c t i t

CHIMPS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE


O rphaned c h imp s a t Tc h impounga i n t h e R epub l i c o f C ongo , A f r i c a .

area doesn’t somehow intimately affect the human population

living around its borders. Herein lies the conflict.

If we rob native people of the ability to harvest natural re-

sources and wildlife without offering a feasible, sustainable

solution, then conservation efforts will ultimately fail and ille-

gal activity will increase. The most successful conservation ef-

forts are those in which indigenous communities are empow-

ered to manage natural resources and train through capacity

building programs on alternate ways of generating income.

How can the average person influence these global wildlife

problems? Westerners may feel there’s little relation between

the problems affecting great apes and the decisions we make

in our day-to-day lives. But we support a globally charged

economy and there is a trickle down affect with everything

we purchase. Several resources we consume come from this

region, such as wood products, gold, diamonds, and other gems

and minerals. Your cell phone, video game system, and some

computers include one of these minerals, known as coltan.

Eighty percent of the world’s coltan comes from the Congo –

home to both gorillas and chimpanzees – and it’s turned into

a multi-million dollar trade! Mining it destroys critical wild-

life habitat and fuels civil unrest. Civil war takes its toll by

increasing the availability of guns and displacing local human

populations who turn to hunting wildlife for subsistence. With

civil unrest and instability comes an increase in the bush

meat trade and the illegal removal of natural resources.

How great apes live, think and interact has been part of our

evolving consciousness about wildlife for the last fifty years.

Realizing how similar they are to humans inspires us to want

to protect them. Fifty years should have been enough time to

safeguard this iconic species and ensure their survival; un-

fortunately, it has not. What we have learned is that simply

labeling a species as "Endangered" is not enough to protect it.

How can you help chimpanzees? • Visit the Houston Zoo’s new African Forest exhibit

opening this December and learn more about these fascinating apes.

• Support wildlife conservation efforts focusing on great ape species, especially the Jane Goodall Institute at www.janegoodall.org.

• Be an informed consumer. Know where your prod-ucts come from.

• Keep your current cell phone longer and recycle it outside of the Houston Zoo gift shop. Recycle other electrical components wherever possible.

Since 2004, The Houston Zoo has supported the

Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Natural Re-

serve (TNR) in the Republic of Congo. The area is

characterized by a mosaic of dry open savannahs,

densely forested gorges, flood plains, mangrove

swamps, and coastal Mayombe forest -- Africa’s

most endangered ecosystem type, of which only

approximately 10% remains. These forests shelter

many endangered species such as chimpanzees,

forest elephants, and western lowland gorillas, as

well as guenons and mandrills. Due to the close

proximity of this highly diverse and important

area to the Republic of Congo’s second largest ur-

ban area (Pointe Noire), TNR faces many of the

pressures that human populations place on natu-

ral resources. To prevent poaching, JGI employs

local Eco-guards to protect the reserve, and is per-

forming intensive biological surveys to determine

the best sites for possible reintroduction of captive

chimpanzees into the wild.

THE HOUSTON ZOO & CHIMPANZEE CONSERVATION:



"Wi ldcats" Ra ise Funds For Endangered Wi ldcats

The Houston Zoo extends our special thanks to the stu-

dents of Velasquez Elementary of Richmond, TX, a.k.a.

“Wildcats”, for raising $700 for the Zoo’s Cat Conservation

program through their holiday Cash for Cats fundraiser.

This money will help the Zoo to support researchers in

identifying and monitoring five threatened wild cat species

in Malaysian Borneo.

“Our students were donating money from getting good

grades on their report cards, which they worked very hard

for,” said fourth grade teacher, Beth Yockey, “as well as mon-

ey found in their couches, their parents’ cars – even the

dryer! Once they saw one person do it, everyone followed.

It was inspiring.”

The kids celebrated their hard work with a trip to the Zoo!

We hope their love for these endangered animals will lead

them to become the next generation of nature’s guardians.

Learn how your own donations or fundraiser can support an-

imals at the Zoo and around the globe at www.houstonzoo.

org/support and www.houstonzoo.org/conservation.

Preserve Memories & Honor Someone Special

Looking for the perfect way to commemorate a special occa-

sion, like a birthday, wedding or special trip to the Zoo? Or,

want to leave a legacy for a beloved friend, family member

or pet? Say it with a brick paver for the Zoo’s front entry!

Your personalized brick represents a unique and lasting

memory to be cherished for years to come.

Create your own memory today! Your tax-deducible gift of

$100 or more will earn you a spot in the Zoo’s front entry!

For more information and to order your brick, visit www.

houstonzoo.org/brickpaver.

Help Us Br ing Af r i ca to Houston!

On your next visit, purchase a limited edition African For-

est bracelet and pin at the ticket counter. With this dona-

tion, you are playing a role in building the historic African

Forest expansion. Learn more at www.houstonzoo.org/

africanforest.

$2 donat ion $5 donat ion

DEVELOPMENT

When was the last time you had a once-in-a-

lifetime experience? We’re offering two!

Join the Houston Zoo for 5 days / 4 nights on the

water in Baja and the Sea of Cortez. Escape to a

world teeming with wildlife, where the beaches

show no footprints except your own, and the

setting sun seems to glow orange for hours.

Kayak. Hike. Take an adjunct Zodiac Cruise to

search for whales and dolphins or snorkel with

sea lions and vibrant reef fish.

Prefer solid ground? Then trekking with the

Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda is for you. First

we’ll visit Akagera National Park in the east,

with its beautiful undulating plains, its wood-

lands, sprawling lakes and wetlands. Spot

wildlife in the park – elephant, buffalo, giraffe,

hippo, crocodile and antelope. The highlight:

tracking the endangered Mountain Gorillas in

Parc National des Volcans. Seeing some of the

remaining 700 mountain gorillas is a truly awe-

inspiring experience.

Go to www.houstonzoo.org/safari or email

[email protected] for more infor-

mation.

Call of the Wild Speaker SeriesLectures resume in October with a very spe-

cial guest. Enjoy nature, wildlife, and land-

scape photography from around the globe as

acclaimed National Geographic photographer

Frans Lanting joins us for this evening event

on October 13 in the Houston Zoo’s Brown Edu-

cation Center.

Then on November 17, join us in welcoming

Carter Smith, Executive Director, Texas Parks

and Wildlife. Go to www.houstonzoo.org/lec-

tureseries for details.

Call of the Wild Speaker Series is sponsored by

the Tapeats Fund, Charles T. Bauer Foundation,

Continental Airlines and KUHF-FM (88.7).

Experiencing Nature Inspires Us to Respect & Protect



Mom Shan t i w i t h b aby Bay l o r, t h e n ewe s t membe r o f o u r Hou s t o n Z oo e l e phan t h e r d , b o r n o n May 4 , 2010 .{


In 2009 the Houston Zoo and Baylor College of

Medicine (BCM) established a unique collaboration.

Created following the untimely loss of the beloved

2-year-old calf Mac, the partnership returned results

in less than a year with development of a new test

that specifically diagnoses elephant endotheliotropic

herpesviruses, or EEHV, commonly called elephant

herpes.

Dr. Jeff Stanton, postdoctoral fellow in the depart-

ment of molecular virology and microbiology helped

develop the new test while working with Dr. Paul

Ling, an associate professor in the same department.

Prior to the development of the new test, the diagnos-

tic screening process for EEHV looked for all types

of viral infections that an elephant might have. As

Dr. Stanton explained in a recent issue of the BCM

magazine Solutions, the new test looks specifically

for the most common deadly strain and its subtypes.

The new test can be used on blood, urine, trunk

washes and even tears. “Right now we receive fluid

samples from the Zoo once each week for testing. We

want to catch the virus as soon as possible so treat-

ment can begin immediately,” said Stanton.

The Human Genome Sequencing Center at BCM is

sequencing DNA from tissues of infected elephants

to try to determine the herpesvirus genome. “A com-

plete sequence of the virus genome could help in

making a vaccine and that would give us more in-

formation about how the virus works,” said Stanton.

ELEPHANT KEEPERS ON DOUBLE DUTYThe daily routine at the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat is re-

turning to normal after the arrival of Baylor, the newest addition

to the Houston Zoo’s Asian elephant herd.

As the newborn settles in with his mom, Shanti, and the rest of

the herd, the Houston Zoo veterinary staff and the elephant care

team find themselves in a unique situation – both observing and

monitoring Baylor’s early development while preparing for the

arrival of a second calf this fall to mom Tess.

For about the first two years of his life, Baylor’s primary source

of nutrition will be mother’s milk. Elephant milk is high in fat

and protein. In fact, it contains 100 times more protein than

cow’s milk. On average, Baylor will consume approximately 20

pints of mother’s milk a day.

But at about six months of age, the keepers will begin to intro-

duce Baylor to solid food, like small bits of apples or yams. Bay-

lor will be ready to go to ‘school’ soon and his keepers will need

a ready incentive to reinforce the learning process. What better

reward than a nice sweet apple slice?

As Shanti and the rest of the herd teach him what it means to be

an elephant, the keepers will begin teaching Baylor how he will

take an active role in his care.

One of the first things he’ll learn is to be still, a task that has

vexed even the most patient human parents. Keepers will teach

Baylor to open his mouth so they can check his teeth, tongue

and oral tissues, and he’ll learn to lift up his legs so keepers can

check his foot pads and toenails.

While Baylor goes to school, the elephant care team will repeat

the birth preparation process for delivery of Tess’ calf in the fall.

Keepers and vet staff will conduct an encore performance of

regular ultrasounds and blood tests to check progesterone levels

while monitoring Tess’ diet to ensure the calf is healthy.

Baylor’s first year will be a time of discovery. In addition to learn-

ing about his environment and the other members of his Hous-

ton Zoo elephant family, Baylor will soon discover that amazing

device on the front of his face – his trunk. He’ll watch the other

elephants and attempt to mimic their behavior, much to the

amusement of the keepers and Zoo guests. But after a couple of

months he’ll get the hang of it.

Read our elephant blog at houstonzooblogs.org/elephant.

A CARING COLLABORATION

Take a Walk on the Wi ld S ideJoin one of our expert animal keepers for an insider’s look at the Houston Zoo. Our staff

will be your personal guides as they share their passion for the critters in their care.

Listen to stories of the animals’ antics and personality quirks that will open your eyes

and tickle your funny bone. Walk on the Wild side this summer! Visit www.houstonzoo.

org/tours for available tours and dates.

Members F i r s t SaturdaysBeat the summer heat and lead your pack to the Zoo on the first Saturday of every month

at 8 a.m. for early entry. This is an exclusive opportunity for members only.

Adopt a Houston Zoo An imalWhy not adopt a bear for your brother or a sea lion for that special someone? Or how

about our newest resident the red panda? Not only will you be contributing to the care of

your animal, you’ll support important education and conservation programs at the Hous-

ton Zoo. So give an adoption as a gift --to yourself or someone special. Packages start at

just $35! Purchase your adopt online today at www.houstonzoo.org/adopt.

2010 Member's RewardsMembers can now make food and gift purchases at

the Zoo and earn Member Bucks to be used toward

purchases in the Houston Zoo Gift Shop. Inquire

at the membership booth or gift shop next time

you are here.

Exp lore Your Membersh ip benef i t s!Current members receive many benefits throughout the Zoo. Did you know you can by-

pass normal admission lines and go straight to the front by member-only Express Lanes?

Additionally, members receive 10% off in our store. Member discounts apply to a spin on

the Wildlife Carousel too. Go to www.houstonzoo.org/memberlevels for the full list

of Houston Zoo member benefits!

Dinosaurs are Here – Don’ t Miss I tThis summer, prehistoric dinosaurs are returning from extinction for a stay at the Hous-

ton Zoo. Members will have an exclusive opportunity to visit this exciting exhibit twice

before the general public.*

See what all the excitement is about. Don’t miss getting the first chance to meet with a

fearsome T-Rex or a massive Brachiosaurus! For more information go to www.houston-

zoo.org/dinos.

DINOSAURS! Member-only dates: Thursday, May 27, & Friday, May 28, 2010

*$2 fee per person to enter DINOSAURS!

MEMBERSHIP



This summer, dinosaurs won’t be the only creatures descend-

ing upon the Houston Zoo! With the arrival of the new dino-

saur exhibit set to debut on Memorial Day weekend, both our

Camp Zoofari kids and the Wild Winks overnight guests will

have a chance to step back in time.

Beginning June 1, children participating in Camp Zoofari

will go on a scavenger hunt that promises to be a fun-filled

adventure leading back to a time when prehistoric creatures

roamed the earth. They’ll learn all kinds of fascinating facts

about the habitats dinos lived in before they went extinct

nearly 65 million years ago, and how they directly relate to

many animals that call the Houston Zoo home today!

During the summer months we’re also featuring Doze with

the DINOSAURS!, giving you and your family or scout group

a chance to spend the night as part of our Wild Winks pro-

gram. Guests will tour grounds, the Reptile House, giraffes

and the Kipp Aquarium as well as the new DINOSAURS!

exhibit – and create their very own fossil as part of their

craft project.

If you or the kidasauruses you know are all about

dinosaurs, this summer the Houston Zoo is defi-

nitely the place to be!

For more information on our Camp Zoofari

or Wild Winks overnight programs, please

visit www.houstonzoo.org/education

or call 713-533-6739.

EDUCATION

BG NORTH AMERICA SUPPORTS CONSERVATION AT THE ZOO.

The Houston Zoo and BG North America kicked off

the Eco-Learning Lab on February 13, 2010. Ten

teachers from the Houston Independent School

District gathered at the Zoo for an exciting morn-

ing, learning how they can teach their students

about water conservation using real life examples.

In May, the teachers and their third grade students

returned to the Zoo for water quality testing at the

Zoo’s Reflection Pond and tours of aquatic exhibits.

Through BG’s unique partnership with the Zoo,

the Eco-learning lab is providing valuable science

education and teaching youth to be stewards of our

beautiful yet fragile world!

CALLING ALL KIDASAURUSES


INVADE THE HOUSTON ZOO

THIS SUMMER

DINOSAURS!

19WILDLIFE

how they hunted

and moved, their

height and weight,

what they looked

like structurally

and their diet.

And with more

being uncovered

all the time, the bigger picture continues to

evolve and grow clearer.

Is your interest piqued yet? We hope so be-

cause on Memorial Day weekend, the Houston

Zoo debuted a special, limited engagement ex-

hibit featuring ten animatronic dinosaurs that

use futuristic technology to come alive again

in a prehistoric landscape. From the mighty

T-Rex and plated Stegosaurus to the massive

Brachiosaurus and horned Triceratops, these

snarling, roaring creatures will evoke wonder

and tons of fun for every person who dares to

meet them face-to-face.

There’s dino-themed food and

drink, and we’ve brought in

special dinosaur memorabil-

ia so you can take something

home from your visit. And

what a place to have your

party! Capture the imagina-

tion of all your guests and

make it something they’ll

talk about for centuries!

Our prehistoric herd is a

thrill for all ages, but only

until September. For more

information, please go to

www.houstonzoo.org/dinos.

Dinosaurs, ranging in size from as small as a

chicken to the size of a building, roamed the land

feeding mostly on plants, though some ate meat

or hunted each other! But approximately 65 mil-

lion years ago, during the Cretaceous period, the

majority of dinosaurs went extinct. There was a

lot of tectonic plate movement and volcanic ac-

tivity then that could have caused their demise,

through attendant earthquakes, tsunamis, and

changing weather and food sources. Another oft-

cited cause of extinction is the theory that an as-

teroid strike brought climate changes to which

the dinosaurs could not adapt.

For hundreds and even thousands of years

there’s evidence of people unearthing dino-

saur bones and fossils. So while the first dino-

saur was scientifically described as recently as

1824, the Chinese, Greeks and Romans recorded

finding them as far back as 2000 years ago! Dis-

covering giant bones in those days may be where

their idea of dragons and griffins originated.

While dinosaurs can be named

after the person that found

them, the place where they

were located or a feature

unique to them, they are usu-

ally made up of two words

– either Greek or Latin – il-

lustrating their genera and

species. Even the word ‘di-

nosaur’ originated by this method, deinos

meaning terrifying, and sauros meaning lizard.

From found skeletons and fossils it’s difficult

to tell their coloring, how they sounded, even

if they were male or female. But there is much

that can be determined, such as when they lived,


DINOSAURS!

illions of years ago, well before people inhabited the earth, the

world was populated by dinosaurs -- one of several kinds of prehistoric animals.

This was during a time known as the Mesozoic Era, also known as the Age of

the Dinosaurs, which spanned 180 million years. To get a sense of how long that

was, modern humans have only been here for about 200,000 years, with early

humans dating back to barely one million years.

M


This summer, what better place to take the kids than to

the Zoo? Some recent additions have made it better than

ever for them and for you.

We’re excited to announce a beautifully crafted walkway

as you exit the bald eagle exhibit area. There's added

rock formations, which also carry into the deer’s habitat,

and log fencing that runs past the otter exhibit to two

new rope climbing play areas! Located near the otter

slide and next to the pelican pool, with spongy rubber

mulch underneath, climbing on these ropes is a great

way for kids to learn balance and get strong while hav-

ing fun.

Now if you’re looking for a nice place to sit, you’ll find

several inviting new benches under the arms of a big

shade tree nearby. A refreshing little stream winds its

way through, adding extra cool and calm. It’s a perfect

place from which to view the playgrounds.

LOOK WHAT'S NEW AT THE CHILDREN'S ZOO !

Two places where there’s always something new happen-

ing: the Butterfly Stage, where new storytelling and inter-

active animal shows will be going on all summer long, and

the Swap Shop in the Discovery Center. Stop by, especially

if you haven’t yet; it’s a whole new way to engage your child

and help them learn about the natural world.

While there, check out the changes to the Discovery Gar-

den. Fresh flowers and plants abound, flanking a brand

new path just beside the main entrance, making it that

much easier to exit and enter the Children’s Zoo.

Because we know the John P. McGovern Children’s Zoo is

a place that our guests return to again and again, we have

even more improvements planned throughout the summer.

So come back, discover, and enjoy!

Go to www.houstonzoo.org/McGovern for information.

IT'S A POSTER!

DINOSAURS! are invading the Hous-ton Zoo this summer. Go back in time to when these awe-inspiring beasts dominated the earth.

Come meet the Parasaurolophus, Ty-rannosaurus Rex and Triceratops pic-tured here, along with the other di-nosaurs now on exhibit from May 29 through September 6.

To read more about them all, log on to www.houstonzoo.org/dinos.

The Houston Zoo 1513 Cambridge StreetHouston, Texas 77030

Visit online atwww.houstonzoo.org

Non-Prof i tOrgan izat ionU.S. Postage

PA I DHouston, Texas

Permit No. 8963

Guess what? You can book tours of up

close and personal visits with our meerkats!

Or how about our African wild dogs, amus-

ing otters, velvety okapi, or spectacled

bears, not to mention a wide variety

of our birds and primates, or the Kipp

Aquarium... and that’s just to name a few!

If you’ve never experienced a Behind the

Scenes Tour at the Houston Zoo, it’s the

most awesome way to spend a day, and

make it one you’ll never, ever forget.

What are you waiting for? Discover the

entire menu of our tours by visiting

www.houstonzoo.org/events/tours/behind.

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES!

Documents

Houston Zoo WILDLIFE Magazine Summer 2010