People immediately began asking questions; “How old are they?”  ”Which one is the Mom?” “Is that one OK that just rolled down the hill??”  These were the easy questions to answer; four weeks old, Mom is the lightest colored one, and yes, they roll around a lot and the adults keep a close eye that they make it back to the nest.

One of the trickier questions to answer was “How come we didn’t know you had babies until now?”  The answer to that essentially lies in the complicated social structure of meerkats,  how we have to try to decipher their behavior and how we use that knowledge when making management decisions in captivity.

In the wild, only the alpha pair is allowed to breed.  Unfortunately our alpha male died about three years ago, and since then, alpha female, Chafu, has not had any babies. We recently noticed that one of our other females, Kala, was pregnant.  Because Kala is a subordinate animal, we were worried that Chafu’s natural instinct would kick in and she might try to harm the babies.  We decided to try to help Kala protect her kits.

The keepers weigh all of the meerkats regularly and keep meticulous records.  Because of this we were able to determine when Kala’s weight was at a point at which meerkats generally give birth. We kept Kala inside to give birth instead of allowing her access to the outside tunnels where we would not be able to help her if anything went wrong. We also rotated three or four mob members in with her each day, all except Chafu. We timed it perfectly and the second night that Kala was inside she gave birth.  She had a cozy den that she kept the kits in and we continued to rotate other individuals in with her.  They were all very protective of the kits and helped Kala by “babysitting” when she would leave the den to eat.  It took a few days but eventually the adults were comfortable enough to let the keepers get a peek and count six babies!
Check out this picture. Cute!

Four day old meerkat kits snoozing in their nest.

The babies are now four weeks old, very mobile and beginning to eat solid food.  It was time for their first foray into the yard.  In preparation, we brought Chafu and three buddies inside and let the rest of the mob out.  Within moments the babies were peeking out and beginning to explore.  Here they are during their first minutes in the big wide world.  Could you wish for anything cuter?

The playful kits are always under the watchful eye of their babysitters.

After the kits have a few days to explore, we will start to introduce Chafu back into the group.  She has seen, smelled and touched the babies through a mesh barrier, and has exhibited no aggression towards them.  This is very encouraging. We will have plenty of staff on hand ready to assist in case things don’t go according to plan, but we have high hopes that because the rest of the mob has accepted the babies, Chafu will too.

Stop by the Natural Encounters building when you visit the zoo and watch the kits as they explore and tumble in their yard.  Of course we’ll be blogging as they grow so check back often and let us know in the comments what you think of our super cute kits!

We are enjoying working with her immensely, but she definitely keeps us on our toes!  She can be soliciting a scratch or a play session one second and then clacking her beak at you and attempting to abscond with your treat container the next.  She definitely has her own ideas about what she wants to do and how a training session should progress, and although we shied away from Lenore, we thought an obscure Poe reference could be in order.

So all the factors; her flight was delayed because of a storm, she changes moods on a dime, Poe reference….hmmmm…

Finally we hit on the perfect name!

We’d like to introduce Tempest the Raven!

Natural Encounters Keeper Amelia plays a game of tug-of-war with Tempest as Supervisor Amanda watches the fun.

 Elegant Crested Tinamous, found mostly in Argentina, are football shaped ground birds with fancy hats.  Tinamous are usually shy and elusive birds. When it comes time to breed the female will lay her shiny green eggs in a ground nest under the shelter of a bush. It is then the males’ job to incubate the eggs and care for the chicks.

Vividly colored Tinamou eggs

Our breeding pair of Tinamous here at the Houston Zoo, located in the Fischer Bird Gardens, has successfully provided us with an abundance of fertile eggs. Since the male has not yet shown interest in incubating them, our bird department team took over and placed the eggs in an incubator.

This past July 2 chicks hatched and almost immediately began exploring the world (inside their brooder box that is). Tinamou chicks hatch looking remarkably similar to the adults, and even have a starter crest.

Adult female

Hatched chick on day 2

To hand raise the chicks we are feeding them a combination of pheasant starter pellets, chopped fruits, egg and insects. As a keeper, it’s our job to provide the food and clean accommodations, but the chicks are able to feed themselves almost from day one.

Lunch!

We keepers mostly get to sit back and watch their crest grow! You can see why they’re called Elegant Crested…

By day 10 it's crest has nearly doubled in length!

These birds always make me think of something from Dr. Seuss…  Can you see it? Tell me in the comments below!

Written by Samantha Montgomery

Except for one taxonomic family, all spiders possess venom glands.  By far, the majority of spiders are not dangerous to people although allergic reactions can occur as with wasp or bee stings.  The only spiders of medical significance in Texas are the Black widow (Latrodectus mactans) and the Brown recluse (Loxosceles recluse).  

The name Black widow is actually a misnomer as the action implied rarely occurs.  Black widows have a potent neurotoxic venom which can be quite dangerous to debilitated persons and young children.  An antivenom is available for Black widow bites if deemed necessary.  Brown recluse venom is a necrotoxin which can cause tissue damage. 

After a male’s last molt he is sexually mature and will spend the rest of his life seeking mates, oblivious to everything else including food.  Most male spiders only live for a few months after their maturing molts.  The male constructs a special sperm web onto which he deposits sperm from his genital opening.  The sperm is then taken up into the pedipalps to be later placed in the genital opening of the female.  After a few weeks the female will construct a silken cocoon in which to lay her eggs which can number from a few to several thousand.

Many spiders guard their egg cases.  Some spiders even exhibit parental care.  A wolf spider female will open the egg sac and allow the spiderlings to ride on her back for a few weeks.  There is even a spider that will regurgitate food for her offspring.

We come close to many more spiders than we will ever know because of their size and habits.  These seemingly primitive mechanical creatures actually prove very interesting if one spends a little time observing them.

Written by Judith Bryja, Houston Zoo Herpetology Supervisor

Susan Shepard

Hometown:  Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, CA (Oceanside)

Department/Title: Carnivore Keeper

How long have you worked at the Houston Zoo?: 8 years

How long have you been in the your field?: Total of 11 years – I worked at the Topeka Zoo for 2 ½ years

Animals I train: Patty (Spectacled Bear); Kadu (Leopard); Uzima (one of newest female Lions); Taji (Anatolian Shepherd)

Favorite animal: Spectacled Bears – bears in general!

Animals at home: I have a Blue and Gold Macaw, 1 dog and 2 cats.

Special interests/hobbies: Knitting, reading, hiking, working with Rhodesian Ridgeback and Anatolian Shepherd rescue groups. I also volunteer at a low cost spay/neuter clinic in La Marque.

Spectacled Bear

What made you want to work at a zoo?:

Initially I wanted to be a vet but by the time I would have gotten accepted, I would have had to go to college for 8 years and didn’t want to commit the time. I also knew that I did not want to work with livestock animals as a career. One day a woman from Cat Tales, a private facility in Spokane, WA that specializes in cats, came to the university and did a presentation about cats and zoo keeping. She brought one of their leopards and took him out for part of the presentation. After talking with her I thought Zoo Keeping would be fun to do as a career. I did some research, decided that it was something I wanted to do and switched my major to Zoology.

Education/training: Bachelor of Science Zoology, emphasis on Animal Care from Washington State University and a Certificate in Zoo Keeping from Cat Tales Zoological Training Center.

Advice to anyone wanting to enter your field: Be prepared for a lot of hard work and don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a job right away! Getting a job takes a lot of luck and good timing. You have to work for it and be persistent! If possible, take courses in psychology, training workshops, horticulture, and public speaking.

Aruba Island rattlesnake

So wrote Carolus Linnaeus in his description of reptiles in his Systema Naturae published in 1735. In fact, throughout much of human history, snakes have been among the most maligned and persecuted groups of animals.

The unreasonable fear of snakes is quite prevalent in our society and myths and misconceptions abound whenever snakes are brought up in conversation. The general public conception is that snakes are the “enemy” and should be killed on sight. It has been estimated that over 50% of our population exhibit some anxiety or nervousness in the presence of snakes while another 20% are terrified, some to the point where even a picture of a snake can cause severe distress (Werler and Dixon, 2000). Psychologists have coined a term to describe this condition (ophidiophobia) and it is considered to be one of the more difficult fears to overcome. 

The news media also plays a role in shaping this attitude. Most publicity concerning snakes is of a negative nature. Venomous snakebites often receive extensive local media coverage far beyond the actual threat to human life. Rarely is it pointed out that the chances of death from a venomous snakebite are considerably less than the chances of dying from a lightning strike or from an insect bite (Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health).

These fears persist in spite of overwhelming evidence, both scientific and anecdotal, on the important roles that snakes play in a healthy ecosystem. Many scientific articles point to the value of snake species in food chains in temperate and tropical ecosystems. Areas where snakes are removed often display a population explosion of rodents, usually to the detriment of nearby agricultural enterprises. For example, the Chinese news agency has reported that the increased intensive hunting of wild snakes for their meat (which is considered to be a delicacy) and other products used in traditional medicines has resulted in a dramatic increase in the rodent population with devastating consequences for the Chinese farmer.

Canebrake rattlesnake

Out of all snakes, the rattlesnakes probably have received more unjust notoriety and have been persecuted needlessly more than any other group, especially in the United States. It is doubtful that any other animal group is more feared or less understood by the general public. This persecution has reached such a point that, in some states (seven, to be exact), “Rattlesnake Roundups” are a popular fund-raising event for organizations such as the local Chamber of Commerce or the Jaycees. The largest of these roundups is held each March in Sweetwater, Texas and shows no sign of diminishing in spite of recent criticism by many private herpetological organizations, various Audubon societies, and by many animal welfare groups.

Slowly, however, the bad reputation that snakes have had is changing, even when rattlesnakes are involved. This can be seen in the ever-increasing numbers of successful herpetological societies that are being established in North America, and also by the increasing popularity of non-venomous snakes as pets.

The Houston Zoo Herpetology Department also is involved in educating people about snakes. Despite the fear that many people feel for snakes, there is, at the same time, a fascination about them and a strong desire to see both non-venomous and venomous snakes up close in a non-threatening environment. This desire is especially strong in the state of Texas, which has more species of snakes (both venomous and non-venomous) than any other state in the Union.

To meet this need, the zoo maintains a large proportion of snakes in its reptile collection. Twenty eight exhibits in the Herpetology building are devoted to venomous snakes of which nine are reserved for different species of rattlesnakes. Sixteen other exhibits are devoted to non-venomous snakes. Over each set of exhibits is a flat-screen monitor which displays a picture of the species, its range, and an interesting fact about the animal.

So, the next time you come to the zoo, be sure to visit the Reptile Building and check out our snakes and learn about this fascinating group of animals!

References:

Werler, John E., and James R. Dixon. 2000. Texas Snakes: Identification,   Distribution, and Natural History. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.

 This year, our pair hatched a chick on July 24th after about 25 days of incubation. Even though the parents are raising the chick, we still do our part as keepers to help them.

We give them a special diet three times a day, made up of chopped apple, bananas, sweet potato, carrot, corn, and grapes. Also, parakeet seed mix, sunflower seeds, and a crunchy pellet.  Yum!

Fresh and nutritious!

We occasionally get the chick out of the nest  box to see to it’s well being. When we do this we get a weight and check overall health. We will also put a band around the chick’s leg so that we will be able to identify it when it is older.

Attaching a leg band

When the chicks fledge (leaves the nest box), you will be able to see them on exhibit, right across from the flamingo exhibit, around September  10th.

He’ll look a LOT different by then!  Come check the little guys out.

Written by Jessica Clark

A  few quick facts to start:

• Approximately 41,000 species of spiders have been described thus far.
• About 900 call Texas home.
• Spiders are placed in the Class Arachnida which also includes scorpions, mites, ticks, and seven other taxonomic orders. 
• The lifespan of a spider can vary from a few months up to twenty-five years for female tarantulas! 
• All spiders are strictly carnivorous. 
• Most spiders are solitary although a few live communally and cooperate in obtaining prey.

Spiders possess two main body parts: the prosoma (front part or cephalothorax) and the opisthosoma (rear part or abdomen).  Four pairs of walking legs are attached to the prosoma.  A pair of pedipalps are in front of the first pair of legs.  These leglike appendages are used for manipulating prey. 

In the male spider, the pedipalps are used as an intromittent sex organ.  In front of the pedipalps are the chelicerae which are used for defense, subduing prey, and grasping things.  The fangs are housed in a special groove in the chelicerae. 

Although most spiders have eight eyes, some have only two, four, or six.

Some cave dwelling spiders have lost their eyes completely.  Most spiders have fairly poor vision; however, some can see quite well.  Jumping spiders, which actively stalk their prey, have excellent vision.  They also take the award for cutest spider as they will turn their furry heads to peer intently at you.  Spiders breathe by way of tubular tracheae and book lungs.  Book lungs (which resemble the pages of a book) are located on the ventral side of the opisthosoma and allow for air exchange. 

Spiders must molt in order to grow.  The old cuticle separates from the new and about a week later the old skin is shed.  Spiders are extremely vulnerable right after molting and until the new cuticle hardens.

Silk is produced in glands at the rear of the abdomen.  The glands end in spigots at the end of three pairs of spinnerets.  Spider silk is incredibly strong.  It is used for snares as well as draglines and egg cases.  Female spiders have a special gland specifically for producing egg sac silk.  The spiral orb web is the most well known type of web.  One of our most eye catching natives, the yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia), can be seen resting in an orb web with a zigzag in the center.

Written by Judith Bryja, Houston Zoo Herpetology Supervisor

Penelope (right) and Olivia enjoy snuggling together, even on hot summer days!

Guinea Hog piglets. Just saying that now brings a huge smile to my face, and I’m not the only one.  Our new girls have charmed every person-young or old, zookeeper or not-that has laid eyes on them.  They now have adorable names to match their very individual personalities: Penelope and Olivia.  Named after two famous piglets from children’s story books, Olivia was named such for her dainty, princess-like personality.  Penelope, on the other hand, goes by the nickname “bulldozer”, always trying to push her way to the center of attention. If these first few weeks of Penelope and Olivia being on exhibit has taught us anything, it is definitely that piglets have a TON of energy!  These girls seem to be on the move the majority of the day.  Running, chasing, bouncing off of each other, training, climbing in water bowls and searching for snacks in the dirt sure takes a lot of energy!  Even eating is a mini-marathon, each piglet trying to play and eat at the same time.  And when they are tuckered out they find a corner to snuggle in, sometimes nose to nose, other times side by side.

Play or eat? Decisions, decisions.

Even the other animals who live nearby are entertained by their antics.  The first few days on exhibit piqued everyone’s interest and nearly every move they made was being carefully watched.  Crowds of goats gathered at the fence, each one trying to get a good look at the new additions.  The Zebus called out, seeming to wonder why the attention was not centered on them, and the Llama couldn’t decide if the piglets were friend or foe.  A week later, everyone is content with Penelope and Olivia being their new neighbors.   When it is time for a training session, the excitement is easy to see.  Penelope and Olivia can’t get enough affection and attention, and they usually greet their trainers with a grunt or squeal.  According to trainer Amy Lavergne, Penelope and Olivia’s favorite reward seems to be strawberries, although being pigs they will accept almost any fruit or vegetable we give them!  Pigs are not picky.  One of the girls’ favorite behaviors to work on is paint, where the trainer applies non-toxic paint to their snouts and lets them go wild on a canvas to create their own masterpiece.  Ok, maybe they don’t go wild yet, but they’re working on it.  And just like your kids at home, they do not like cleaning up!  Running around with a bright pink nose is much more fun than taking a bath.  Before too long they will be learning to walk on harnesses to get some exercise and excitement outside of their exhibit.

Candace applies animal friendly paint to Olivia's snout, which she will use as her paintbrush.

Olivia makes her first swipe onto the canvas.

She seems to be catching on to the fun of being an animal artist!

She even managed to get some good snout prints!

A completed painting by Olivia

Next up is bath time to clean all that paint off!

For now, Penelope and Olivia are very busy exploring, playing, tasting new foods, learning new behaviors and getting used to their daily routine.  They are absolutely adorable and quite rambunctious, qualities that are sure to make them a Houston Zoo favorite for many years to come!   Be sure to visit the John P. McGovern Children’s Zoo during your next visit to see Penelope and Olivia up close! For more adorable pictures of Penelope and Olivia visit the Houston Zoo’s Photo Albums!

To learn more about Olivia books by Ian Falconer, visit http://www.oliviathepiglet.com/. Visit http://www.nicolerubel.com/nicolebooks.htm to learn more about Penelope Pig books by Nicole Rubel.

Kaitlin, a 2010 Zoo Crew member!

Name: Kaitlin McDonald
Hometown: Houston, TX
Age: 16
Section: CZ ZooCrew
Favorite Animal: Otters  

Special Interests/Hobbies: I like to read, hang out with friends, and watch movies. My favorite movie is Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn! I am also involved with volunteering with Fort Bend Teen Service League as president-elect and with Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD) as co-president.  

 What animals do you have at home?: I have two cats, Furby and Furry.  

Education/Training: I’m in High School and going to be a junior where I’ll graduate in 2012.  

Jobs: Last year I was a Zoo Crew member for the commissary. I also worked at  kids’ camp called Camp Invention.  

What do you want to do in the future?
I’m not really sure, although I definitely want to go to college!  

Why did you choose to be a Zoo Crew member for the CZ this year?
I love animals, and it seemed like a fun thing to do during the summer!  

What is it like to be a Zoo Crew member here at the Houston Zoo?
It depends on the area – In an animal section, you take care of the animals. In education, there is a lot more public interaction and teaching.  

At the Children's Zoo, Kaitlin designed and presented her own animal show!

What advice do you have for people wanting to become a Zoo Crew member?
Be prepared to work hard, but you get to see a lot of neat things!  

What is your favorite animal story?
One day in the Children’s Zoo, I got to watch Ariel (our North American River Otter) paint! It was so neat to watch Ariel step into the paint and then step on the canvas. She was also soaking wet, so it made it  very interesting painting. I absolutely love the painting, and I am definitely hanging it up on my wall in my bedroom!To learn more about becoming a Zoo Crew member here at the Houston Zoo, visit our Teen Volunteer page!