Good luck and good timing were working in our favor – the SSP had recently learned of a group of chimpanzees available for placement. Last summer, Zoo Director Rick Barongi and I visited the facility and found the 10 animals that would become the chimpanzees of African Forest. Now, after nearly a year of planning, we are only weeks away from their arrival.

Last week I traveled to Chicago, one of my favorite cities,  to attend the Chimpanzee SSP meeting at the Lincoln Park Zoo. We spent 2 days finalizing not only the Houston Zoo’s plans, but making recommendations for every chimp in AZA accredited zoos – moving animals around if needed, making decisions about breeding, and providing advice on animal management and exhibit design. We also got updates on the latest veterinary treatments, research projects, and the status of chimpanzees in the wild. And we got to stop and see the Lincoln Park Zoo chimps have some fun fishing in their termite mound. As is typical for an SSP meeting, it was productive and exhausting!

Now its back to work here at the zoo, there’s lots to do – chimps arrive in less than a month!

artist's rendering of the chimpanzee exhibit

]]> http://www.houstonzooblogs.org/zoo/2010/06/shopping-for-animals/feed/ 4 http://www.houstonzooblogs.org/zoo/2010/06/meet-the-keeper-suzanne-jurek/ http://www.houstonzooblogs.org/zoo/2010/06/meet-the-keeper-suzanne-jurek/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:30:10 +0000 Andrea Pohlman http://www.houstonzooblogs.org/zoo/?p=2561

Suzanne shows off a bat skeleton to Zoo guests.

Hometown:Born in Memphis, TN but now a naturalized Texan!
Section: Children’s Zoo – Primary: Desert/Prairie
Quote: “Science without religion is lame; Religion without science is blind.” –Albert Einstein  

Special Interests/Hobbies:
Reading, time with my family, anything related to bats, active in church.  

Interesting Facts:
Population manager for Jamaican Fruit Bats, Certified Interpretive Guide, and once named All City Supreme Princess – of course I was only 4 at the time!  

What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?
Some college – 10 years volunteering at the Houston Zoo and on the job.  

Suzanne introduces Trixie to Saint Nick during "Breakfast with Santa"

What animals do you train, and what is your favorite section in the Children’s Zoo?   

I train the foxes in our Desert/Prairie section of the Children’s Zoo, which is also my favorite section!  

What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?
Science, science, science.  

What is your favorite animal story?
Too many to pick from! We work with the most amazing creatures! I have seen such intelligence and such determination in them. They bring tears to my eyes on a regular basis – mostly in awe of them.

If you have any questions or comments for Suzanne, feel free to post it in the comment section!

Twelve Meerkats Munching

Eleven Houston Toads Chirping

Ten Floating Jellies

Nine Ne-Ne Geese Singing

Eight Growing Giraffes

Seven Orangs a’Hangin’

Six Entertaining Elands

Five Elephants Trumpeting

Four Komodos Crawling

Three Leaping Leopards

Two Curious Coatis

And A Toby The Red Panda In A Tree

We hope you enjoyed our countdown of the 12 Days of Christmas at the Houston Zoo.

Eleven Houston Toads Chirping

Ten Floating Jellies

Nine Ne-Ne Geese Singing

Eight Growing Giraffes

Seven Orangs a’Hangin’

Six Entertaining Elands

Five Elephants Trumpeting

Four Komodos Crawling

Three Leaping Leopards

Two Curious Coatis

And A Toby The Red Panda In A Tree

Stay tuned to our blogs as we count down the 12 Days of Christmas at the Houston Zoo.

Ten Floating Jellies

Nine Ne-Ne Geese Singing

Eight Growing Giraffes

Seven Orangs a’Hangin’

Six Entertaining Elands

Five Elephants Trumpeting

Four Komodos Crawling

Three Leaping Leopards

Two Curious Coatis

And A Toby The Red Panda In A Tree

Stay tuned to our blogs as we count down the 12 Days of Christmas at the Houston Zoo.

Nine Ne-Ne Geese Singing

Eight Growing Giraffes

Seven Orangs a’Hangin’

Six Entertaining Elands

Five Elephants Trumpeting

Four Komodos Crawling

Three Leaping Leopards

Two Curious Coatis

And A Toby The Red Panda In A Tree

Stay tuned to our blogs as we count down the 12 Days of Christmas at the Houston Zoo.

Eight Growing Giraffes

Seven Orangs a’Hangin’

Six Entertaining Elands

Five Elephants Trumpeting

Four Komodos Crawling

Three Leaping Leopards

Two Curious Coatis

And A Toby The Red Panda In A Tree

Stay tuned to our blogs as we count down the 12 Days of Christmas at the Houston Zoo.

Seven Orangs a’Hangin’

Six Entertaining Elands

Five Elephants Trumpeting

Four Komodos Crawling

Three Leaping Leopards

Two Curious Coatis

And A Toby The Red Panda In A Tree

Stay tuned to our blogs as we count down the 12 Days of Christmas at the Houston Zoo.

Six Entertaining Elands

Five Elephants Trumpeting

Four Komodos Crawling

Three Leaping Leopards

Two Curious Coatis

And A Toby The Red Panda In A Tree

Stay tuned to our blogs as we count down the 12 Days of Christmas at the Houston Zoo.

Five Elephants Trumpeting

Four Komodos Crawling

Three Leaping Leopards

Two Curious Coatis

And A Toby The Red Panda In A Tree

Stay tuned to our blogs as we count down the 12 Days of Christmas at the Houston Zoo.