The Official Houston Zoo Blog

The FOTO FRIDAY caption challenge results are in!

Last Friday we posted our weekly Foto Friday pic and invited you to leave your best caption in the comment section. Then readers “liked” each caption comment to vote for their favorites. Their votes determined the caption to appear under the picture right here on the Official Houston Zoo Blog this week.

YOUR VOTES DETERMINE THE WINNERS!

Here is the picture that was posted along with the top voted caption by Alegra Reich:

Mom, your death stare doesn't seem to work on them the way it does on Dad.

FIRST RUNNER UP:

Kristi Jones: Mommy, why are those humans staring at us??

SECOND RUNNERS UP:

Jane Judd Peikert: Peek a boo, I see you!
Aileen Garcia: What are you staring at? Haven’t you ever seen a two-headed monkey?

Thanks for joining in the fun!

It is inevitable that on one of the hottest, muggiest, steamiest days this summer your son/daughter/spouse/insert-significant-person-in-your-life-here will practically beg you to go to the Houston Zoo. You’ll be tempted for just a moment to hole up in your air-conditioned cave and wait until October, but you soon find yourself grabbing the car keys. Don’t worry – the zoo has plenty of ways to keep you from overheating even on the hottest day in Houston. Here’s a few:

Air-Conditioned Animal Ambiance is Here

Chimp Viewing, The African Forest, Houston Zoo

The zoo has many air-conditioned indoor animal viewing areas. When you visit our new African Forest exhibit, cool off in the air-conditioned chimp viewing building. At Kipp Aquarium, cool off while you view an octopus from the chilly waters of the pacific ocean, giant stingrays or our new white-spotted jellyfish. Kids can bring their found items to trade in the Naturally Wild Swap Shop in the Children’s Zoo. In the Natural Encounters building, visit clear pools with four-eyed fish, snake-necked turtles and a cascading waterfall. Don’t miss the dark cave that’s home to a colony of asian fruit bats. The Reptile and Amphibian Building is home to Blanco, one of only fourteen white alligators in existence. You can also cool off in the Tropical Bird House, where you can walk inside an aviary to see and hear many exotic birds from around the world.

Outdoor Climate Control AKA Shade And Mist

Shade at the Children's Zoo Playground, Houston Zoo

The Houston Zoo is home to a forest of ancient oak trees that provide lots of shade. We’ve also placed misting fans  in many spots around the zoo to provide a refreshing cool breeze. In the Carnivores area of the zoo, go underground to cool off in the Lion Exhibit tunnel. There are also shaded viewing areas for lions, tigers and grizzly bears. Wortham World of Primates is set in a forest of old oaks that shade the walkways. Primate viewing also includes several covered pavilions with benches. The Red Panda Tunnel outside of Natural Encounters is a shady place to watch this very cool endangered animal.

Refreshing Respites – Shows, Snacks and Activities

Sweet Treats at the Concession Stands, Houston Zoo

When you need to take a break and rest, there are many cool options around the zoo. The Butterfly Stage in the Children’s Zoo allows guests to enjoy a show in the shade. Take a ride in the shade on the Wildlife Carousel, and guests waving from the sidelines are shaded as well. The Sea Lion Habitat has shaded viewing areas – get there early if you’d like a seat for the show. The Reflection Pool is a shady spot to watch koi fish splash and enjoy a picnic lunch. You may bring a cooler with you or choose from a variety of treats at our concessions. You can bring bottles of ice water with you to sip on while you tour the zoo – outside food and drinks are permitted. Please, no glass bottles or drinking staws. Or enjoy a fresh salad, cool drink, and choose from a variety of lunch items and rest in air-conditioned comfort at Macaw Cafe or the new Twiga Terrace in the African Forest. Before you depart, shop for unique gifts and souvenirs at the gift shops in African Forest and near the front entrance.

We hope you enjoy your cool trip to the zoo! For more ways to chill out this summer, visit TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo.

I spent the day getting things together to leave town. I needed to pack all the medical equipment (which ended up costing a total of $160.00 in excess baggage fees!) in such a way as to keep it safe and well padded for the handling it would get from Galapagos to Quito, then on to Houston on Continental Airlines. I needed to start entering data into a spread sheet so that I can compare all the information I’ve gathered from the 45 tortoises I evaluated medically during this trip.  I also wanted to pick up a few things for friends and for myself to bring back (but not too much since my luggage is teetering at being over-weight again).

This morning I got up early to be ready for the taxi that picked me up at 7:30 to take me across the island of Santa Cruz to the Canal de Itabaca where I would take the 80 cent ferry across, with my luggage, to a bus on the island of Baltra where the airport is located. I ran into my original tour guide at the airport, Alexandra Bahamonde, who showed me the wonders of Galapagos for the first time in 1992. She is still guiding tours. I may look in to her availability for the one I’ll lead for the zoo in the spring of 2011. She was great and very tolerant of a turtle nerd like me who had a lot of questions for her!

The flight to Quito was quick and smooth. Tomorrow morning I have to wake up at 4 to catch the early Continental flight, non-stop to Houston. I could be home mowing my lawn tomorrow at this time!

Giant Tortoise on Pinta Island, Galapagos

Now that you know all about this project, do you want to continue to follow what happens to the tortoises on the island?  The students that are staying on Pinta for the enxt 2.5 months have a blog as well.  The link is: http://www.retortoisepinta.blogspot.com/

They’re sending regular updates on their experience and will do so for about 10 weeks. They too have some photo images of the work in progress. There is also coverage of what we’ve done on the Galapagos Conservancy website, which partnered with us on this project. When I get back to work on Tuesday I hope to be able to get some videos of our activities down loaded so that everyone can see just what we did.

Written by Joe Flanagan