Archive for the ‘Behind the Scenes’ Category

Mar
18

Witnessing the Birth of a Giraffe at the Houston Zoo

Posted by in African Forest,Babies,Behind the Scenes,Featured,Giraffes,Hoofed Stock

I had the honor of capturing baby giraffe Asali’s birth on film last week for the Houston Zoo’s YouTube Channel. On a busy Friday afternoon in the spring sunshine, Tyra the giraffe began giving birth in the middle of the field in full view of an increasingly large crowd of public. Not long after I arrived, out of breath, having racewalked across the zoo with camera in hand, the keeper staff decided Tyra might appreciate a little privacy. They opened up the gate to the back and waved a green plastic buoy atop a tall bamboo pole. The giraffes notice this as a “come over here if you like” signal. Tyra thought this was a great idea and moseyed into the private back yard, followed by moans of many disappointed guests. For those of you who thought you might have missed the birth, here it is in high definition:

Myself and a few other chosen staff were allowed to follow keepers and vets behind the scenes. It’s not safe to stand in the yard with the giraffes – although they’re completely gentle, there’s always a risk of one accidentally crushing your foot with a misplaced hoof – so we watched and I filmed from behind a wall. Tyra slowly paced around the yard, looking around and gazing at us with her big dark eyes as if to reassure us that she had this completely under control. She stopped periodically for contractions, and would often point her back end at us the contractions came – she knew what we were there to monitor.

We watched and I filmed as giraffe Asali was born

As we watched the baby’s nose, tongue, and then the entire head emerged. Unlike a human birth, the head is not the first to come out, but only after the front feet have appeared. After a brief delay the shoulders came after, and then it was just a minute more before the whole baby came sliding out. Since giraffe moms give birth standing up, it’s a rude awakening into life as baby falls to the ground.

The most remarkable thing about the whole process was how silent it was. There were no outcries of pain, beeps of fetal monitors or hurried bustle of nursing staff around a maternity ward.  Zoo veterinarians kept a vigilant eye, ready for any intervention needed, and we all waited holding our breath while Tyra calmly and quietly brought Asali into the world.

 

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Feb
26

Maned Wolf Pups: Making Friends

Posted by in Behind the Scenes,Carnivores,Zoo Births

So Dora and Diego are growing fast, and starting to look like real wolves. Believe it or not, they will grow into these ears.

sniffing out the camera

 Any time we raise an animal instead of their parents, its critical that we find ways to make sure they are properly socialized and grow up to be well socialized, rather than thinking they are people. These pups are cute right now, but soon they will be much larger and wilder, and someday they will go off to be paired with other wolves. In order for that to be successful, we need to make sure they know how to act like maned wolves.

The best option would have been to introduce them to another maned wolf litter that was being mother-raised but there were no other females due at the same time as our pups. So we looked internally and one candidate stood out as being right for the job: Taji, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog.  Taji was raised with the cheetahs and works as part of our Cheetah Ambassador Program. You may have seen her out greeting our guests or hanging out with cheetahs Kito and Kiburi.

When the puppies were just a few days old, we started letting Taji come up to clinic to meet them. She was immediately interested in them and and seemed eager to help.

naptime for everyone

As you can see in this photo, things got off to a great start and so Taji is hired as the latest member of the maned wolf pup team.

Need to catch up on Dora and Diego’s story? Check out these earlier posts.

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Feb
22

Maned Wolf Pups: Play Time All the Time

Posted by in Babies,Behind the Scenes,Zoo Births

At 5 weeks old, Dora and Diego are getting much more mobile, therefore more playful. After feeding time, they run around the pen, attacking stuffed animals and wrestling with each other. Playing looks like fun, but its also how puppies practice and learn hunting and social skills they will need as adults.

The puppies will soon outgrow their accommodations, but while they’re here, let’s take a tour. The “puppy room” is located at the Veterinary Clinic. We took over a room normally used to house sick or injured animals and moved in a refrigerator and microwave (for storing and warming formula), a table for all our supplies (scale, bottles, etc.), detailed log books for recording feedings and behavior, and a cot to sleep on. Several staff take turns caring for the pups during the day and someone stays with them overnight. Here’s the latest video, where you can see the setup and of course, some ridiculously cute puppy playing.

In the puppy pen, Dora and Diego have toys, blankets and a crate to sleep in. One of their favorite features is the “puppy fort” which is just a blanket attached to the pen to make a dark quiet space. They like to sleep back here, probably because it is similar to the den that their mother would dig for them in the wild.

hanging out in the fort

Coming soon: Blogs about the puppies’ first trip outside and and introduction to their new friend. Stay tuned! 

 

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Feb
18

Maned Wolf Pups: I Want One!

Posted by in Babies,Behind the Scenes,Carnivores,Endangered,Zoo Births

The response to the maned wolf puppies has been overwhelming – hundreds of you have watched their videos and commented on their photos. Social media is allowing us to share so much more of what goes on behind the scenes at the zoo, which is as much fun for us as it is for our guests. I’m going to take some time today to answer some of your frequently asked questions and respond to some of your comments.

Why aren’t the puppies being raised by their mother and how is she doing since the birth?

Dora and Diego’s mother, Lucy is still inexperienced at motherhood and that first night she was having some trouble with the pups. Because it was so cold that night, we had to intervene or there was a danger the pups could have frozen to death. For more on how that first night went, check out the first post in this series. Lucy and Seis are doing fine and are out on exhibit together. Unfortunately we won’t be able to put the puppies back with their parents because we still need to feed them ourselves.

Dora and Deigo at 4 weeks old

They are so cute, I want one!

I suspect that most of the time this is said as an impulsive response to cute baby photos but there are a few people out there that think an exotic pet might be a neat idea. On the contrary, its a really bad idea, and here’s why: exotic animals are not domesticated like cats, dogs, goats, etc. so while they might be tame and cute as youngsters, they outgrow that and start acting like wild animals eventually. This usually results in a phone call to the zoo asking us to take the animal because its too expensive, its destroying the house, or worse, it has injured a person or a pet. Unfortunately we can’t take all these animals and their owners struggle to find good homes for them. Still not convinced? There’s more info on our website.

I wish I was there helping raise those puppies – how do I get that job?

Working here at the zoo is one of the best jobs in the world, but its not all playing with cute animals. Zookeeping is hard work, you spend most of your time outdoors, you work weekends, nights, holidays, hurricanes and snowstorms. Its hard physical labor cleaning cages and hauling hay bales, but it also requires a strong educational background in animal behavior, conservation, and biology.

Still want to be a zookeeper? A degree in a wildlife related field is a good place to start but the field is competetive, so you’ll need some experience too. Time spent as an intern or volunteer gives you the chance to do all of the above (for no pay of course). Volunteering is a great way to see if this is the job for you and it also allows people that already have another career a chance to work at the zoo too.

My point is, its a lot of hard work that leads up to the opportunity to do something this special, and whether you are staff or a volunteer, you have to the whole job, not the fun parts.

carnivore keeper Angie feeds Dora

When will the puppies be on exhibit?

We’re still working on the plan for this one, but we hope to have them out for at least part of the day in the next few weeks. Before they can leave the zoo clinic, they have to get their shots and we want to make sure its warm enough for them to go outside. We’ll keep you posted here on the blog when they are ready to make their big debut!

Thanks for all your interest and support and let me know in the comments if you have more questions! And keep checking back for the next news about the maned wolf pups.

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Feb
16

Maned Wolf Pups: Dinner Time

Posted by in Babies,Behind the Scenes,Carnivores,Endangered,Zoo Births

At 4 weeks of age, maned wolf puppies Dora and Diego are ready to start on solid food. Adult maned wolves are omniviorous, meaning they eat both plant material and meat. Here at the zoo, their diet consists of a specially formulated dry kibble, raw meat, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. The first stage of the transition for the puppies is a gruel made with soaked kibble, canned dog food and some formula.

Dora takes her first bites

They need a little help at first, and we have put some on our fingers and feed it to them until they get the hang of it. Even then, sometimes they think its more fun to play in their food than to eat it, which means we’ll spend the rest of the day smelling like dog food!

Editor’s Note: Want to read more about the maned wolf pups? Click HERE and HERE for the two previous post. And come back to the Houston Zoo blog  for the next one, posting later this week!

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Feb
13

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts: AWESOME!!!

Posted by in Behind the Scenes,Holidays,Valentine's Day

If you are looking for unique, one-of-a-kind, unforgettable gifts that you can also get TODAY, the Houston Zoo has a huge selection. Read on!

1. Get a specialized brick with your personal message that will be paved right into the entrance path at the Zoo! Talk about lasting — and it’s 100% deductible. The one pictured here is a limited-edition, flamingo heart brick, but there are many sizes and designs to choose from.

2. Surprise him or her with tickets to our next cool lecture series on this coming Thursday night, 2/17. You can clink your wine, beer or soft drinks glass and sample light bites before the lecture starts, then settle in and hold hands in our comfy Brown Auditorium chairs to listen to the esteemed Dr. Jill Pruetz. Read all about her on our CALL OF THE WILD page. This is one of the most affordable date nights in town and all proceeds go to conservation!

3. Did you know you can adopt an animal? If you go to the walk-up Membership window at the Zoo you can get the certificate the same day. If not, no worries! You can still get it through our website and print some pictures or make up a nice card to let your Sweetheart know!

4. How about arranging a kiss from a sea lion? Or getting up close to a magnificent lion or tiger for training? You will see the sparkle in their eyes when they do a Behind the Scenes Tour or animal experience. There are so so many to choose from! These need to be scheduled but are so WORTH it! Just put the news of it in a box with a bow! Better yet, come together to the zoo and hand the box over in front of the habitat of the animal you’ve chosen. NICE!

5. For a totally different time, go behind the scenes at our Vet clinic and make the morning rounds being Vet for a Day. Read about the experience from a Zoo blog post about it. Uh-mazing!

6. Does your Love love art? Is there a spot in their office or in the home that just cries out for something to remind them of you? How about an animal painting? We have several animal artists that make true conversation pieces, like the one below:

… Or if you’d like to go really wild, you can give the actual experience of seeing the animal create their 16 x 20 piece.  Your Boo can pick the paint colors and watch as their masterpiece is made I mean, that may just be unmatched in the world of cool!

7. How about something humorous? Surprise your special someone(s) with a yard full of bright pink plastic flamingos planted in stealth by Houston Zoo staff. Complete with your personalized message, it’s a delight and a hoot — and a gift that helps save an endangered species! This one needs to be scheduled but who says you can’t make every day Valentines Day?

8. Lastly, candy never disappoints! If you want a list of Valentines Candy that does not contain Palm-oil, here is an extensive one, which you’ll find at the end of this short Conservation blog post. Why do this? Because it helps to save the lives of Orangutans and many other species.

So, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??!!

Thanks to heatherpringle.wordpress.com for the candy photo

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Feb
11

Maned Wolf Pups: Upgrading Accommodations

Posted by in Babies,Behind the Scenes,Carnivores,Endangered,Zoo Births

Over the course of weeks 2 and 3, the puppies start to get more active, they are spending more time awake and moving around. This meant we had to update their accommodations. They were old enough to maintain their body temperature so we made a puppy play pen for them.

We started out with a small wading pool but within days they were crawling over the sides so we expanded into a larger pen. This space is a little bigger and we added toys and some “furniture” for them. At this age, its important for them to start learning to navigate around and over obstacles and get used to walking on different types of surfaces.

napping in the pool

They still spend a lot of time napping at this stage but the extra space sure comes in handy when the urge to play strikes: 

Maned wolf puppies Dora and Diego are not on exhibit it the zoo yet so this is the only place to get the latest updates – stay tuned for more stories, photos and video!

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Feb
08

Maned Wolf Pups: Eat, Sleep and Grow

Posted by in Babies,Behind the Scenes,Carnivores,Endangered,Zoo Births

The first couple weeks of a puppy’s life consist of eating, sleeping and growing (and a few other messy things that you can imagine). They need to eat every 3-4 hours at this point, so that means someone has to be at the zoo to care for them round the clock. For the next several weeks, the Carnivore and Clinic staff will be taking turns “camping out” at the zoo.

They can’t maintain their body temperature at this age so they spent most of their time in a small container that we could keep warm. They aren’t very mobile at this point but from the time they are born they can crawl towards warmer or cooler areas and towards food. So I was surprised to find them playing at just 10 days old:

If you’d like to read the first post about these adorable pups, CLICK HERE!

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Jan
10

Meet the Staff: Chris Adams

Posted by in Behind the Scenes,Featured,Meet the Staff

Name: Chris Adams

Chris by the reflection pool, a favorite spot at the Zoo

 Hometown: Houston, Texas 

Department: Rangers  

Quote: Be the change you wish to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi

How long have you worked at the Houston Zoo?: Almost 2 years 

Favorite animal: Polar Bears 

Special interests/hobbies: Playing football with my friends 

What made you want to work at a zoo?: I have a great interest and appreciation for the natural world and I enjoy working outside.  This zoo is also a very beautiful place so when the Ranger position opened up, I applied. 

Education/training: Bachelor of Business Administration, double majoring in Management and Marketing from University of Houston. 

Do you have advice for anyone wanting to enter your field?  This job requires lots walking or riding a “trike” so take that into consideration when applying.  Our job focuses on guests, so previous guest service experience may be helpful.    

What about advice to  guests visiting the Zoo? 
Duck Lake is one of the many areas Chris patrols every day

Stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water.  Also, feel free to ask Zoo staff about the animals.  It’s easy to get some information about the animals from the signs, but the more interesting information and stories come from the keepers or other staff that knows the animals well.  We’ll be glad to share our information or answer any of your questions.

 What is something you want people to know about the Zoo? The Houston Zoo is the most beautiful zoo I have ever visited.  It’s a great combination of beautiful trees, water and lots of animals.  The reflection pool is probably the prettiest sight in Houston. 

 What’s your favorite story from the Zoo:  There is a guest that visits every so often.  Currently he goes a year or two without visiting since he moved out of state.  Every time he comes to the zoo he visits our Orangutan exhibit to see Doc, one of our male orangutans.  It never fails, as soon as Doc sees him, he goes straight over to the window of the exhibit and they look at each other for a while.  I’ve never seen Doc act this way towards anyone else before, not even zoo staff.  The guest doesn’t know why this happens but he’s always amazed when Doc comes over to see him every time, despite not having seen each other for sometimes years. 

 Written by Tina Carpenter, Children’s Zoo Keeper

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Dec
20

Gift of Grub: Eating Like a Bird… Not!

Posted by in Behind the Scenes,Birds

Practically every guest who comes to the Houston Zoo to visit our animals has at least heard the notion of “eating like a bird.” The overwhelming majority of birds are much lighter than they initially appear because of their lightweight skeletons, air sacs throughout the body, and feathers; as such, they tend to not eat as much as a mammal of similar size would be expected to eat.

However, there is an exception to be found with every rule.

This is Darwin, our 5-year old male Double-wattled Cassowary. These birds are actually some of the largest in the world, dwarfed only by the Ostrich. They live in the rainforests of Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea where their diet mainly consists of fruit. In this video, our Cassowary is getting a small assortment of fruit including apple, orange, banana, pear, grape and cantaloupe.

However, the amount of food shown here doesn’t begin to give an idea of how much food these birds will really eat: Darwin is fed several times daily, and can easily eat 8-10lbs of fruit, greens and pellets in the course of a day!

As you can see, Darwin has absolutely no problem eating very large pieces of fruit! This trait is crucial to the survival of their native rainforests – cassowaries eat large amounts of fruit and then disperse the seeds throughout the forest (seeds have a high germination rate in the digestive tracks of these animals). This makes these animals a “Keystone Species, ” meaning that they have a disproportionate impact on their environment — in this case, a positive one.  Several species of fruit trees rely on cassowaries, and their method of seed-dispersal is used by even more. They are completely dependent on cassowaries… and their appetites.

Pretty much destroys the notion of “eating like a bird,” doesn’t it?

Written by Jack Pine, Bird Keeper

How much does it cost to feed your family for a year? At the Houston Zoo, our annual grocery bill adds up to more than $600,000! With a bill that big, imagine the impact that your support could have. Your gift might help purchase a tasty steak (or ten) for our tigers. Make your tax-deductible donation at www.houstonzoo.org/gift-of-grub. or, click our our CONTRIBUTE tab on Facebook!

You can email development@houstonzoo.org for more information.

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