Archive for the ‘Scavenger Hunt’ Category

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Fourteen

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

It’s Monday morning and you know what that means! It’s time for our last post for the summer series of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo, our weekly photographic scavenger hunt! Yup- that’s right, our time together with TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo edition is coming to an end and we sure have had some fun. Want to look back at the last thirteen weeks of scavenger hunt sleuthing we’ve shared? No problem- just click here!

 

Since it is last week of the summer series, we are going to be shaking things up a bit this week! Don’t worry- the basic rules are still in place. We will post a portion of a photo taken within the Zoo followed by clues as to the photo’s identify. These clues, along with your knowledge of the Zoo will lead you to post your guesses in the comment section. As always, return this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

So what’s different about this week? There’s four times the fun! That’s right- we’re not just posting one photo- but four! We like to call this Mystery Image Monday Mania!

 

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present….

 

This Week’s Images, a.k.a #15 A-D

Image A

 

Image B

 

Image C

 

Image D

 

The Clues

Since they are four images this week, we will only be providing four clues- one clue per image. Well, five clues after I tell you that this week’s images are in honor of our awesome horticulture department.  Each year, they spend over 20,000 hours planting, pruning and caring for our lush landscapes in the middle of this bustling city! That’s some awesome flower power!

 

A. I have neither pillow nor a blanket- although I do have three sides.

B. If you have visited the Zoo- chances are you have enjoyed a snack near me!

C. If you can’t decide between birds, frogs and piranhas- come sit by me a spell!

D. I have an older brother at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Okay, fine- six clues! All the photos are Chill Out-themed!

.

 

The Answers

 

Image A- The Triangle Bed

The Triangle Bed is located just past the Cypress Circle Café, at the exit to The African Forest. Envisioned to serve guests seeking shelter from the scorching Texas sun, this garden area is home to a wide variety of fauna specifically planted for the shade they provide.

 

Image B- Duck Lake

Located just past Wortham’s World of Primates, Duck Lake is a favorite spot for guests to Chill Out and relax while grabbing a quick bite from the adjacent Cypress Circle Café. While the lake is full of waterfowl (hence the name!) these Red-eared Sliders have become quite popular with guests and can be seen competing for premiere sunbathing space daily.

 

Image C- Reflection Pool

The iconic Reflection Pool greets guests as they pass through the Main Entrance and walk toward Wortham’s World of Primates. The reflection pool is a favorite resting spot for many guests due to the relaxing fountains, ornate sculptures and decades old shade trees. Sitting along the stairs, families can quickly plan their next stop- all within eyeshot of some of the Zoo’s most popular destinations- The Tropical Bird House, The Reptile and Amphibian Building and Natural Encounters.

 

Image D- Butterfly Garden

Tucked away to the side of The African Forest and next to the Hoofstock run, the Butterfly Garden is one of the hidden gems at the Houston Zoo. Filled with colorful flowers and bushes that are designed to attract butterflies, this tranquil garden features a small walking path. That tower you see in the back? That would be a Chimney Swift Tower, a man-made structure that serves as home to dozens of Chimney Swifts- nature’s mosquito repellent!

 

 

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed the summer session of Mystery Image Mondaysat the Houston Zoo! If you’ve had fun these last several weeks during our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo and would like to relive the magic- click here and be sure to subscribe to our blog to stay up to date on our next session of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo!

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Thirteen

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

It’s Monday morning and you know what that means! It’s Week 13 of photographic scavenger hunt, Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! Can you believe we only one more week in this summer series after today? Wow, the time really has flown! If you want to brush up on your sleuthing skills, or just want to check out what you’ve been missing in our past twelve installments, just click here!

 

The rules for the game are very easy: we are about to show you a portion of a photo- it may be of an animal, a habitat, or some other point of interest found on Zoo grounds. Your knowledge of the Zoo, partnered with the three clues that will follow the photo, will aid you in identifying the location and subject of the photo. Post your guesses below and return this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

 

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present….

This Week’s Image, a.k.a #13:

The Clues

1. I am frequently confused with my cousin, which can be very frustrating sometimes!

2. Although I do enjoy a good bark, I’m certainly not a dog!

3. Guests love my daily Keeper Chats so much, they tend to flip out!

Psst- here’s a freebie hint: all the photos are Chill Out-themed!

The Answer

That’s right, you guessed it! This photo was taken during one of our dailyCalifornia Sea Lion demonstrations!

Al.....most......there!

California Sea Lions, as the name implies, are native to the Pacific west coast and can be found from the tip of the California Baja to the Alaskan panhandle. Sea Lions are sometimes mistaken for seals, their pinniped brethren.

 

The difference between the two comes down to the shape of their ears- ya, really their ears! Sea lions have small earflaps that protrude from the head, while seals possess tiny openings from which to hear.

 

They are highly social creatures that really enjoy their twice-a-day Keeper Chats, which guests can enjoy on the Sea Lion deck- a popular venue with our Special Events teams. Our sea lions love interacting with their keepers and enjoy demonstrating their aquatic acrobatics. Our family of sea lions has even taken to the human sport of basketball- so much so, that they spent time predicting the winner of the 2011 NCAA College Basketball Tournament to great viral success!

 

 

We hope you have enjoyed this installment of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! Come back next Monday for our last post of the series during our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo.

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Twelve

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

It’s Monday morning and you know what that means! It’s Week 12 of our photographic scavenger hunt, Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo and we only have three weeks left in this summer series! If you want to brush up on your sleuthing skills, or just want to check out what you’ve been missing in our past eleven installments, just click here!

 

The rules for the game are very easy: we are about to show you a portion of a photo- it may be of an animal, a habitat, or some other point of interest found on Zoo grounds. Your knowledge of the Zoo, partnered with the three clues that will follow the photo, will aid you in identifying the location and subject of the photo. Post your guesses below and return this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

 

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present…

This Week’s Image, a.k.a #12:

The Clues

1. I’m located near the Main Entrance.

2. If you have visited the Zoo recently, I do hope you have spotted me!

3. If you don’t know who I am by now, then you’re all washed up!

Psst- here’s a freebie hint: all the photos are Chill Out-themed!

.

The Answer

That’s right, you guessed it! In this picture are two of our Australian White Spotted Jellyfish that reside in the Kipp Aquarium.

 

 

The Australian White Spotted Jellyfish is, as you would expect from the name, native to the Southwestern Pacific Ocean. However, they have been found in Hawa’ii since the 1950’s and more recently in the Gulf of Mexico in 2000. This species is unique to the jellyfish family in that they can filter over 13,000 gallons of water a day in search of the plankton they feed upon. As for the dreaded sting of a jellyfish- humans need not worry! The sting of the Australian White Spotted Jellyfish is mild and non-noticeable due to their weak venom.

 

These beautiful sea creatures are housed in a brand new tank in the Kipp Aquarium, which is located just to the right of the main entrance. The aquarium features 23 exhibit spaces with specimens from all around the world- from the Pacific Coral reefs to the Amazon Basin and back! In total, the Kipp Aquarium is home to over 200 species and over 2,000 specimens including sea turtles, jellyfish and seahorses.

 

Oh, and did we mention air-conditioned! This building is definitely one of the favorites for Zoo guests during the hot summer months!


We hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! Come back next Monday, and every Monday throughout our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo.

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Eleven

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

It’s Monday morning and you know what that means! It’s Week 11 of our photographic scavenger hunt, Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! If you want to brush up on your sleuthing skills, or just want to check out what you’ve been missing in our past ten installments, just click here!

 

The rules for the game are very easy: we are about to show you a portion of a photo- it may be of an animal, a habitat, or some other point of interest found on Zoo grounds. Your knowledge of the Zoo, partnered with the three clues that will follow the photo, will aid you in identifying the location and subject of the photo. Post your guesses below and return this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

 

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present…

 

This Week’s Image, a.k.a #11:


The Clues

1. I recently finished some home improvement projects and now I have 32 big screen tvs on my walls!

2. You have to be thick skinned and cool blooded to hang out with my friends!

3. One of my residents is a zoo star so poplar, he’s white hot!

Psst- here’s a freebie hint: all the photo are Chill Out-themed!

.

The Answer

That’s right, you guessed it! This is a photo taken in the Reptile and Amphibian building and features our new LCD flatscreen monitors! These monitors provide pictures, videos and additional information on our cold-blooded friends! Cool, right?

 

 

Speaking of cool, this is one of the best spots in the entire Zoo to hang out and cool down from the hot Texas sun. Ever since it was built in 1960, guests have been walking through the doors of the Reptile and Amphibian building to beat the heat and have fallen in love with the colorful creatures within.

Perhaps most famous with our guests is Blanco, one of only fourteen white alligators in existence. Blanco suffers from a disease called leucism, which is often confused for albinism.  Unlike albinism, leucism is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin. One easy way to think about Blanco is that he’s just like other alligators- he just has a large white spot all over his body.

The Reptile and Amphibian Building is a great way to beat the heat and learn about our cold-blooded friends using innovative technology- no Parseltongue required!

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! Come back next Monday, and every Monday throughout our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo.

 

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Ten

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

It’s Monday morning and you know what that means! It’s Week 10 of photographic scavenger hunt, Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! If you want to brush up on your sleuthing skills, or just want to check out what you’ve been missing in our past nine installments, just click here!

 

The rules for the game are very easy: we are about to show you a portion of a photo- it may be of an animal, a habitat, or some other point of interest found on Zoo grounds. Your knowledge of the Zoo, partnered with the three clues that will follow the photo, will aid you in identifying the location and subject of the photo. Post your best guesses below and return this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

 

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present…

This Week’s Image, a.k.a #10:

The Clues

1. While humans love me, I don’t think the small cats down the street do!

2. While I may seem large to humans, those who enjoy me tend to think of me as a wadding pool!

3. I bring a whole new meaning to the term “swimming trunks”!

Psst- here’s freebie hint: all the photos are Chill Out-themed!

 

The Answer

 

That’s right, you guessed it! This is a photo of Thai, one of our Asiatic Elephants, taking a dip in his pool.

Splish-Splash! He's a-takin' a bath!

 

For those who haven’t met him, Thai is our oldest male elephant at the zoo and proud father to baby Baylor who was born last May. Thai loves the water and can frequently be seen playing with his large barrel- dunking it under the water and watching it pop back up to the surface.  As for Baylor, the apple clearly doesn’t fall far from the tree based on his escapades with water, which have gone viral and become an international sensation!

 

We are hoping that our seven-member herd will continue to enjoy the water when they move into their new elephant expansion, which will add on the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat. This new enclosure, which utilizes the land that used to belong to the giraffe’s before they relocated to The African Forest, an unobstructed viewing area, a demonstration area and an 80,000 gallon pool! For more information, renderings, and to up-to-date information click here!

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! Come back next Monday, and every Monday throughout our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo.

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Nine

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

It’s Monday morning and you know what that means! It’s Week 9 of photographic scavenger hunt, Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! If you want to brush up on your sleuthing skills, or just want to check out what you’ve been missing in our past eight installments, just click here!

 

The rules for the game are very easy: we are about to show you a portion of a photo- it may be of an animal, a habitat, or some other point of interest found on Zoo grounds. Your knowledge of the Zoo, partnered with the three clues that will follow the photo, will aid you in identifying the location and subject of the photo. Post your guesses below and return this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

 

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present…

 

This Week’s Image, a.k.a #9:

 

The Clues

1. I’m really popular at the Zoo right now. Probably because I’m so popular!

2. Some find it hard to believe I exist- they can bear-ly believe it!

3. I have tasty treats inside of me- which I suppose makes me a tasty treat myself!

Psst- here’s a freebie hint: all the photos are Chill Out-themed!

 

The Answer

 

That’s right- ya’ll guessed it! This is a photo of one of our Andean bears enjoying a fruit pop!

 

Lick....lick....lick

 

During the hot summer months, we like to offer our animals a way to chill out and beat the Houston Heat. These frozen treats are made specifically for each species that receives them and can contain a wide variety of food- ranging from fruit, nectar, berries, fish, and even some blood!

Want to know which animals get these special treats? Check out our special Chill Out Meet the Keeper chats this summer!

P.S.- You know you want to have some ice cream while the animals get their popsicles, right?!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Mystery Image Mondays

at the Houston Zoo! Come back next Monday, and every Monday throughout our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo.

 

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Eight

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

It’s Monday morning and you know what that means! It’s Week 8 of photographic scavenger hunt, Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! If you want to brush up on your sleuthing skills, or just want to check out what you’ve been missing in our past seven installments, just click here!

 

The rules for the game are very easy: we are about to show you a portion of a photo- it may be of an animal, a habitat, or some other point of interest found on Zoo grounds. Your knowledge of the Zoo, partnered with the three clues that will follow the photo, will aid you in identifying the location and subject of the photo. Post your guesses below and return this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present…

This Week’s Image, a.k.a #8:

The Clues

1. People always seem to be afraid to take a drink from me- I don’t know why, I don’t bite!

2. I’m very proud of my celebrity status here at the Zoo. I’m the pride of my family, who lives nearby!

3. I’d be lyin’ if I told you I’m a newcomer to the zoo- I’ve been here for ages!

Psst- here’s a freebie hint: all the photos are Chill Out themed!

 

 

The Answer

That’s right, you guessed it! This is a photo of our lion water fountain located along the path that runs from the exit of The African Forest to the Cypress Circle Café. For all of the expert navigators out there (and those who took a sneak a peek at our online map!) you will notice this path runs right beside the lion habitat. Pretty cool placement, huh?

Don't worry, he won't bite!

Our lion water fountain has been a guest favorite for many generations- and here are some “retro” photos to show it!

The Fountain in the early-mid 1960's

 

And here he is again in the early 1970's

 

Here he is posing for one of many family pictures!

Unfortunately, records of when this thirst-quenching lion joined the Houston Zoo family are hard to come by. So while we look to the past for more clues, we have decided to share what some of our guests have said about everyone’s favorite big-cat-shaped water fountain! These quotes are taken directly from the comment section in a previous blog post asking for your favorite zoo memory!

 

               When I was a little girl my parents took me to the zoo. I was so thirst and had a drink of water out of the lion water fountain/ My mom took a picture of me on my little top toes drinking out of that lion water fountain/ When I was a grumpy pre-teen I begrudgingly had my picture taken out[side] of the lion water fountain. Now as and adult when I go to the zoo I still take a picture of myself drinking from the fountain and I email it to my mom and dad to remind them of all the fun times we had at the Houston Zoo. Don’t ever get rid of that fountain! -  Amanda L

               I vividly remember my first trip to the zoo back in 1968. I was almost 5 years old. My father wanted to take pictures of me in front of the Tiger exhibit… and I was completely terrified to back myself up to the for fear I would be eaten. …I also remember drinking from the Lion waer fountain… of course this was after much discussion that it was not a real lion!  - Amy Fagan

 

 

Feel free to share your favorite Houston Zoo water fountain memory; they make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside- and folks I ain’t lyin’ about that!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! Come back next Monday, and every Monday throughout our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo.

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Seven

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

It’s Monday morning and you know what that means! It’s Week 7 of photographic scavenger hunt, Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! If you want to brush up on your sleuthing skills, or just want to check out what you’ve been missing in our past six installments, just click here!

 

The rules for the game are very easy: we are about to show you a portion of a photo- it may be of an animal, a habitat, or some other point of interest found on Zoo grounds. Your knowledge of the Zoo, partnered with the three clues that will follow the photo, will aid you in identifying the location and subject of the photo. Post your guesses below and return this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

 

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present…

 

This Week’s Image, a.k.a #7:

The Clues

1. I am a native to Texas, although I can be found all across the Southern United States including the Carolinas- plus Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming!

2. I am one of the newest additions to the Zoo, and I’m quite popular (or so I’m told)!

3. Despite being discovered in 1907 here in Texas, I couldn’t survive a minute of these hot Texas summers without air conditioning!

Psst- here’s freebie hint: all the photos are Chill Out-themed!

 

The Answer

That’s right, you guessed it! This is a tub of the world famous Blue Bell Ice Cream that is now being served in the Herzstein Trading Post in The African Forest!

Mmmmmm...lookin' tasty!

For those of you who don’t know *gasp!* about the Texas delicacy known as Blue Bell Ice Cream, they are a creamery that started in Brenham, Texas. Check out this blog post, and find out how you win FREE Blue Bell Ice Cream at the Houston Zoo!

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! Come back next Monday, and every Monday throughout our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo.

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Six

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

It’s Monday morning and you know what that means! Time for another Mystery Image Monday at the Houston Zoo! If you want to brush up on your sleuthing skills, or just want to check out what you’ve been missing in our past five installments, just click here!

 

The rules for the game are very easy: we are about to show you a portion of a photo- it may be of an animal, a habitat, or some other point of interest found on Zoo grounds. Your knowledge of the Zoo, partnered with the three clues that will follow the photo, will aid you in identifying the location and subject of the photo. Post your guess in the comment section below! Then, you just have to come back this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

 

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present…

This Week’s Image, a.k.a #6

 

The Clues

1.  I’m located in the heart of the Zoo, which is just “vine” with me!

2. It can be very easy to miss me when visiting the Zoo- I am pretty well camouflaged by my surroundings of lush foliage!

3. I have several brothers and sisters that I share space with, and numerous cousins live just down the road!

Psst- here’s freebie hint: all the photos are Chill Out-themed!

 

The Answer

That’s right, you guessed it! This is a photo of the monkey topiaries located at the entrance to Wortham World of Primates!

Our Primate Topiaries- just monkeying around!

This area of the Zoo, referred to as the “heart” due to its central geographic location, features some of our most intelligent and entertaining Zoo creatures!

We have a diverse array of primate species represented in the Wortham World of Primates from swamp monkeys to exotic Cocquerel’s sifakas. Our lovable monkeys and apes comes from continents all around the world. In order to recreate their natural habitats as close as possible, we even feature several multiple species exhibits!

Did we mention that many of these species are so rare and endangered that they are part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP)? Or how about the fact that our guests have the opportunity to experience these wonderful creatures by walking along our winding boardwalk and arboreal tree house? Sounds pretty fun, huh? Come check it out- we can’t wait to see you!

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! Come back next Monday, and every Monday throughout our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo: Week Five

Posted by in Contest,Scavenger Hunt

Good morning- Happy 4th of July! What are your plans for the day? Whatever festivities you have planned, we have the perfect way to start them off: a special Patriotic Edition of Mystery Image Mondays at the Houston Zoo! Remember, if you want to brush up on your sleuthing skills, or just want to check out what you’ve been missing in our past installments, just click here!

 

The rules for the game are very easy: we are about to show you a portion of a photo- it may be of an animal, a habitat, or some other point of interest found on Zoo grounds. Your knowledge of the Zoo, partnered with the three clues that will follow the photo, will aid you in identifying the location and subject of the photo. Post your guesses below and return this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00 pm to find out if you were right!

 

Are you ready? Good, then let the (scavenger) hunt begin! We are proud to present…

This Week’s Image, a.k.a #5:

The Clues

1. I may have wings and feathers- but I’m not in either of the three aviary sections!

2. Speaking of wings, one of mine was broken before I came to the Houston Zoo. It’s okay though, now the Houston Zoo has given me a permanent home here- plus I get to teach children about conservation!

3. Conservation is very important to me! Around 45 years ago, there weren’t very many of my brothers and sisters left- so few that we were added to the endangered species list! Thankfully, we were helped out by legislation that banned certain harmful pesticides and many courageous conservation organizations. Now we are thriving!

The Answer

That’s right, you guessed it! This is a photo of Liberty, our Southern Bald Eagle who lives in the Children’s Zoo!

Liberty sure is one pretty Lady!

Bald Eagles are an amazing Conservation success story. For the majority of the 20th century, the Bald Eagle was under considerable threat due to harmful pesticides, loss of habitat and human interaction. Thanks largely to legislation banning the use of pesticides like DDT, the American Bald Eagle has made a remarkable rebound. Officially removed from the threatened and endangered species list in 2007, the Bald Eagle’s tale is certainly one of American pride and patriotic conservation. To take a peek at what you can do to help America’s threatened and endangered wildlife, check out our Wildlife Conservation page here at the Houston Zoo!

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Mystery Image Mondays

at the Houston Zoo! Stay Safe Today- Happy 4th of July! Come back next Monday, and every Monday throughout our TXU Energy presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo!

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