Archive for July 2009

Jul
27

You’ve Got Mail…E-mail

Posted by in Going Green,Uncategorized,What You Can Do

Tired of your snail mail building up? Go Paperless!

Tired of your snail mail building up? Go Paperless!

E-mail means something different to everyone.  Personally, chcecking it is one of my favorite past times.  I love chatting with friends, hearing about sales, and dreaming of taking vacations to those faraway places!  It is a time of relaxation.  That is why the Houston Zoo gives members the option to go paperless.

Going paperless means that all those flyers and updates the Zoo sends in the mail will now be sent to your computer.  There are almost 33,000 Zoo members-Imagine how much paper could be saved if they all went paperless.

In order to go paperless, just visit the website.  Click go paperless, plug in all your information, and DONE! Reduce all that junk mail in your home mailbox.

Many members enjoy having their Wildlife Magazine sent to their home, so they can look at the pictures as well as showing it off to friends.  NO PROBLEM.  Wildlife Magazine will still be sent to your house even if you opt to have everything else sent to your e-mail.   Going paperless does not affect the magazine being sent to your home.

Have a Green Day!

Tags: , , ,
Jul
23

Orangutans face habitat loss

Posted by in Elephant,Endangered Species,orangutan

There is a nice article in the July 22nd issue of New Scientist which can be seen online at: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327183.700-controversial-palmoil-plan-may-save-the-orangutan.html?full=true&print=true

There are many issues facing the survival of this species both on Borneo and Sumatra, the only two places in the world wild orangutans exist. Habitat loss and severly fragmented habitat from logging and palm oil plantations have taken a heavy toll on the islands populations. Many young animals in both Indonesia and Malaysia end up in rescue centers. These animals are difficult to rehabilitate for release and there are very few places left for them to be released to.

The Houston Zoo actively supports both the Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Program and elephant studies based out of the Danau Girang Field Centre. For more on these programs, go to: http://www.houstonzoo.org/bornean-orangutan-conservation/ and http://www.houstonzoo.org/borneo-elephant-conservation/

Map from New Scientist Article, Sabah, Borneo (Malaysia) http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2718/27183701.jpg

Map from New Scientist Article, Sabah, Borneo (Malaysia) http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2718/27183701.jpg

Jul
22

Images of Africa

Posted by in Africa,Featured,What You Can Do

Please join the Houston Zoo and Houston photographer Paul Swen in supporting wildlife conservation through: Images of Africa
Nearly 40 images of Africa and Houston Zoo wildlife are available at http://www.houstonzoo.org/imagesofafrica/
Masharafa

Masharafa: A male lion of Tanzania relaxes after a successful hunt and feeding. The title is derived from the slang used by guides to identify lions

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Jul
13

Experiencing Nature inspires us to protect it

Posted by in Africa,Featured,Travel,What You Can Do

Did you know you can join the Houston Zoo’s Conservation Department on a tour to Africa, Asia or Latin America? Or attend the zoo’s lecture series and meet some of the world’s leading experts in wildlife conservation? Just click on a link of interest below and join us at the zoo, or in the field:

Call of the Wild Lecture Series at the Houston Zoo:

September 10th, 2009.Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project- Rwanda. Brown Education Center, Houston Zoo http://www.houstonzoo.org/lectureseries/

October 7th, 2009. Save the Elephants-Africa with Dr. Iain Douglas Hamilton. Brown Education Center, Houston Zoo http://www.houstonzoo.org/lectureseries/

LeopardLyingDown_HR_RMSafari Central Travel Program

August 23-September 1, 2009: Brazil’s Pantanal http://www.houstonzoo.org/brazil-pantanal/

May 11-15, 2010: Yellowstone Wolf and Bear Discovery Tour http://www.houstonzoo.org/yellowstone/

May 14-224, 2010: Walking with the Wild Elephants of Borneo http://www.houstonzoo.org/borneo-elephant-tour/

May 26-June 6, 2010: The Best of Kenya, Maasai Mara/Northern Serengeti http://www.houstonzoo.org/kenya-maasai/

Jul
10

9 Days in the Mexican Desert

Posted by in Endangered Species,Featured

Peninsular Pronghorn

Peninsular Pronghorn

El Vizcaino Desert Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Sur to be exact. We have partnered with the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, The Living Desert, Palm Beach Zoo, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Mexico’s CONANP and ENDESU to return the endangered Peninsular Pronghorn antelope back to Baja. The goal of the trip is the translocation of a managed herd and release of 200 individuals back to their desert habitat,  effectively tripling the number of wild Peninsular Pronghorn.

Corralling of the males

Corralling of the males

The days are fairly routine, crawl out of our tents at 5:30am, a one hour drive to “Estacion Berrendo” arriving at 7:00am. Prepare for hand capture of animals moved into Boma style enclosures. Each individual will receive a physical exam by one of the 6 veterinarians involved in the project. Then a hoof trim if needed, identification chip, mild sedative for the drive back to the release site and then placed in a trailer. The morning routine goes on for a few hours: move animals into capture corral, a team of 12 hand capture 4 individual pronghorn (dodge slashing hooves on all and sharp horns on males), bring out to veterinarians for exams, place in trailer, repeat 10 times.

a quick trip to the veterinarians...

a quick trip to the veterinarians...

This is followed by the one hour drive back to temporary pens at the release site where they will be held for a short period of time. The humans then attempt to find some shade from the desert sun and 98f heat for a few hours until 4pm when it is almost time to go back and start the procedure all over again, running until we return with another trailer full of pronghorn by 8pm that evening. Time for dinner and the 25-30 members of our group then try and catch and quick shower (there are two at the station) before climbing back into our tents for the evening.

Released pronghorn move off into the Reserve

Released pronghorn move off into the Reserve

6 days and nights and 250+ animals later, it is time for a few “soft” releases into the translocation site. A fence is opened so that a group of females and this years fawns can walk out at their leisure and the next morning there are pronghorn prints scattered across the sandy trails of the area, animals easily visible on the sloping hills. A small group of males are then released which interestingly brings a few of the females and a number of fawns back to the pen area where they interact before moving back over the hillside in a slow line of animals, slowly disappearing over the top.

Due to poor vegetation and lack of water in the summer months, our conservation partners in Mexico will place out supplemental food and water for these animals for the next 6-9 months until they all have a better idea of where to find sufficient resources until the winter rains bring grasses and water back to this 26,000hectare protected reserve. It may have only taken us 9 days to move 250 animals back into their natural habitat, but it has also taken us 10 years to get to this point. Hopefully, the next 10 years will see the pronghorn beginning to return to sustainable numbers where our help will no longer be necessary.

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Jul
10

The Bird Department at the Zoo, Flocking Fabulous!

Posted by in Uncategorized

We have a Fantastic Flamingo Flocking update!

Houston Zoo Bird Keepers, Abby Varela and Megan Neal, the Houston Zoo Bird Department and all those that assisted in the flocking, those that flocked, and those that were flocked have raised approximately $550 to date for Bird Conservation!

 Our first $500 donation went to the Philippine Eagle Conservation Foundation and will help to fund the following:

The Philippine Eagle Foundation is a private, non-stock, non-profit organization dedicated to saving the endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and its rainforest habitat.  Organized in 1987, it had before that time been operating as a project undertaking research, rehabilitation, and captive breeding.  Staffed by highly trained and dedicated personnel, it has today evolved into the country’s premiere organization for the conservation of raptors.

 The Philippine Eagle Foundation firmly believes that the fate of our vanishing Philippine Eagle, the health of our environment, and the quality of Philippine life are inextricably linked.  We are therefore committed to promote the survival of the Philippine Eagle, the biodiversity it represents, and the sustainable use of our forest resources for future generations to enjoy.

Eagles for release will be trained to avoid electric power poles in the wild. Called aversion training, the birds are placed in a cage where birds that land on the cross arms of two “mock” electric poles gets electric shock. By doing this, they associate power poles with danger and tend to avoid it. Unfortunately, the electric fence controller (the unit that regulates the electric shock) they were using broke and they need to purchase a new one. The wiring system of the aversion cage needs repairs and upgrading as well. Flamingo Flocking to the rescue. Part of the funds donated will be used for these purposes.

The rest of the donation will be used to purchase radio telemetry transmitters for their released birds.

Congratulations to the flocking team at the Houston Zoo for implementing a unique and colorful fund raising venture that is helping to fund important work for our feathered Philippine friends!

 Remember…It’s not to late to flock your friends, email avarela@houstonzoo.org

flamingobanner

 Philippine Eagle Foundation Official website

Jul
06

Match the Cat

Posted by in Africa,Animal Origins & Fun Facts,Endangered Species,Going Green,What You Can Do

Here is a chance to test your Houston Zoo knowledge.  Try and match the pictures of these felines’ fur with their names.

Here are your options: 1.Malayan Tiger, 2.Cheetah, 3.Jaguar, 4.Clouded Leopard, 5. Margay, and 6.Ocelot

Cat B

Cat A

Cat B

Cat B

Cat C

Cat C

Cat D

Cat D

Cat E

Cat E

Cat F

Cat F

Was it harder than you thought?  I think so! Who knew there were so many furry kitties out there?  Well… these cats are quite adorable from a distance.  These cats all have a different fur coat, but they have something in common as well.  They are all endangered!!!  These cats are endangered due to their home habitats being chopped down and because poachers are hunting them for their soft coats.

Hopefully, this little quiz will help you know which animals are which next time you venture over to the Zoo.  Also, you can see that faux “cheetah print” cloth is not always cheetah print!  You are not the only one who gets their prints mixed up!  Finally, you can increase their habitats by going green in your own life and not supporting the purchase of real fur!

Answers: 1. Malayan Tiger-F ;  2.Cheetah-B;  3.Jaguar-E ;  4.Clouded Leopar-A;  5. Margay-D ; and 6.Ocelot-C.

Jul
06

Just shy of last years record for nesting sea turtles in Texas!

Posted by in Endangered Species,Texas

On Sunday one new Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nest was found on the Texas coast, at Padre Island National Seashore.

So far this year, 192 Kemp’s ridley nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):

Bolivar Peninsula 1

Galveston Island 3

Brazoria County, north of Surfside 3

Surfside Beach 0

Quintana Beach 1

Bryan Beach 2

San Bernard Wildlife Refuge 1

Sargent Beach 1

Matagorda Peninsula 3

Matagorda Island 7

San Jose Island 4

Mustang Island 2

Corpus Christ Bay 1

North Padre Island 123, including 116 at Padre Island National Seashore South Padre Island 31 Boca Chica Beach 9

We are just shy of last years record which is 195 Kemps ridley sea turtle nests in Texas.

 

HatchlingsthreePINS

Jul
01

Certifiably Wild

Posted by in Going Green,Texas,What You Can Do

Create your own certified zoo at home.

One of the top reasons I look forward to returning home to Texas for my summers is due to all the nature!  I love waking up in the morning and hearing the birds chirping.  I watch the cardinals landing in my yard, carefully avoiding my cats.  At night, I have a chance to hear coyotes howl and catch a glance at a hungry raccoon grabbing a bite out of our “chicken bucket.”  If this is one of your favorite aspects about Texas as well, then you can certify your own backyard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. 

A twenty dollar sign-up fee is required, but you get a few perks along with certification.  You receive a certificate and your name in a registry… yadda yadda yadda… I think the coolest aspect is the free magazine subscription to National Wildlife Magazine, informing readers on how to attract more wildlife to their backyard.  Once you are registered, you enter a very exclusive society of nature lovers, where you can even share photos of your habitat , or look at others on the flickr group.

I know what you are thinking.  Well, it sounds easy to sign-up, but how difficult is it to qualify? Not difficult at all.  Most of the requirements, people already have or want to have at their homes.

The five necessary components of a wildlife habitat are 3 Food Sources, 1 Water Sources, 2 Places for Cover, 2 Places to Raise Young, 2 forms of Sustainable Gardening.  You can click on the categories to find examples of each, but I will provide you an example of what a certified habitat may look like:

A habitat could contain a bird feeder and bird house hanging above a little bird bath.  A big planted big lemon tree surrounded by some sunflowers.  This provides both fruit and pollen for local creatures.  Remember to put some mulch or compost to help these plants grow.  On the other side of the yard, plant some dense shrubs to keep out those nosey neighbors.    This counts as both cover for animals and a place to raise their young.  You could set up a toad abode under the brush where the rainwater likes to fall into a little plate.  All this is more than enough to receive your certification.  Once you start thinking about your own yard as a home, you will want to keep up the habitats!

If you love this idea so much, consider telling your neighborhood parks or schools that they could create their own certified wildlife habitat as well.