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Houston Zoo Photos & Videos

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:29:41 GMT

Watch our videos here or visit our YouTube channel and see what's been happening at the Houston Zoo lately. If you'd like an update when we upload a new video, become a Subscriber of our YouTube channel! if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('5d386154-a078-4487-93b7-c88d14814251');Get the YouTube Sidebar Widget widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info) Visit Houston Zoo on View the Houston Zoo's photos on flickr here's a few of our most recent pics: Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR. Houston Zoo photos can also be found in our web photo...

Teachers & Schools

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:07:45 GMT

School Field Trips With a Bite! Adventure Classes/ Critter Encounters Our fun, interactive learning experiences include biofacts such as animal skins, skulls, and mounts and provide students with an opportunity to touch live animals. Choose from our 60 minute Adventure Classes or our 20 minute Critter Encounters. Click here for more information. School Field Trips FB.init(d89b98f0268abc19e9d80fd78c533d11); Houston Zoo Teacher Talk on Facebook Please complete the on-line Field Trip Reservation Request and submit it at least three weeks prior to your visit date. Zoo admission is free for organized school groups located within the corporate limits of the City of Houston. Eligible dates are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. for students up to age nineteen. Day cares, pre-schools, head starts, home schools, and colleges are not eligible for the free school program. Bus drivers...

Home Page - Zoo Daily News

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:44:02 GMT

Click here to get weather info at the Houston Zoo!

Sea Lions will be off exhibit from August 30-September 9.
See how much fun we had at Feast With the Beasts last year, and get your tickets for this November 5th.
The Zoo is working with partners on turtle conservation in East Texas.
Tortoise t-shirts are now on sale in the gift shop - your purchase supports Galapagos tortoise conservation.

Home Page - Houston Zoo Television

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:41:09 GMT

The four-week-old meerkat kits went outside for the first time - catch their first excursion in this video. (See lots more videos on the Houston Zoo YouTube Channel.)

See more on our media page...

Field Trip Topics

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:17:16 GMT

Make your field trip to the Zoo a memorable and educational experience for your students by participating in one of our classes! The Houston Zoo Education Department offers various types of classes on many different topics. These classes also vary in length depending on how much time your group has to spend with us. PRICING $8 per person for Critter Encounters $12 per person for Adventure Classes One teacher/chaperone is admitted free for every 5 Pre K students and for every 10 students in grades K-12. Please note that these prices include admission to the Zoo for each student. All our educational activities are aligned with the TEKS and are ideal supplements to your classroom curricula. Please complete the online Education Class Field Trip Reservation Request and submit it at least three weeks prior to your visit date. Day cares, pre-schools, head starts, home schools, and colleges are not eligible for the free school program. For more information,...

Feast with the Beasts 2010

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:01:15 GMT

This year's Feast with the Beasts will be November 5, 2010! Tickets go on pre-sale September 7 at Noon! The Houston Zoo's 5th Annual Food, Beer & Wine Celebration Featuring Special Music Guest The Spin Doctors! Friday, November 5, 2010 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. Pre-Sale Pricing: Members: $75 Non-Members: $85 VIP Tickets: $150 Group Rates Available Money raised helps support the care and feeding of the over 6,000 animals that call Houston Zoo home. Tickets for the Fall 2010 Feast with the Beasts will go on sale on September 7, 2010. Make sure you subscribe to the Houston Zoo e-mail newsletter to get information on how to purchase tickets early. Featuring over 50 of Houston's hottest restaurants and a live performance by the Spin Doctors on the Bud Light Stage! Launched in the fall of 2006 as a fundraiser for the Houston Zoo, Feast with the Beasts was an instant hit! The...

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:36:33 GMT

Donuts and Dinos! DINOSAURS has been extended through October 31! Come early at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 25th and wander through the Zoo's DINOSAURS! exhibit before our normal opening time. Afterwards, attend a special program in our BEC Auditorium presented by Dinosaurs Rock of Texas. Enjoy a 45 minute entertaining dinosaur lecture and touch real dinosaur eggs and dino poop! Dig for fossils and enter to win an authentic prehistoric specimen. Schedule of events: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Gates open, check-in/registration and access to DINOSAURS! exhibit before zoo opens 9:00 - 9:15 a.m. Continental breakfast inside the BEC Auditorium 9:15 -10:15 a.m. Dinosaurs Rock Texas presentation and Fossil Dig! You won't want to miss this special DINOSAURS! event. Ticket Prices: A continental breakfast and all-day access to the Zoo are included!! Zoo Member Tickets are $21 for...

Call of the Wild Speaker Series

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:41:45 GMT

Houston Zoo Call of the Wild Speaker Series resumes again in October 2010 with an exciting lineup of guest speakers. The Houston Zoo's 2010 Call of the Wild Speaker Series will begin again on October 13th, 2010 with an exciting lineup of guest speakers. Enjoy an evening of scrumptious hors d'oeuvres, breathtaking photographs and first-hand stories from conservationists on the frontlines in the battle to help save the world's wildlife. Proceeds of the Call of the Speaker Series benefit our local and global conservation initiatives at the Zoo. With conservation and environmental issues becoming hot-button topics for debate across the world, the Houston Zoo's Call of the Wild Speaker Series offers a forum for global conservation leaders to share their knowledge, concerns and plans for the future. Starting October 13, 2010, four unique lectures will be held at the Brown Education Center over the span of six months. The Call of the Wild Speaker Series is generously sponsored...

Today at the Zoo - Meet the Keeper Talks

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:25:50 GMT

We hope you enjoy meeting our animals and our staff! *Please note: The Tropical Bird House and Reptile Building open at 10 a.m. daily. Tuesday September 7, 2010 10:00 Meet the Keeper Talk at Natural Encounters 10:00 Elephant Bath 10:00 Meet the Keeper Talk at Sifaka in Wortham World of Primates 10:30 Bat Feeding at the Children's Zoo 10:30 Story Safari at the Butterfly Stage in the Children's Zoo 10:45 Flamingo Chick Walk 11:00 Story Safari at the Butterfly Stage in the Children's Zoo 11:00 Piranha Feeding at Natural Encounters 11:40 Cinereous Vulture Feeding 12:00 Meet the Keeper Talk at Swamp Monkeys and Red tails Monkey in Wortham World of Primates 12:00 Zooper Challenge at the Butterfly Stage in the Children's Zoo 12:00 Meet the Keeper Talk at Natural Encounters 12:30 Zooper Challenge at the Butterfly Stage in the Children's Zoo 1:00 Meet the Keeper Talk at Natural Encounters 1:30 Elephant Training and Meet the Keeper Talk 1:30...

Home School Programs

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:59:21 GMT

For easy navigation, please click on the links below. Or scroll down the page for more information! Homeschool Classes Group Opportunities for Homeschoolers Check out our newsletters with aniaml information, program offerings, and Zoo activities especially for homeschoolers. Fall 2010 Newsletter * To join the home school mailing list, e-mail your name and the e-mail address you would like to use to abarnhill@houstonzoo.org. Home School Day September 30th 9:00am -3:00pm All Ages Members $10 per person Non-members $12 per person Join The Houston Zoo Education Staff in an exciting day of animal programs, interesting bio-fact discovery, live animal encounters, and guided Zoo Tours. There will be many presentations every hour and opportunities to meet and learn about some exciting Houston Zoo animals. This event is rain or shine. The majority of programs will be held inside the Brown...

Flock - The Houston Zoo's Young Supporters Group

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:11:47 GMT

Come Join the Flock! Flock is a group of young professionals, 21 and up, who are committed to the stewardship and growth of the Houston Zoo. Through a variety of social and educational events, Flock strives to inspire new generations of Houston Zoo supporters. With their annual donation, Flock members receive free admission to three cocktail events tucked between the Zoo's 'wild' exhibits, as well as unique volunteer opportunities, Zoo membership, and other exclusive benefits. To learn about becoming a member of Flock, please click here. Flock is generously underwritten by Save the Date for Flock's Next Event at the Zoo ...

Feast with the Beasts Frequently Asked Questions

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:05:34 GMT

Thank you for purchasing tickets for the Houston Zoo's fifth annual Feast with the Beasts. This year over fifty restaurants will provide samples of their signature dishes and the Spin Doctors will perform live on the Bud Light Stage! All this set against the Zoo's naturally wild backdrop will certainly provide an evening to remember. Below are the answers to the most common questions we get: Remind me again when the event is? The event is Friday, November 5, 2010 from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Food will be served from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. The Spin Doctors will perform after the food service. How can I purchase tickets? Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.houstonzoo.org/Feast. From there, click on the green Purchase Tickets button and you will be directed to our Order Channel page. Once there you must log in as a Zoo Member or set up an account as a Zoo Insider and then you can purchase tickets. If you have a promo code, please type...

Experiencing Nature inspires us to protect it

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:18:06 GMT

The Houston Zoo's Travel Program offers exciting and affordable opportunities to explore exotic destinations, observe wild creatures in their natural realms, and experience local cultures. Guided by local wildlife experts and experienced zoo staff, our travelers are immersed in wilderness landscapes and introduced to individuals who have taken on the task of safeguarding our planet's precious biological diversity. Each excursion will feature a pre-trip meeting designed to help participants prepare for their adventures and to better understand the significance of their journeys abroad. Our goal is to inspire through experience and education. So, please join us for an tour. It could very well turn out to the adventure of a lifetime. Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda: November 26-December 5, 2010 or March 4-March 13, 2011 Mountain Gorilla Travel Itinerary Galapagos: The Land of Darwin - new program! April 24 - May 4, 2011 ...

Meet the Keeper Talks

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:12:08 GMT

See zoo animals in action and talk to the keepers that work with them each day by attending a Meet the Keeper Talk. Talks include everything from jaguar training to fruit bat feedings. The Houston Zoo has a variety of Talks to choose from each day to make a part of your next visit. We have Talks on every animal from A to Z, notes Natural Encounters Curator Beth Schaefer, from Tuck the armadillo to Zuri the African pygmy falcon. One frequent Talk at Natural Encounters is red panda training, where you might see a keeper interacting with a panda inside the exhibit. Talks vary depending on what animals and keepers are available that day - to find exactly what will be happening in Natural Encounters, there are two marker boards that are updated each morning, one outside and one just...

Community, School and Youth Groups

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:23:15 GMT

Whether your group is interested in spending an hour, a day, or even overnight at the Zoo, there is plenty to see and a great deal to do! Consider an overnight Wild Winks experience includes additional opportunities to enjoy the Zoo during daylight and nighttime. Perfect for your church, school or youth group. Minimum for overnight programs is 25 and the maximum is 60 participants. Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 am Cost: $50 per person What's Included: interactive, educational activities guided walks with experienced Zoo staff live, touchable animals pizza dinner and continental breakfast Weather permitting, participants will sleep in tents free admission into the Zoo when program ends See the FAQ below for more informaton. Call for date availability. 713-533-6543 or email Education These programs take place on Zoo grounds, so please dress for the weather...

Scout Wild Winks

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:58:12 GMT

Join us for an exciting look at the zoo after hours. Through guided tours in the evening and early morning, you will explore the diverse adaptations that help the zoo's amazing creatures survive in the wild. Get the inside scoop on our animals from zoo employees and get up close and personal with a zoo resident. (All participants must be at least 7 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult at a minimum of a 1:5 ratio of adults to children.) Please Note: There will be 2-3 hours of walking in both the evening and in the morning tour. What's Included? guided walks with experienced Zoo staff live, touchable animals interactive, educational activities dinner and continental breakfast sleep in tents on Zoo grounds free admission into the Zoo when program ends Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 am Cost $50 per person for a regular Wild Winks overnight $55 per person for badge Wild...

Chimpanzees of Senegal

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:16:57 GMT

Chimpanzee populations across Central and West Africa are continuing to decline at an alarming rate. Even though they can be found in 21 countries, severely fragmented habitat across their range has separated the majority of the population into smaller sub-populations. Deforestation, hunting for the commercial bushmeat trade, and killing the adults to capture the infants continue to be a major threat to the chimpanzee. The Houston Zoo is curently supporting part of a long-term study into the conservation of the West African Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) population in southeastern Senegal, which will be specifically addressing imminent conservation problems associated with chimpanzee communities not previously studied. West African chimpanzees population numbers have been in a drastic decline over the past thirty years. Having already been extirpated in Benin, Togo, and Burkina Faso, the subspecies is now at risk in Senegal where their...

Chimpanzees of Gombe and Wildlife of Selous

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:30:39 GMT

Join the Houston Zoo and Terra Incognita Ecotours for a very special trip to Tanzania: The Chimpanzees of Gombe and Wildlife of Selous Game Reserve Saturday 6th August to Saturday 13th August 2011 Group size is limited to 12 participants. Cost is $7,495 per person, round trip international air to Dar es Salaam not included. Optional 4 day / 3 night extension to Zanzibar. Link here for full itinerary or contact conservation@houstonzoo.org This trip has it all! In just ten days we will spend time in Gombe National Park watching the exact same Chimpanzees that Jane Goodall has studied for over 50 years. We will see Africa as David Livingstone first experienced Africa, with a few days in the incredible and remote Selous - home to African Wild Dogs, Leopards, Lions and so much more. We end with a few days of relaxation on the private Chapwani Island, just a short distance offshore of Stone Town on the magical spice island of...

Community/Youth Group Wild Winks

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:18:22 GMT

This overnight experience allows those 7 and older to get see the Zoo's residents in a whole new light! This program takes place on Zoo grounds, so please dress for the weather and be prepared to move from location to location throughout the Zoo. What's Included: • interactive, educational activities • guided walks with experienced Zoo staff • wild animal encounters • live, touchable animals • pizza dinner and continental breakfast • slumber inside the Zoo. Weather permitting, participants will sleep in tents. • free admission into the Zoo when program ends Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. For the courtesy of the other participants, and the safety and security of all, we ask that you not arrive late nor plan to leave the program early. Cost: $50 per person Maximum Capacity: 60 people per evening-only registered participants may attend. Children must be at least...

Family Wild Winks Overnights

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:13:49 GMT

Come Spend the Night at the Zoo! Wild Winks is a program designed for groups with children age 7 to 12 years of age and their chaperones. Wild Winks provide a perfect overnight experience for families and a truly unique birthday party or slumber party. (Must have a minimum of 15 people for a private overnight experience and dates based on availability) Special Wild Wink dates just for Families! Wild Wink overnights offers those 7 and older, a unique opportunity to spend the night at the Houston Zoo. Fee includes interactive activities, touchable animals, pizza dinner, continental breakfast and admission to the Zoo after the program is over on the second day. Sign your mob up for this unique experience! October 29, 2010 November 12, 2010 Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 am Cost: $50 per person What's Included: interactive, educational activities guided walks with experienced Zoo staff live, touchable...