Houston Zoo

Houston Zoo Hosts Finding Birds and Faces of Flight

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Hill Pager: 713-801-8040 HOUSTON ZOO HOSTS FINDING BIRDS AND FACES OF FLIGHT Presentation, Exhibit, and Book Signing with Ted Lee Eubanks, Jr. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, September 6, 2008 – Brown Education Center Media Note: Selected high resolution JPEGs of Faces of Flight bird portraits are available via e-mail for your unrestricted use. To schedule pre-event interviews with Ted Lee Eubanks, Jr. please contact Brian Hill at 713-533-6531 (office) or 281-380-5232 (cell). (HOUSTON) August 11, 2008 … The Texas coast offers rich avian treasures for expert bird watchers and beginners alike, if only they know where to look. Join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 6, 2008 in the Zoo’s Brown Education Center (BEC) for Finding Birds and Faces of Flight. Meet the authors of Finding Birds on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, enjoy a special Finding Birds presentation at noon in the BEC auditorium, and view the colorful...

Call Of The Wild Lecture Series Roars Into The Houston Zoo

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release Contact: Brian Hill bhill@houstonzoo.org (713) 533-6531 CALL OF THE WILD LECTURE SERIES ROARS INTO THE HOUSTON ZOO HOUSTON (August 11, 2008) … The Houston Zoo’s Call of the Wild Lecture Series kicks off its new season in September with an exciting lineup of guest speakers. Enjoy an evening of scrumptious hors doeuvres, 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 Wild lectures 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 Lecture Series offers a forum for global conservation leaders to share their knowledge, concerns and plans for the future. Starting September 4, 2008, four unique lectures will be held at the Brown Education Center over the span of six months,...

HOUSTON ZOO PREPARES FOR EDOUARD

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

(HOUSTON) August 4, 2008 … The Houston Zoo is continuing preparations for the arrival of Edouard. “Preparations at the Zoo are not that much different than what most people are doing at home or at their place of employment right now,” said Houston Zoo spokesperson Brian Hill. “The Zoo has been making storm preparations since early this morning, securing any and all items that might become air born in high winds, checking supplies of fuel, batteries, water and food.

“We actually begin our storm preparations in May of each year, reviewing our plans and stocking up 0on supplies for the season such as batteries, flashlights, water pumps, portable generators, and chain saws,” said Hill.

The following changes to the Zoo’s Tuesday public schedule include:

Camp Zoofari, the Zoo’s summer camp is cancelled for Tuesday, August 5.
The Zoo has asked all volunteers NOT to report for duty on Tuesday.
The Zoo is also asking all Zoo Crew teen summer volunteers NOT to report for duty on Tuesday.
The Zoo will contact area media outlets by noon Tuesday to advise regarding camp and volunteer schedules. The information will also be posted on the Zoo’s Web site at www.houstonzoo.org and will also be made available via voice message on the Zoo’s main phone number at 713-533-6500.

The Zoo has designated personnel to serve on a 25 person “ride out” crew. “The ride-out crew will take up station at the Zoo overnight to ride out the storm and be prepared to care for the animals and perform any needed repairs after the storm passes,” said Hill.

Zoo animals will not be evacuated prior to the storm’s arrival. “The Zoo has strong and secure off exhibit holding areas for our animals,” said Hill. It would be far more stressful for the animals to move them out of the Zoo than to keep them in these familiar surroundings in the care of the keepers that they know and trust.”

NEW SEA LION MAKES SPLASHY DEBUT AT HOUSTON ZOO

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Hill Pager: 713-801-8040 NEW SEA LION MAKES SPLASHY DEBUT AT HOUSTON ZOO Dino Personally Thanks FedEx Official for His Delivery to New Home Media note: High resolution jpeg images of Dino and Dino thanking FedEx manager Lisa Akers with a big kiss are available for your unrestricted use. For delivery options, please contact Brian Hill at bhill@houstonzoo.org or 713.533.6531. HOUSTON (July 31, 2008) -- Dino the California sea lion made his official debut at the Houston Zoo today, planting a big kiss on the cheek of FedEx manager Lisa Akers thanking the carrier for the great care he received on his flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to his new Houston home. We at FedEx absolutely, positively care about the communities we serve and it was our pleasure to deliver Dino from Hawaii, said FedEx manager Lisa Akers. Thank you for letting us be a part of this special delivery, added Akers. Tipping the scales at...

Mac Hits 2,000 Pounds! Hes a Ton O Fun

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Hill Pager: 713-801-8040 MEDIA ADVISORY PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WHAT: MAC HITS 2,000 POUNDS! WHO: Mac, the Houston Zoo’s 20 month old baby Asian elephant WHEN: 10 a.m., Friday July 25, 2008 WHERE: The Houston Zoo’s new McNair Asian Elephant Habitat HE’S A TON O’ FUN! Media note: Enter the Houston Zoo at Gate One 1513 N. MacGregor for parking and cart transport to the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat. For more information, contact Brian Hill at 713-533-6531 (voice) or 281.380.5232 (cell). Mac, the Houston Zoo’s 20 month old Asian elephant calf has hit the 2,000 pound mark. Actually, it wasn’t that hard for Mac to reach that landmark. Have you ever seen him eat? He’s a big happy elephant with a very good appetite, a doting mother (Shanti) and Aunt (Methai), and keepers who think the world of him. Media is invited to join us behind the scenes at 10 a.m. Friday...

Rare St. Vincent Parrot Hatched At Houston Zoo

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

(HOUSTON) July 21, 2008 … On April 25, 1972 the Houston Zoo made history, recording the first hatching in captivity of an endangered St. Vincent Amazon parrot. That first birth was followed by a second hatching in 1998. Today, the Houston Zoo is proud to report that history has repeated itself again and Zoo bird keepers are caring for a St. Vincent Amazon that hatched on May 28, 2008. The chick has been named Vincent after the father of the first St. Vincent born at the Houston Zoo.

“The chick hatched after 25 days of incubation and is being hand raised at the Zoo’s off exhibit Avian Conservation Environment (ACE) building,” said Houston Zoo Bird Department supervisor Chris Holmes. “For the first 28 days Vincent was hand fed every two hours from 5 in the morning until midnight. He went home with me in the evening and came to work with me every morning,” said Holmes. Vincent was transported in a specially made climate controlled carrier.

Found only on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent in the Lesser Antilles, the St. Vincent amazon is officially classified as an vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the IUCN. The current wild population of St. Vincent’s is estimated at 800 individuals, despite numerous natural hazards and human encroachment into their habitat. Prior to 1898, the parrots were fairly common. However, two natural disasters took a heavy toll on their population after 1898. A devastating hurricane struck the island and was followed by the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano that crowns St. Vincent’s northern landscape. Though the population has increased since these disasters, the slow reproductive rate of this species makes this a long process.

With the end of the breeding season approaching, Vincent's parents will be on exhibit again at the Houston Zoo by early August.

Special thanks to:

Life Fellowship Bird Sanctuary
Barrington Family Trust
St. Vincent Forestry Department
Robert Berry

Time To Get Rolling Again For Rhinoceros Conservation

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:00:00 GMT

The Houston Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers Hosts Bowling for Rhinos 2008, July 25 at Palace Lanes, 4191 Bellaire Blvd. Media Note: A high resolution image of this year’s Bowling for Rhinos logo is available for your unrestricted use. To acquire via e-mail, please contact Brian Hill at 713-533-6531 (office) or 281-380-5232 (cell). (HOUSTON) July 1, 2008… Bowling is one of the most popular indoor sports in the U. S. with more than 2.5 million bowlers nationwide. Rhinos are one of the world’s most endangered species. Only 17,500 of these marvelous creatures survive in the wild with another 1,200 in zoos and sanctuaries. If you like bowling and you’ve got a soft spot in your heart for rhinos, then the Houston Zoo has a deal for you – Bowling for Rhinos! The Houston Zoo chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) is sponsoring the 18th annual Bowling for Rhinos (BFR) conservation fundraiser on Friday, July 25 from 6-10 p.m. at Palace Lanes,...

GETTING SQUIRRELY AT THE HOUSTON ZOO

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:30:00 GMT

(HOUSTON) June 12, 2008 … They’re small and quick and they are the newest addition to the Houston Zoo’s award winning Natural Encounters Building. They are Harris antelope squirrels and they may be seen daily in the Natural Encounters Drylands Exhibit. The Houston Zoo is the only zoo in the past 8 years to have bred the species. Born on April 23, the 5 babies spent the first several weeks of their lives in an off exhibit area of the Natural Encounters Building. About a week before the babies were born, their mom, Middlin (their father is Humphrey) started making a nest in the area using hay and feathers. She had been seen collecting feathers from the guinea fowl that live in the Drylands Exhibit. Keepers confirmed the birth early on the morning of April 23 when they heard squeaking and found five little pink babies squirming in the hay and feathers nest. The babies began emerging from the nest toward the end of May and they’ve been scurrying around the Drylands Exhibit ever...

HOUSTON ZOO DEDICATES NEW INNOVATIVE ELEPHANT FACILITY

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Hill Pager: 713-801-8040 MEDIA ADVISORY PHOTO OPPORTUNITY HOUSTON ZOO DEDICATES NEW INNOVATIVE ELEPHANT FACILITY Zoo Elephants Mac and Methai to Officially Cut the Ribbon Dedicating the new McNair Asian Elephant Habitat Media Note: The 2 p.m. elephant ribbon breaking will be followed by tours of the new facility. Media covering the dedication of the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat is may enter the Zoo at Gate One at 1513 N. MacGregor. Parking and golf cart transportation to the event location will be provided. WHAT: Houston Zoo elephants Mac and Methai will break the ribbon to officially dedicate the Zoo’s new $5 million elephant barn and exhibit area. The facility is the Zoo’s newest addition. The 7,000 square foot barn includes 5 elephant bedrooms and, for the first time, sliding 8 foot by 8 foot windows allowing guests a peek behind the scenes. ...

RARE BABIRUSA PIG BORN AT HOUSTON ZOO

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:00:00 GMT

RARE BABIRUSA PIG BORN AT HOUSTON ZOO Divine Swine Doing Fine Birth of Endangered Species is a First for the Zoo Media Note: Still photos of Hadiah and mom are available for your unrestricted use via e-mail delivery. Media wishing to acquire still or video photos of Hadiah and Remley on exhibit are invited to contact Brian Hill at 281-380-5232. Media may enter the Zoo at Gate One 1513 N. MacGregor. Parking and cart transport to the exhibit will be provided. Babirusa is pronounced bab-uh-ROO-suh. (HOUSTON) May 28, 2008 The Houston Zoo recorded a first on May 21 with the birth of a rare and endangered babirusa pig. The new arrival is named Hadiah (pronounced: huh-DI-ah). Her name means gift in an Indonesian language. Hadiah weighed approximately one pound at birth and she immediately captured the hearts of her keepers. The newborn may be seen daily on exhibit at the Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates with her mother Remley. Hadiah is Remley’s first birth. Houston...

HOUSTON ZOO ANNOUNCES BIRTH OF PRAIRIE DOGS

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Media Note: JPEG images of the prairie dog pups may be seen on the Houston Zoo’s Web site at http://www.houstonzoo.org/en/photos/albums/v/23 and are available for your unrestricted use via e-mail. Media wishing to shoot video or still images of the pups may contact Brian Hill at 281-380-5232. (HOUSTON) May 9, 2008 … They’re cute, adorable, furry and oh so quick. They’re the newest arrivals at the Houston Zoo – three black-tailed prairie dogs born approximately six weeks ago at the Zoo’s McGovern Children’s Zoo and just now emerging from their burrow. They’ve been scampering around the Children’s Zoo’s prairie dog exhibit for a few days now and will stay fairly close to their mother for several more weeks. The best time to see the pups is late morning or mid to late afternoon. The black-tailed prairie dog is a member of the squirrel family. Of the five species of prairie dogs in western North America, only the black-tailed prairie dog lives in the Great Plains. It’s...

GET BEAR AWARE AT THE HOUSTON ZOO

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:00:00 GMT

(HOUSTON) May 1, 2008 … Get bear aware at the Houston Zoo during Bear Awareness Day on Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find out what you need to know to share the great outdoors with these amazing animals! During Bear Awareness Day, our zookeepers will offer camping tips with dramatic assistance from our spectacled and grizzly bears during Good Camper/Bad Camper Theatre presentations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. In humorous skits, keepers will demonstrate how to make your campsite bear proof. Find out if our keepers are smarter than the average bear. Check out the Bear Café and find out what bears eat when you visit our commissary booth filled with beary yummy treats! And find out how bears live when you explore the Bear Maze! It’s a long, slow process, but black bears are on the rebound in Louisiana and there have been a number of verified sightings in East Texas. If you enjoy camping, there’s a chance you might spot a bear on a camping trip this summer. Representatives...

HOUSTON ZOO AND GREEN MOUNTAIN ENERGY COMPANY CELEBRATE EARTH DAY BY FLIPPING SWITCH FOR NEW SOLAR ARRAY

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON ZOO AND GREEN MOUNTAIN ENERGY COMPANY CELEBRATE EARTH DAY BY FLIPPING SWITCH FOR NEW SOLAR ARRAY Solar Array first for animal exhibit at a Texas Zoo Media Note: High resolution JPEG images of the array unveiling are available for your unrestricted use. You may download the images from the Houston Zoo FTP site by logging on to ftp://65.38.108.85 and entering the ID zooprinters and the password print*12jobs. Click the file labeled Zoo-Green Mountain. For more information regarding image availability, please contact Brian Hill at 713.533.6531 (office). HOUSTON (April 23, 2008) – To commemorate Earth Day 2008, the Houston Zoo and Green Mountain Energy Company today unveiled the Zoo’s first solar array. The installation is the first solar array to power an exhibit at a zoo in Texas. The Green Mountain Energy® Solar at the Houston Zoo is 6.4 kilowatts (kW) and will help power the Zoo’s African lion exhibit. The array will provide approximately 33 percent...

LEMONADE DAY LEMONADE CONTEST

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:00:00 GMT

MEDIA ADVISORY
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

WHAT: Lemonade Day Lemonade Contest

WHO: Prepared 4 Life, celebrity judges, and 50 Lemonade Day participants

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, 2008

WHERE: Houston Zoo, 1513 N. MacGregor

VISUALS: 50 children will set up colorful lemonade stands along the Houston Zoo Reflection Pool and complete for the title of “Best Lemonade.”

9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Contestants set up lemonade stands at Zoo Reflection Pool

10:15 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Judges begin the lemonade taste test

11:30 a.m. Judges announce winners and present awards.

Media Note: Media covering the Lemonade Contest at the Houston Zoo may enter the Zoo’s Gate One at 1513 N. MacGregor. Parking and golf cart transport to the event site will be provided. For more information, please contact Brian Hill at 713.533.6531 (Office) or 281.380.5232 (cell).

At 10 a.m. on April 26, 50 children chosen at random from around the community will gather at the Houston Zoo to complete for the title of “Best Lemonade.” All “Best Lemonade” contestants are participants in the 2ond annual Lemonade Day, a city-wide event hosted by Prepared 4 Life, a nonprofit organization that prepares middle school youth for life utilizing fun, proactive and experiential after-school programs. Lemonade Day (May 4, 2008) is a citywide event designed to teach Greater Houston area youth how to start, own and operate their own lemonade business. Lemonade Day teaches Houston’s youth about entrepreneurship in a fun and hands-on way and raises money for other after-school programs sponsored by Prepared 4 Life.

GET GREEN ON EARTH DAY AT THE HOUSTON ZOO

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:00:00 GMT

GET GREEN ON EARTH DAY AT THE HOUSTON ZOO PRESENTED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT APRIL 19 AND 20 It’s a Party for the Planet and you’re invited! Featuring FREE electronics recycling drop-off from Sony and WM Media Note: A high resolution Earth Day graphic is available for your unrestricted use. Please contact Brian Hill at 713.533.6531 (office) or 281.380.5232 (cell) for delivery options. See the accompanying event list for a complete entertainment schedule. Media covering Earth Day at the Houston Zoo presented by Waste Management may enter the Zoo at Gate One, 1513 N. MacGregor to access parking and transportation to the event site. (HOUSTON) April 7, 2008 - Go green on April 19 and 20 when you paws for Earth Day at the Houston Zoo presented by Waste Management. Join the Houston Zoo and Waste Management from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day for informative keeper chats and intriguing animal enrichment activities utilizing recycled materials, fun crafts for kids, entertainment with a green...

RARE MONKEY BORN AT HOUSTON ZOO

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:45:00 GMT

Media Note: A high resolution JPEG image of the baby and his mother is available for your unrestricted use. Please contact Brian Hill for delivery options at 713-533-6531 (office) or 281-380-5232 (cell). (HOUSTON) March 31, 2008 … The Houston Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a rare monkey at Wortham World of Primates. The arrival of the Schmidt’s red tailed guenon baby marks the first birth of the species at the Zoo in 29 years. The new arrival is a boy and his name is Matani, said primate supervisor Dena Strange. Matani (Pron: muh-TAN-ee) means ‘strength’ in Swahili and the baby is living up to his name. He’s very strong and healthy. His mother, Malaika is being a great mom, added Strange. The baby’s father, Kabili arrived at the Zoo in 2006 with several other monkeys recovered from the bushmeat and illegal pet trade in Africa. This is and important birth for the Houston Zoo and the species, said Strange. We haven’t had a guenon birth at the Zoo in 29 years and this is...

HOUSTON ZOO ORANGUTANS AND ELEPHANTS

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Pongos Helping Pongos: Paintings by Orangutans for Orangutans March 29, 2008 at G Gallery in the Heights Media Note: High resolution images of the artists and the art work are available for your unrestricted use. Interviews with primate and elephant keepers may also be scheduled at your convenience. For more information, please contact Brian Hill at 281-380-5232 (cell) or 713-533-6531 (office). (HOUSTON) March 3, 2008 … Rudi takes time to choose his colors and prefers cardboard tubes instead of paint brushes. Kelly likes to apply paint to canvas using lengths of bamboo or ginger. Cheyenne and Elok will use brushes but have developed an intriguing finger painting style. Solaris usually ends up wearing as much paint as ends up on the canvas. Despite his blustery demeanor, Doc’s images seem to indicate a gentle soul hiding behind all the bravado. The artists have two things in common: they all create their images at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates; and they are all...

AZA GRANTS ACCREDITATION TO HOUSTON ZOO

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:00:00 GMT

(HOUSTON) March 7, 2008 … The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) today announced that the Houston Zoo was granted accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission. The Zoo has been accredited since 1989 when it was first recognized by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, the predecessor of today’s AZA. The AZA sets exceptionally high standards in all areas of our operations, from animal care to guest experience and everything in between, said Sharon Joseph, VP of Animal Programs at the Houston Zoo. AZA accreditation affirms and recognizes the efforts of the entire Zoo staff to uphold and exceed those standards. We’re very proud of our staff and the support we receive from the community and our board members, added Joseph. The Houston Zoo has made enormous strides in the last five years of its operation under the non-profit Houston Zoo, Inc., said Houston Zoo board chairman Jonathan Day. It’s gratifying to have this progress recognized...

The National Elephant Center unveils a bold new initiative for global elephant conservation

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON (Feb.7, 2008) — A new model for excellence in elephant care and conservation is a reality today as The National Elephant Center announced plans to create a national elephant conservation center in central Florida made possible, in part, by Waste Management’s involvement. The facility will be under construction for several months with the first elephants expected to arrive in 2009. Elephants are among our most endangered animals in the world, and their future depends on innovative programs that integrate science, research, education and animal care expertise. The National Elephant Center will play a vital role in addressing the critical need for elephant population management and will be an international resource in elephant conservation, said Center Board President Mark C. Reed, and Executive Director of the Sedgwick County Zoo. Waste Management’s support of the project, including its nominal lease to the Center of the land, will help provide a perfect home for our...

GO WILD FOR LOVE AT THE HOUSTON ZOO'S VALENTINE'S DINNER

noemail@houstonzoo.org — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:00:00 GMT

(HOUSTON) January 16, 2008 … For some birds, choosing a mate has a lot do to with which guy has the best nest construction skills. For sea horses and some cranes it’s all about the dance. And for male crocodiles it’s who is best at blowing bubbles in the water. Explore the world of animal mating and dating and have a naturally wild Valentine’s Day when you bring your sweetheart to the Houston Zoo’s Wild for Love Valentine’s event on Thursday, February 14 at 7 p.m. in the Brown Education Center. Adults, (ages 21+) join us at the Houston Zoo for a romantic experience you won’t forget. Following a special champagne dinner, Zoo Director Rick Barongi and Director of Conservation and Science Bill Konstant will tell you all about dating and mating in the animal world. If you think our species is a mystery, try to decipher the dance of the Red-crowned crane or determine when a female lion is in the mood. From courtship to consummation, species cloaked in fur, feathers, and scales indulge in...