Archive for the ‘What You Can Do’ Category

Aug
23

What Really Matters

Posted by Peter in Animal Origins & Fun Facts,Endangered Species,Going Green,What You Can Do

It can be overwhelming. Every media outlet you turn to – all the messages are negative. Crime, economy, natural disasters…so we shut down mentally.

At the zoo we talk about the struggle to preserve wildlife and wildlife habitat. People need to see what is going on in the world, but you need to see the positives as well.

In Rwanda, a team of field veterinarians are tending to the health of Mountain Gorillas. In Zimbabwe, education bush camps are teaching children to protect Painted Dogs.  In Texas, the Houston Zoo and partners are reintroducing Attwater’s Prairie Chickens and Houston Toad back into native habitat. In Botswana, our partners at Cheetah Conservation Botswana are helping to protect the health of the communities’ domestic animals and working side-by-side to ensure the safety of their livestock. At the zoo, we recycle and reduce our landfill waste stream. 

A colleague once said to me Human nature does not program us to be proactive until it is almost too late. Well that is dissapointing. What really matters is for everyone to do something positive, just one thing. What really matters is that one thing can ultimately lead to a larger chain of events.

Find one minute a day to step back and look around – have you ever just stopped to watch the birds or butterflies in your neighborhood?  A recent poll found Houston #3 on the list of most stressful cities. We work too much, do not get outside enough (it’s hot, it’s humid, it’s buggy – I get it). But if you take a moment and find one minute a day to do that one simple positive thing – that is what really matters.

…and now for your viewing pleasure, a random photo of a mountain gorilla and his very engaging feet…

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Aug
16

Texas

Posted by Peter in Animal Origins & Fun Facts,Endangered Species,Field Research,Sea Turtles,Texas,What You Can Do,amphibians

Everything is bigger in Texas, and the biodiversity is no exception. Ten recognized eco-regions are home to an amazing abundance of wildlife and plants in the Lone Star State. Over 80 species of mammals, 600 plus species of birds, more than 250 species of reptiles and amphibians and countless thousands of species of invertebrates can be found in Texas. Of the nearly 6,000 species of plants found here, at least 325 are endemic and found nowhere else in the world.

North American River Otter

Our Houston toad head-start program has seen over 30,000 tadpoles and toads released to their natal ponds this year alone. One of the most critically endangered birds in the United States, the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken, is hatched and reared for release to augment their ever dwindling wild population. Our Education staff conducts field and science based programs for local school children to foster appreciation for this endemic grouse. Outreach programs also focus on the restoration of the black bear to the dense Pineywoods of East Texas, our vanishing coastal prairies, endangered sea turtles and local amphibian declines. In a state that is 97 percent private, we continue to expand collaboration with landowners – both working with them directly and assisting with workshops to teach them to manage their property for endangered wildlife. Other local research and field activities include turtle road mortality and mitigation, sea turtle nest patrols, and assistance with ongoing graduate projects with local universities.

Attwater's Prairie Chicken chickThe Houston Zoo’s conservation mission is to make the Houston Zoo a leader in conservation as it relates to the survival of threatened wildlife, the wise use of natural resources, and the appreciation of our natural world by our zoo visitors. We take wildlife conservation in Texas seriously and we would like for all Texans to appreciate the State’s unique habitats and heritage.

Want to hear more about what makes Texas so special? Then join us on November 17th for a very special speaker event featuring Carter Smith, Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 6:30pm-8:00pm in our Brown Education Center. Link here for tickets.

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Aug
12

Palm Oil – what you can do

Posted by Peter in Borneo,Endangered Species,Featured,What You Can Do,orangutan

We are much too impatient these days. When was the last time you spent a few extra minutes at the grocery store looking at an ingredient label? Those extra few minutes can help protect orangutans in the wild.

Due to its low cost, Palm Oil has replaced many of the saturated fats and other vegetable oils that at one time were part of many of the processed foods we purchase in the store. Oil Palms produce more oil per hectare of land than any other oil producing crop – clearly it is the cheaper alternative for companies. But many of these companies look away at the removal of both wildlife and forest to produce palm oil products. Although large companies such as Unilever and Nestle’s have suggested they are moving to a sustainable palm oil product, there are still dozens of large companies who are not, and in turn, fuel the trade in palm oil from poorly managed plantations who will kill wildlife and burn forests to clear land for production.

Orangutans are found only on the islands of Sumatra (Indonesia) and Borneo (made up of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei). 85% of the worlds plam oil comes out of Indonesia and Malaysia. The third largest forest nation with 120 million hectares, Indonesia is subsequently the world’s third largest carbon polluter and loses more than 1 million hectares per year due to illegal logging, illicit land clearing and forest fires. About 90 percent of the approximately 40,000 wild orangutans live in Indonesia, between Sumatra and Borneo islands, while the remaining 10 percent can be found in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia. Both species of orangutans have been place on the red list of The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with The Sumatran species listed as critically endangered. 

Palm oil plantation and habitat loss

Orangutans are potentially disappearing at the rate of up to 2,000 individuals per year due to loss of habitat and hunting pressures. Loss of habitat is specifically due to increasing plam oil plantations as well as pulp and paper concessions.

I was in Walgreens last week and picked up two bags of a similiar product. One had plam oil in the ingredient, the other did not and was the same price or less. The decision was easy, and only added a few seconds to my trip. Is it worth it? Take a look at your food and even health care packaging (Dove, shampoos, etc.) at home. What percentage of the product you now buy contains palm oil?

Palm oil production has been documented as a cause of substantial and often irreversible damage to the natural environment. It’s impacts include deforestation, habitat loss for critically endangered species, and a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Make a statement with your shopping habits, it is the only way left in keeping orangutans off the extinction list.

Voices of the Forest: Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project

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Aug
10

600 ft in the air for sea turtle conservation, how do I get myself in these situations?

Posted by Rachel in Endangered Species,Field Research,Sea Turtles,Texas,What You Can Do,community-based conservation

Sweet plane. It even has a parachute!

Picture this gem of a scene. It’s Saturday morning, July 17th, 2010. Angleton, Texas. Brazoria County Airport.

I am in the smallest airplane on earth. I am about to take OFF in the smallest airplane on earth.

 Apparently, I will fly 600 – 1000 feet above the Gulf of Mexico.

 I am quite certain I will not be coming back. 

What will become of poor Mr. Jiggs? (Mr. Jiggs is my 14 year old pug) Did I leave my flat iron on? Why didn’t I use the restroom before I got in the plane?

 I am speaking to myself in first person. I don’t think I was doing this aloud, but maybe I was. Who knows at this point?

 Despite my terror and impending feeling of doom, I do feel kind of cool because I have on those pilot headphone thingies and am kind of having a Top Gun moment. I want to say something like ” Alpha Bravo Charlie 2 5 6 8 3, what’s your AGL, OVER”. I don’t. In hindsight, I should have though.

 I am wondering the following:

 Why is the pilot explaining to me the whole…”If I have a heart attack this is the lever you need to pull” type thing and why are we having the “this is the little GPS tracking device, and you will need to press this button twice before we ditch so they can find us” type discussion? Why am I wearing a life vest flotation device?

 Why did I lie about my weight and say I was five pounds lighter that I am? Really? I would rather die and take two innocent people down with me than tell someone my actual weight?

Me, the co-pilot!

I nervously attempted to repeat what he had just said to me because I realized that while he was giving me instructions I was thinking about the Top Gun volleyball scence and was so shocked that he was talking to me about this type of situation that I wasn’t really paying attention. Oh god. I am a goner for sure.

You may be trying to figure out why I am putting myself through this type of panic causing situation? Well, to be honest, this was an honor and a once in a lifetime type experience!

Jeanine, student with TAMU Galveston and Kemps ridley patrol coordinator on the upper Texas coast!

 My good friend Carole Allen, a conservation hero, sea turtle advocate and Gulf Coast Director with the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, asked myself, along with a few other lucky individuals, if we would be interested in taking a LightHawk flight in the few days following the opening of shrimp season off of the Texas coast. Shrimp boats must be equipped with Turtle Excluder Devices (aka TEDs) when trawling for shrimp so any captured endangered sea turtles can escape and not drown. Find out more about sea turtles and Houston Zoo conservation efforts here.

 We were to look for the following things during our flight: 

  • Law enforcement presence
  • Evidence of illegal shrimp boats
  • Counting number of shrimp boats
  • To look for evidence of oil off of the Texas coast

 The unique and amazing non-profit organization that was able to make this aerial survey a reality was a nonprofit group called LightHawk. LightHawk’s mission is to champion environmental protection through the unique perspective of flight. Their goal is to mobilize enough volunteer pilots, aircraft and resources to help tip the balance toward sustainability for every major environmental issue within their targeted areas of focus.

Randy our super talented pilot that got me back on the ground alive. Thanks Randy!

Take off!

Our pilot, Randy Henry, a retired employee of Kinkos, spends his free time, and donates his beautiful plane, to help not only with conservation projects like ours, but with human aid efforts as well. Really, a genuine and fantastic person all around. Bravo to you Randy Henry! It just shows you that no matter what you do for a living or what your hobby is, conservation groups need your expertise and time. Whether you or an accountant, a photographer, a writer or a mechanic, we need you! You can make a difference to an amazing program near you!

Despite all my paranoia and protests, this was the most amazing flight I have ever been on. You really feel like a feather floating in the air. The take off and landing was so smooth, you didn’t even realize it had happened! Much smoother than your commercial airline flight.

We counted over 30 shrimp boats on our flight. No law enforcement. No sign of oil.

Shrimp boat. Yes, we were that close. 600ft.

Aug
06

Procrasti-Nation and Cell Phone Recycling

Posted by Peter in Africa,Endangered Species,Gorilla,What You Can Do

I will do what I have to do as long as I do not have to do anything until it is necessary for me to do so.

That about sums it up for most of us as we set aside trivial tasks throughout the week, month, year, decade…Pull the weeds – maybe next week. Touch up the paint on the back door- nobody can see it anyway. Insulate the attic – it’s too hot to work up there 9 months out of the year, I’ll wait until it is cold again. What are all these broken cell phones doing in the junk drawer? They are not really in the way, I’ll throw them out later.

I had a friend bring me a bag of 6 phones and chargers last week. They were in a box in his garage for 2 years. 6 phones? There are 2 people in his family! We cannot keep up with the cell phone revolution and our landfills should not have to either. To make matters worse, every phone not recovered and recycled is equal to minerals and resources coming directly out of the African Congo. Everyobe says – “What can we do?”. Here is what you can do and it really makes a difference.

Bring your cell phone to the zoo for recycling and help save wildlfe, and people, in Africa. Civil wars and rebel groups thrive on the illegal trade in the resources which make our phones,  laptops, digital cameras, and video games run. The mineral called tantalum or coltan and it acts as a capacitor in your phone. Armed groups in eastern Congo that control minerals, mines and trading routes generate an estimated $180 million each year by trading four main minerals: tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold.

And with these groups comes habitat destruction, illegal poaching and bushmeat, as well as the loss of human life due to the civil unrest. Something as simple as a cell phone has created a power struggle over resources. By recycling that resource so that it can be refurbished and re-used, we cut down on the amount of product imported, and hopefully slow down the trade. Contact conservation@houstonzoo.org for more information.

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Aug
05

Join us in Yellowstone for the 2011 Wolves & Bear Discovery Trip!

Posted by Rachel in Carnivores,Endangered Species,Travel,What You Can Do

Travel with the Houston Zoo and Wildlife Expeditions for:

Yellowstone Wolves and Bear Discovery   May 17-21, 2011

 I have had some pretty fantastic wildlife experiences in my day, and generally, I get most excited about the slimey and scaley. However, I have to admit, seeing a wolf in Yellowstone National Park goes down as one of my most exhilirating wildlife moments ever.

When I peered ino the spotting scope, my heart pounded and pure exhiliration soared, to see an animal so wild, elusive and misunderstood. It was a male and a female moving together, gracefully and swiftly towards a kill site. They fed until their bellies were round and carried away chunks of meat to their den site for no doubt several eager wolf pups. The wolf, gone from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for many decades, was reintroduced back into the park in 1996. The transformation of the park since their reintroduction is amazing. Everything in the park is flourishing, a trickle down effect from keeping the elk herds in check, has allowed native grasses and willow to grow once again, beavers, moose and song birds to rebound, amongst several other species.

Join us for this exiciting tour and see first hand how the wolf has breathed life back into Yellowstone National Park.

This trip offers premiere wolf and bear viewing opportunities in the country. This program is a must if you are a bear or wolf enthusiast, or are just curious about large predators. Participants travel to the best sites in Yellowstone to view grizzly and black bear behavior as they emerge from months of hibernation, and the interaction of wolves and their prey. You’ll enjoy spying bison and elk calves, the magnificent green-up of North America’s “Little Serengeti,” and famed scenic highlights of the world’s first national park.

There is no where else in America you can see 4 or 5 different species of hooved animal mingling together, along with top predators, wiley coyotes, foxes, song birds, multiple bird species of prey, and chirping ground squirrels.

 For pricing, itinerary and more photos visit our website here.

 Grizzly mom and cubs

Comments from May 2010 participants:
 
What did you enjoy most about the Discovering Bears and Wolves Yellowstone Tour?
 
“The sights were breathtaking and our excellent guides’ encyclopedic knowledge of the park and wildlife made every drive a special experience.  The thrill of seeing a mother Grizzly with her two new cubs could only be topped by watching three wolves travel across a ridge to feast on their kill in a river bed. Sharing all this with a congenial group of Zoo members made it all the more enjoyable.” ~Alice and Roy Lively
 
“There’s terrific diversity, impressive numbers, and the animals are sufficiently habituated to humans they let you watch them.” ~Alma & Ed Novotny
 
What did enjoy most about traveling with the Houston Zoo? 
 
“The people from the Zoo and the others on the trip.  We can’t think of anything that would have made this trip better for us.  It met and exceeded all of our expectations and we have sung the praises of this trip to all who would listen.” ~LaNelle and Frank McKay
 
 This trip is limited to 12 participants. Spots will fill up soon!

We sold out very quickly for this tour in 2010.

Aug
04

Thirsty Dogs Help Wildlife Conservation

Posted by Peter in Africa,Animal Origins & Fun Facts,Carnivores,Endangered Species,Painted Dog,What You Can Do,community-based conservation

New** Now available in the zoo gift shop!  Keep your dog cool, and let him support conservation of his or her distant wild cousins in Africa, by purchasing our new dog water bottles. These unique water bottles are specialized for a domestic dog’s tongue, with an easy to drink roller ball, and are available in green or red.  All proceeds from the purchase of this product go to saving the second most endangered carnivore in Africa, the Painted Dog (aka African wild dog).  The bottle has the Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) logo on it.  PDC is located in Hwange National park, Zimbabwe, Africa and is committed to protecting the Painted Dog in partnership with the local people.

Painted Dogs, also known as African Wild Dogs, are unique to Africa and they are among this continent’s most endangered species. It is estimated that a mere 3,000  – 5,000 remain. The Painted Dog Conservation program in Zimbabwe focuses on community outreach, education and development,  Painted Dog rehabiliation and re-introduction.

Contact conservation@houstonzoo.org for more information on where to purchase.

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Jul
30

Save Electricity Save Money and Go Green

Posted by Peter in Featured,Going Green,What You Can Do

Have you ever thought about changing electricity providers? No, because it was much too confusing? You pay by the Kilowatt hour (Kwh) used which makes about as much sense to us as a British Thermal Unit (BTU).

What in the world is a Kilowatt hour anyway? I think I understand so here is an example: For every hour of electricity you run the lights, washer, computer, and air-conditioner in your home, divide the amount of time you spend worrying about your budget, subtract number of people in your household, add the square root of your pets, divide by pie (3.14 – cherry or apple pie works best here) and add the number of slugs you find on your patio when the Houston humidity is 88% or higher.

In Algebra it looks like this: A(Kwh x 4)-3+2b2d(3.14 cherry) + 8 slugs @88% = 0.112 cents per Kwh. Simples!

Two years ago and with much consternation, I made the leap to a green energy supplier and freaked out when my monthly bill went down. How is this possible in a free society? My bill went down, really? A few weeks ago I found a site which makes switching even easier than my leap of faith (which is also the title of an excellent video on amphibians) at http://www.powertochoose.org or http://www.saveonenergy.com

You just click on a button and it gives you not only all the companies and their rates in the area but shows how much 1,000Kwh would cost you so you can see actual dollars and decide if you want the company that cost you $109 per 1,000Kwh or $130 per Kwh. It does not matter if you know how many hours you use, the price is the price and you can find your current company to compare. Benefit here is you can look at green energy (wind, solar, water) suppliers and will see their costs are only a few dollars more which is a bonus to you and the environment.

Benefits – no speaking to humans on the other end of a phone – we all love this. Save money on your monthly bills. Find a green company and use less coal based electricity. Can be done from the comfort of your air conditioned home regardless of how many slugs are outside your door. Did I mention you could Save Money? 

Tune in next time to learn about BTU’s and why British wearing Thermals is related to how cold your air conditioner is. I can tell you a BTU is equal to about 1 kilojoule which means another Algebra equation is on it’s way, this time featuring dormice.

 

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Jul
28

Rwanda Calling? Volunteers Wanted!

Posted by Peter in Africa,Endangered Species,Featured,Gorilla,Travel,What You Can Do,community-based conservation

Looking for a new experience working with children at the base of a volcano where half the world’s Mountain Gorillas remain? If so, you can volunteer with Art of Conservation in Rwanda. 

Art of Conservation, Inc. educates Rwandans about conservation and the importance of maintaining a healthy environment for both people and animals while instilling in them an understanding and respect for themselves, their peers, and the natural world. The Houston Zoo is a proud supporter of the Art of Conservation program in Rwanda

Art of Conservation (AoC)  is seeking a dedicated, experienced administrative support intern to work directly with AoC Director Julie Ghrist. Interns must commit at least six weeks to the position. After six weeks, the intern position may be extended at the discretion of the Director. For a description of the position and application – link here

Rushubi Primary School 5th grade class

AoC also occasionally accepts volunteers (link here for application) for short- to medium-term volunteer placements. Their needs vary depending on the staffing situation and class schedule. In general, they seek honest, hard-working individuals who can offer support in one or more of the following areas:

  • Teaching the English-language portion of our conservation education curriculum. We are particularly interested in volunteer teachers who have a background in conservation, biology, agriculture, medicine, or public health.
  • Teaching the English-language portion of our art curriculum. We are particularly interested in volunteer teachers who have a background in drawing, painting, music, or drama.
  • Administrative work including memo writing and grant research.
  • English-language training for non-English speaking staff.
  • Computer skills training for staff.

Ready for an experience of a lifetime? Well, here is one where you can both learn and give at the same time.

I wonder if Art of Conservation will let me volunteer with them this week...maybe I will just eat some bamboo instead

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Jul
27

Kids Get to be Biologists and Track Toads

Posted by Renee in Endangered Species,Field Research,Texas,What You Can Do,amphibians

   

When I was a kid I always knew that I wanted to work with animals. I used to tell everyone I’d be a marine biologist.  I didn’t really know what that meant at the time, but I knew they got to work closely with whales and dolphins.  I had every pet my parents would allow and asked to go to every aquarium and zoo that I could find, just to get close to animals.  As I got older I started to question what I could realistically do with this desire. Anyone that got to work with them in the field or in captivity were like celebrities.  I don’t think I ever thought of it as a job — it was more like a dream.  The only animal related career that I was really exposed to was a veterinarian.  And when I decided against that, it was difficult to visualize what I could do. I was very fortunate to meet the curator of a small zoo that took me under his wing and brought me into the wonderful world of zoo keeping.  But I have been very aware that not everyone gets this type of opportunity.
I am so excited for this generation of animal lovers in Houston.  The Houston Zoo offers so much to get kids involved and connected to the animal world.  It would have been a dream come true to be a part of the zoo camps and internships they offer here!
Recently, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to assist with a new, unique, interactive conservation education program called Toad Trackers.  It was developed by my very talented coworker, Rachel Rommel, and allows kids to connect with the world of research and animal science.   

Rachel with students

  

 The Toad Tracker students are introduced to the same equipment field biologists use in their research and are exposed to some of the methods used in the scientific study of animal populations.  I got to assist with the evening class where the students get to actively search for a common toad species on Zoo grounds: the Gulf Coast Toad.  When it came to listening for the toads, the kids were very serious and quiet.  I was so impressed with their level of concentration, and how well they were able to control their excitement and really focus on the task at hand.  When a toad was found, they remembered exactly what they were taught in the classroom about approaching and handling it.  The students were then carefully guided through weighing and measuring each individual, determining its’ gender, and recording its’ GPS coordinates, citing exactly where it was found.  The kids then got to observe as Paul Crump (the Houston Zoo’s Amphibian Conservation Programs Manager) pit tag each toad, which is similar to the microchip in your cat or dog.  They were very intrigued by this process.     

Students measuring toad

 Over time, the locating and tagging of these toads will provide valuable information on their growth rates, reproductive events, and movement patterns on zoo grounds.  As important as this data is, more importantly, this program is inspiring local kids and leaving them hungry for more.   I really felt the gratitude of the kids involved in this program; their intrigue was tangible!  Rachel  is creating a whole army of amphibian advocates and future biologists through Toad Trackers.
      

  

To learn more about this program check out the Houston zoo Toad Tracker website and join the Toad Trackers group on Facebook.

 

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