Posts Tagged ‘Houston Zoo’

Jan
13

Houston Zoo Featured in The Biodiversity Project

Posted by in Photography,Zoo News

West Usambara two-horned chameleon (Kinyongia multituberculata)

National Geographic magazine contributing photographer Joel Sartore has been working on a personal initiative, the Biodiversity Project, which has taken him around the world to document a wide range of animals.

Over the last six years he has created a collection of striking images of nearly 1,800 species. In December, Joel visited the Houston Zoo and this month he will be visiting several AZA-accredited zoos in an attempt to add another 25 species to the collection.
Joel is journaling his adventures on the National Geographic Society’s blog. To see some of the photos he captured during his Houston Zoo visit last month visit http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/visions/field-test/sartore-biodiversity/dispatch-6

Joel uses an interesting technique to ensure that all species receive the same engaging treatment in his photos – he shoots the animals using either a black or white background. Using this method, creatures of all sizes are given equal weight – and hopefully equal consideration by viewers. The idea is to show people, through beautiful images, what is at stake in terms of species loss and to inspire people to care.

The Biodiversity Project began while photographing endangered species in the United States, resulting in a 2009 story in the National Geographic magazine and a book in 2010 entitled Rare: Portraits of America’s Endangered Species. Joel shared some of his adventures at AZA’s 2010 Annual Conference in Houston, Texas.

His down to earth writing style and sense of humor make for an informative and amusing read. Check out his blog every day to see what Joel is up to, and please share the link with your colleagues!

To see more pictures from the Biodiversity Project, visit Joel’s website (http://www.joelsartore.com/galleries/the-biodiversity-project/).

 

Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli)

 

Prevost's squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii) named "Walnut"

 

Damaraland mole rats (Cryptomys damarensis)

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Jan
05

Big Cats Don’t Make Good Pets

Posted by in Carnivores,Keepers,Mammals,Zoo News

Houston Zoo Intern’s Videos Tell the Real Stories

A student at Texas A & M University at Galveston where she studies marine biology, Kaitlin McGraw interned at the Houston Zoo last summer.

Through the ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program, Kaitlin spent 8 weeks working with the Zoo’s carnivore staff.

Kaitlin has a special appreciation for predator species. “Ever since I was little I’ve loved animals and a special place in my heart has always been reserved for predators,” she said.

“When I came to the Zoo, I heard stories about the animals, and where they came from,” said Kaitlin. “I was surprised to learn how many of the animals in the Zoo’s Carnivore Department came from private owners who had kept them as pets,” Kaitlin added.

“I wanted to do something to help people understand that keeping big cats as pets is not a good idea,” Kaitlin added. The result was a series of video presentations profiling the ‘rescued cats’ at the Houston Zoo and recounting their individual stories. The videos were produced using a Canon PowerShot camera and edited on the iMovie platform.

“In the future, I hope to work with an organization like the Houston Zoo, promoting conservation education or traveling to new locales, working with marine and wildlife sanctuaries,” said Kaitlin.

Below is the first installment of Kaitlin’s videos featuring Houston Zoo big cats.  Stay tuned each week as we post a new video.

 

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Dec
26

12 Days of Grub: Day 12 – Twelve Flamingos Flocking

Posted by in Birds,Gift of Grub,Holidays

On the Twelfth Day of Grub, your zoo gift will help to feed…Twelve Flamingos Flocking, Eleven Meerkats Mobbing, Ten Chimps a Chasing, Nine Fruit Bats Flying, Eight Giraffes a Galloping, Seven Snakes a Slithering, Six Mole-rats Mining, Five Golden Frogs, Four Calling Birds, Three Wild Dogs, Two Grizzly Bears, and Darwin the Cassowary! CLICK HERE to read them all!

Chilean Flamingos Feeding at the Houston Zoo

 

Here at the Houston Zoo, one of the most beautiful sights is our large flock of Chilean Flamingos. These brightly-colored birds are social, vocal and highly interesting. Amazingly, the size of our flock is nothing compared to the spectacular gatherings these birds would naturally form in the wild; Chilean Flamingos are known to form flocks numbering into the thousands!

 

Flamingos have grooves along the edges of their beaks used for filtering small food items from the water

Without question, one of the most intriguing aspects of these unique birds is the way they feed. Flamingos have a specialized beak designed to help “filter” small plants and animals out of the water, which are then consumed and metabolized to create the striking pink coloration! Flamingos will take in a mouth full of water (along with whatever happens to be in the water), and then use their tongue to push all the water through special grooves on their beak. The result is a mouthful of food that these birds will then eat!

Here at the Houston Zoo, our flamingos are fed a variety of different pelleted diets (depending on the time of year and their current metabolic needs). These pellets are made to be nutritionally complete, which could easily help contribute to the fact that several of our flamingos are in their forties and fifties!  Our flamingos also receive krill, a small species of shrimp that is relished as a treat.

A large group of animals can prove to be ravenous; Chilean Flamingos are no exception. Our flock of birds readily eats through 50+ cups of pelleted diet per day. In addition, 5lbs of krill per week are consumed by our flamingos. When temperatures hit lows in the winter, these amounts are increased to keep up with the metabolic needs of these amazing birds.

Give the Gift of Grub by December 31 to help provide our flamingos and the rest of the Zoo’s 6,000 animal residents with all the tasty and nutritious grub they need to stay happy and healthy in the New Year! 

Thank you to TXU Energy for generously matching the first $25,000 in donations this year!

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Dec
22

12 Days of Grub: Day 10 – Ten Chimps a Chasing

Posted by in African Forest,Chimpanzees,Feeding Our Animals,Gift of Grub

On the Tenth Day of Grub, your zoo gift will help to feed…Ten Chimps a Chasing, Nine Fruit Bats Flying, Eight Giraffes a Galloping, Seven Snakes a Slithering, Six Mole-rats Mining, Five Golden Frogs, Four Calling Birds, Three Wild Dogs, Two Grizzly Bears, and Darwin the Cassowary! CLICK HERE to read them all!

For most wild animals, the acquisition and consumption of food is not just a casual activity, but in fact a full-time job.  A wild chimpanzee in Africa must always be on the search for ripe fruit, edible greens, tasty termites or ants, hard-shelled nuts  and yes, even small animals to hunt and eat.

Although we can’t re-create a wild chimpanzee diet, here at the Houston Zoo, we provide our chimps with a healthy variety of food including many types of lettuce, fruits, vegetables, nuts, different types of local plants and a specialized “biscuit” made for primates in zoos.  We also give them many types of treats which make up only a small portion of their diet, but are their favorites, including popcorn, peanut butter, honey and fruit juice.

Lucy enjoys some sweet potato and sunshine

Our chimps did not grow up hunting or eating termites, ants or meat, so this is not included in their Houston Zoo diet, but they are given the daily opportunity to show off their amazing ability to use tools by “fishing” for sweet or savory treats in our termite mound replica.

The chimps enjoy using sticks to “fish” for delicious treats

In order to keep their day interesting and to keep them active, the chimps’ meals are provided at different times throughout the day.  One of their favorite types of food is “browse”, or edible plants collected for them throughout the zoo by our own amazing Horticulture team.  Everyday the chimps get some combination of mulberry, banana leaves, willow, fig leaves or other edible plants.

Mac enjoys fig leaves

Chimps aren’t great at sharing their food with one another with a few notable exceptions (moms and their babies, males “wooing” receptive females, etc.)   They have a fairly stable social hierarchy and the higher-ranking chimps have first access to the yummy stuff.  For that reason, it is important that we make sure the food is scattered throughout the chimps’ entire habitat so that each member has the opportunity to collect food, and there is always enough for everyone.

Feeding the zoo’s animals is one of the best parts of being a zookeeper.  We enjoy giving them their food almost as much as they enjoy eating it!

Give the Gift of Grub this holiday season to help provide tasty meals for our chimpanzees and all of the animals at the Houston Zoo!  Our chimps send their ape-preciation for your support.

Thank you also to TXU Energy for generously matching the first $25,000 in donations this year!

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Dec
19

12 Days of Grub: Day 7 – Seven Snakes a Slithering

Posted by in Gift of Grub,Holidays,Reptile House,Snakes

On the Seventh Day of Grub, your zoo gift will help to feed…Seven Snakes a Slithering, Six Mole-rats Mining, Five Golden Frogs, Four Calling Birds, Three Wild Dogs, Two Grizzly Bears, and Darwin the Cassowary! CLICK HERE to read them all!

The 2900 species or so of snakes are incredibly diverse in terms of colors, size, and habitat.  However, they all share certain common characteristics.  One of these is that all snakes are carnivorous and must consume whole prey.  Snakes have a very highly modified skull which allows them to consume very large prey items.

The type of prey consumed and method of capture is quite diverse.  Some snakes are sit-and-wait ambush predators while others actively hunt for their food.  Some, like boas and pythons, kill their prey by constriction.  Contrary to popular thought, venomous snakes use their venom as a prey capturing device, and not as a means of defense. Next time you are visiting The Houston Zoo, please visit the Reptile and Amphibian building.  Check our keeper chat board and you might be able to see one of our staff feeding some of our snakes!

Aruba Island rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor)

Some snakes are generalists, and will eat a wide variety of other animals; others are more specialized and consume only specific prey items.  For example, wild King cobras consume only other snakes.  They have even been known to eat each other on occasion!  Others, like the Aruba Island rattlesnake pictured here, will eat several types of different lizards and rodents.  Several species of snakes are known to eat only eggs, while one species eats only snails.

Angolan python (Python anchietae)

Although snakes in the wild consume live prey, here at the zoo we have trained most of our snakes to accept previously euthanized food items.  Most eat rats and mice while our large pythons eat rabbits.  While the amount varies, the Herpetology section uses around 165 rats and 588 mice of all sizes to feed our animals each month.

The size of the food item and the amount depends upon the species of snake we are talking about.  Snakes have a lower metabolic rate than mammals or birds, so consequently they need less food.  Most of our snakes eat only once a week, while others might go several weeks to a month between feedings.  During periods of hibernation, snakes may go several months without eating.

Speckled kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki)

Some of our snakes are more finicky or are more specialized in their diets.  In addition to rodents and rabbits the Herpetology Department also receives dietary items such as quail, lizards, frogs and toads, and even other small snakes!  For these species, a detailed knowledge of the snake’s natural history and considerable training in methods of herpetological husbandry is required.  This is where the skills of our highly experienced and knowledgeable staff are employed.

Written by Stan Mays

Give the Gift of Grub this holiday season to help provide tasty meals for our snakes and all of the animals at the Houston Zoo!  Our reptilian friends thank you in advance for your support.

Thank you to TXU Energy for generously matching the first $25,000 in donations this year!

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Dec
12

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Posted by in Christmas,Events,Memories

Santa will be at the Zoo December 19 – 23, from 9 a.m. – Noon each day.

And he’s making a stop at the Houston Zoo! This holiday season, meet the jolly guy himself at the Zoo’s Reflection Pool! Zoo guests will be able to chat briefly with Santa (be sure to bring your list!) and get their photo taken with him!

Santa will be at the Zoo December 19 – 23, from 9 a.m. – Noon each day. (He may need to take a couple of short breaks during this time). Bring your camera, because you won’t want to miss this chance to get that perfect photo of your family with Santa to post on Facebook, proudly display on your mantel, or add to your holiday card!

The festivities don’t end with Santa though. At 1 p.m. at the Reflection Pool each day we’ll feature holiday music, courtesy of some local talents. See below for the musical lineup.

All this, plus 6,000 animals, festive holiday decorations, and more!

These holiday activities are FREE with your paid Zoo admission or Membership.
(Note: You may choose to purchase your professional Santa photo for an additional cost).

What better way to celebrate the holidays than to spend time with family, friends, and Santa at the Houston Zoo!

All performances begin at 1 p.m. at the Reflection Pool
December 19 – The Salvation Army Harbor Light Choir
December 20 – TBD
December 21 – Mistletones Trio
December 22 – Mistletones Trio
December 23 – Mistletones Tr

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Dec
07

12 Days of Grub: Day 4 – Four Calling Birds

Posted by in Birds,Gift of Grub,Holidays

On the Fourth Day of Grub, your zoo gift will help to feed…Four Calling Birds (Kookaburras to be exact), Three Wild Dogs, Two Grizzly Bears, and Darwin the Cassowary! CLICK HERE to read them all!

Blue-winged Kookaburra

Anyone who has watched a television show or movie filmed in a tropical location has undoubtedly heard the call of a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaguineae). While these birds are only found in certain areas of Australia and New Zealand, the call of this bird has become synonymous with untamed wilds and is often added to the soundtrack to create a more “natural” feel. Less melodic but much more visually-striking, our Blue-winged Kookaburras (Dacelo leachii) are also favorites amongst our guests.

The call of a kookaburra may in fact be one of the most interesting things about these birds, with a great deal of myth associated with the vocalization. Aboriginal legend tells us that the Kookaburra is a messenger for the Earth, using a powerful call to alert the Earth of the lighting of the great fire in the sky. In actuality kookaburras will call for a variety of reasons (including territoriality and excitement), and these early morning calls are typically used to assert territorial boundaries. However, this myth does indicate the majesty of the call and the reverence it has inspired.

However, kookaburras have a great many other interesting attributes. While they may appear somewhat fluffy and cuddly, these birds are in fact accomplished predators. Kookaburras consume large food items by beating the prey against a rock or log to break down bones and make the food item easier to swallow.

Laughing Kookaburra

At the Houston Zoo, our birds receive a wide variety of food items to keep them interested in their food and also ensure their nutritional well-being. Our birds eat mice, chicken chicks, anoles (small lizards), crickets, mealworms, smelt, walking sticks and a specialized ground meat diet to ensure optimum feather condition! In the course of a month, these four birds can eat:

  • 50 Mice
  • 50 Anoles
  • 16 Chicken Chicks

A variety of insects are also readily accepted by these ravenous birds. Our Keepers at the Houston Zoo also perform regularly-scheduled feedings so that our guests can learn even more about these fascinating birds. Our Laughing Kookaburras and Blue-winged Kookaburras are on-exhibit daily at Birds of the World, a large outdoor area showing off some of our most interesting feathered residents!

Give the Gift of Grub this holiday season to help provide tasty meals for our Kookaburras and all of the animals at the Houston Zoo!  Between now and December 31, TXU Energy has generously agreed to match all donations, up to $25,000 total, so your gift could go TWICE as far.  That’ll give our birds something to call about.

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Dec
05

12 Days of Grub: Day 3 – Three Wild Dogs

Posted by in Carnivores,Gift of Grub,Holidays

On the Third Day of Grub, your zoo gift will help to feed…Three Wild Dogs, Two Grizzly Bears, and Darwin the Cassowary! CLICK HERE to read them all!

Three African Wild Dogs call the Houston Zoo home.  Blaze, Aries, and Mikita have resided here since May of 2007 and are representatives of one of the most social carnivore species in the world.  African Wild Dogs, or Painted Dogs, have fascinated researchers with their ability to cooperate with both the hunt and the sharing of the kill.  Wild packs will allow the young to eat first and will even feed sick and injured dogs by regurgitating the meat.

Blaze, Aries, and Mikita share about 5 pounds of meat daily.  In addition to their normal diets, the African Wild Dogs also enjoy special treats such as goat’s milk, chicken, tuna, herring, blood pops, rats, quail, and eggs.  They are the only carnivores at the Houston Zoo that are fed together as a pack. You can learn more about the painted dogs’ social habits by reading about them in National Geographic.

Our guests may hear some interesting sounds coming from the pack during feeding times or when a new toy is introduced, but they are not necessarily the sounds of conflict.  Each dog is simply trying to assure the other that he is the most submissive/youngest and therefore more deserving of the treat or toy.  It may sound like loud fighting, but Painted Dogs have a large and expressive vocabulary – equal only to the dolphin!


Painted Dog packs, found in Africa, are highly successful with their hunts.  While lions and leopards may only catch 20-30% of what they attempt, African Wild Dogs top the charts at about an 80% success rate, largely owed to their endurance, cooperation, and communication! They prey primarily on impala and other medium-sized antelope, but can take down prey as large as Cape Buffalo if they have enough pack members.

Written by carnivore keeper, Samantha Junker

Give the Gift of Grub  for the holidays to help feed our wild dogs and the rest of the Zoo’s 6,000 animal residents!  From now until December 31, your gift could go twice as far thanks to a generous matching gift challenge by TXU Energy.  All gifts, up to $25,000 total, will be matched dollar for dollar in an effort to help the Zoo provide for its growing animal family.  Blaze Aries and Mikita thank you in advance for your support!

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Dec
01

12 Days of Grub: Day 2 – Two Grizzly Bears

Posted by in Bears,Gift of Grub,Holidays

On the Second Day of Grub, your zoo gift will help to feed…Two Grizzly Bears and Darwin the Cassowary! CLICK HERE to read them all!

Grizzly Bears are known for their love of fish and The Houston Zoo’s Boomer and Bailey are no exception!

 

The two 32 year old bears weigh in at 490lbs and 518lbs respectively and each consume about 12lbs of fish and meat, 15lbs fruits and vegetables, and 35lbs omnivore biscuits every week. They are offered a variety of produce items including oranges, apples, pears, pineapple, mango, papaya, avocado, lettuce, bananas, and several different types of berries. They also receive treats of honey, yogurt, and peanut butter. Each bear has his own likes, dislikes, and favorite items. This summer, keepers even kept a chart of each bear’s preferences to further tailor their diets to their personal tastes!

Brown bears have the largest range of any bear species and can be found in a variety of habitats. Grizzly bears are a sub species of brown bear and are found in the continental Unites States, Canada and interior Alaska. The name “grizzly” refers to their “grizzled” or grey blond hair in its fur. Brown bears are easily recognizable by the large muscle on their shoulders, which is used to help them dig for rodents and other foods.

Grizzly Bear diets vary depending on what foods are available. They are omnivorous and although the main part of their diet is fruits and plant material, they will occasionally eat deer, elk, and caribou. To maintain such a large body, they must consume a lot of calories, especially before hibernation. They can gain as much as three pounds a day to put on enough fat to make it through the long winters.  If you’d like to learn more about grizzly bears and other bear species, visit the Great Bear Foundation or the Center for Wildlife Information!

Written by Carnivore Keepers, Samantha Junker and Courtney Patterson

Help provide tasty and nutritious grub for the Zoo’s grizzly bears and the rest of our animal family this holiday season: Give the Gift of Grub! TXU Energy is matching all donations through December 31, up to $25,000 total, so your gift could have TWICE the impact.  Yes, that means you could help feed TWO bears for the price of ONE!

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Nov
26

Spotlight on Species: Vultures!

Posted by in Birds,Spotlight on Species

Did you know the Houston Zoo has a pair of Cinereous vultures? They are located right across from the furthest elephant habitat, which is next to our okapis. They have big bodies and cool blue heads.  We also have King vultures in our Fischer bird garden closer to where our sea lions are.

If you haven’t been, you have to come meet them. And to that end, on Saturday, December 3 we’re having a very special day that you might just want to check out! Visit our website for a chedule of Keeper Talks, games and activities.

One of our two cinereous vultures, with their beautiful bright blue coloring

While turkey and black vultures seem so abundant to us here, vulture species around the world range from threatened to critically endangered. By spotlighting our ambassador species of King and Cinereous vultures here at the Houston Zoo, we can bring the ongoing plight to the attention of the public.

The King vulture

The Cambodia Vulture Conservation Project has been since 2004 to restore a healthy population of the three species of critically endangered species of vultures found there.  They are currently the only Asian country to have an increase in their numbers. All proceeds from The Houston Zoo’s celebration of International Vulture Awareness Day will go towards helping them continue to fight the battle.

Come by the vulture enclosure on Saturday, December 3 to enjoy interactive activities for  kids of all ages, as well as educational keeper chats and feedings.

Written by Jessica Clark, Bird Supervisor

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