Photo by Janet Hughes

Cheyenne seems less than patient on the occasions when Aurora is engaged in play away from the mesh introduction panel placed in between their rooms. Chey kiss-squeaks loudly to get her attention, fishes for her with plant stalks or other modified tools, or makes throaty rumbling sounds in her direction. Cheyenne will come over to the introduction door with a blanket over her head to see if the baby will notice, and when she does, Chey engages her in gentle play through the mesh.  Her tenderness and avid interest in this infant is very touching to see.  Indah is a little more rambunctious in her attentions, and it is evident that she will be a great playmate to the baby once they are all together.

Other activities for Aurora include familiarizing herself with the outdoor exhibit, where she goes every morning prior to the zoo opening as the yard is serviced by keeper staff.  Her volunteer caregiver brings her outside in all but very chilly weather, and she curiously investigates the grass, the pool, the wooden structures and the windows. She enjoys sampling various types of edible browse, watching the fish and ducks get their morning breakfast, and just enjoying the morning air and the sounds of the birds chattering back and forth.

Photo by Tammy Buhrmester

Aurora still drinks formula from a bottle, but instead of being held by a caregiver while taking it, she simply receives her bottle through the mesh wall of her room.  This will facilitate the upcoming introduction, as of course human contact will be unnecessary once she goes in with Cheyenne.  She feeds herself bites of fruits, vegetables and primate biscuits and disdains the spoon for her cereal: caregivers just hand her a bowl of the mixture and she makes quick work of it.  She is very comfortable with our more distanced relationship now, which gives us high hopes that she will be quite ready to meet Cheyenne when the time comes.  We expect to start the first full introductions around the first of the new year.  Once Cheyenne and Aurora are fully comfortable with each other, we will work Indah into the mix.

Photo by Diane Chesley

This will be Cheyenne’s  fourth adopted baby since 1999.  Now age 39, she has been a great mom to previous kids Luna, Elok and Indah.  Adding Aurora to her brood is something that fulfills Cheyenne’s seemingly never-ending maternal potential. For Indah, at age 7, having a new baby sister will provide a bit of practice for her own child-rearing skills in the future, as well as letting her roughhouse with someone closer to her own age.

We look forward to the introduction and will keep you all posted on their progress!

This poster curriculum assists educators in teaching their students the basics of water and wetland conservation and preservation through a series of interactive classroom lab activities. Students also learn about the various animal species (wood frog, Houston toad, Attwater’s prairie chicken, and American alligator) that call both the wetlands and the Houston Zoo home.

“BG Group is proud to support critically needed, science-based education that will help students when they become the next generation of stewards of our world,” said David Keane, VP of Policy & Corporate Affairs at BG Group. “By actively engaging and teaching students about conservation, the Eco-Learning Lab proves that students can have fun while they learn.”

“Within the Houston Zoo Education Department, we strive to ignite in all people a passion for learning and conservation,” said Chance Sanford, Director of Education at the Houston Zoo. “We hope that through the interactive labs taught in the classroom and the reminder that the poster provides, students who participate will go out and initiate some small changes in their lives that help to preserve and conserve wildlife and wild places for generations to come.”

On the morning of May 27, 188 excited elementary and middle school students arrived at the Zoo. Katie Bennett of BG Group and 15 BG Group staff volunteers also came to the Zoo to help our Education staff with one of the Eco Learning Labs and see our partnership in action.

The day began with a 20-minute interactive presentation by some of the Zoo’s Education staff. It included an introduction to more Zoo animals that call the wetlands home and a discussion of the ways students could use conservation techniques at school and at home.  The children were then treated to a meet and greet with one of the Zoo’s animal ambassadors: a baby American alligator.  Finally, before heading out to explore the Zoo, the students were given a set of LaMotte water testing kits to put into practice all that they had learned about water conservation.

We want to thank BG Group for their continued partnership with the Zoo and for helping us to reach out to these local children. Together, we are working to inspire the next generation of citizen conservationists!

It all started when six third grade students (An, Isaiah, Lillian, Biagio, Vanessa and Kaitlyn) were researching tigers and pandas on the internet. “To me it was random chatter of students who were once again using their wild imaginations to help fulfill a dream that they might accomplish when they were older.” said Kimberly Chapman, third grade teacher at Lee Elementary. But the kids had made up their minds and soon were finding out who might want to help them “save the tigers and pandas.” The Houston Zoo came to their minds and the kids learned the different ways to support the Zoo.

Now that the kids had an idea, they needed to set a goal. They decided to try to raise $3,000, of which $2,500 would go to the Zoo and the rest would go to Lee Elementary’s school library to purchase books about endangered animals. With the permission of their principal, Tonya Goree, the kids began their project. They made posters, hung signs around school, and collected their own money (with a little help from mom and dad) to open the “Animal Shop.”

The Animal Shop was open Tuesdays and Thursdays during recess and offered animal-themed bookmarks, pencils, pens, note pads, whistles and more. The kids also had enough supplies to give each class their own “animal box” for student donations. Teachers showed their support by allowing the kids to explain what they were doing and to come back throughout the week to collect the money. Through it all, the kids never lost sight of their goal. “My favorite thing about running the animal shop fundraiser was having to work with kids and make money,” explained Vanessa.

“Never once did I hear the students worry or complain about how their plan wouldn’t work. They just did what needed to be done and had a goal in mind to accomplish,” said Ms. Chapman. After two weeks, the kids tallied up the money they had raised, which totaled $800! It may not have been the $3,000 goal, but the kids were thrilled with their success. With $100 they each purchased a book on endangered animals to donate to the Lee Elementary school library, and the remaining $700 was given to the Houston Zoo. 

The third grade students who had a vision, and made it a reality

The kids along, with Ms. Chapman, visited the Zoo in June to present their donation and see the animals their gift would help to support. Everyone had a different favorite animal to tell us about. The kids also participated in a giraffe feeding and rode the Carousel. When asked why the Zoo is important, An, replied, “because it takes care of animals in the wild.” Lillian, said “it shows us animals we might not see anywhere else.”

Ms. Chapman shared her thoughts with us about the entire fundraiser “I was speechless and so amazed at the hearts of these six students to devote early mornings, some of their lunch time, and their recess to making this a success. I am so proud of these students who took an idea and acted on it. They encouraged a lot of parents, teachers, and students to just believe and support them no matter how young they may be or how hard their idea may have been to come true.”

The Houston Zoo would like to thank the students of Lee Elementary for their hard work and for choosing to support the Zoo with their Animal Shop Fundraiser. Learn more about how you can support the Zoo by visiting our website.

Not only will guests be able to learn about the enrichment we do with animals here at the zoo, but children will be able to participate in some enrichment activities of their own!  Yes, humans need enrichment, too!  (Haven’t you ever heard that “variety is the spice of life”?) 

The volunteer team, along with our fall teen volunteer program, Zoo Crew, will be offering games and activities for children at “Enrichment Central” on the Werler lawn near the Meerkat exhibit.  Activities will include the “Cheetah Relay” to simulate carnivores chasing prey, a “Human Dig Box” to simulate foraging for food, and “Fishing like a Bird” which simulates how storks and pelicans catch fish. 

At Enrichment Day, kids acn simulate how animals forage for food with games like this

There will also be draft tables where kids will have the opportunity to make an enrichment item for their pet at home!  These activities, among others, will enhance the zoo experience for all of our younger guests.

Kids can do crafts zoo-wide, including making enrichment items for their pets at home

So, bring the kids and “spice up your life” on Saturday, October 2nd at Enrichment Day at the Houston Zoo!  See you there!

Written by Paul Bishop, Volunteer Programs Supervisor

Kristin holding our American Alligator during an Animal Presentation.

Name: Kristin Windle
Hometown: Lake Jackson
Age: 20
Section: Children’s Zoo Intern
Favorite Animal: Elephant

Special Interests/Hobbies: Dance: Ballet for 16 years and tap for 15 years

What animals do you have?: I have a dog named Grady

Education/Training: Certified Veterinary Assistant, Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in progress

Jobs: Veterinary Assistant for 3 years. I started as a kennel attendant and worked my way up to receptionist and then veterinary assistant.

What do you want to do in the future?
Apply to veterinary school to work with small animals.

Why did you want this internship?
I love animals, and I wanted to get more experience with small animals than just in a veterinary clinic!

What is it like to be an intern here at the Houston Zoo?
There is no typical day. There’s lots of raking, cleaning, and loving on the animals…a bunch of fun! And lots of sweating.

What advice do you have for people wanting to enter this field?
Work hard at school! Make sure it’s something you love and have fun at, or you might be miserable (although this goes with any job!).

What is your favorite animal story?
When I got Grady: I was working, and someone abandoned him at the end of the veterinary office driveway. I went out to get an appointment, and he ran right up to me. I loved on him for a while and got him set up in a kennel. We picked each other right then and there!

There are several ways to join in on the fun at the Houston Zoo! To learn more about becoming an intern, visit the zoo’s Internship Programs page, or to learn more about volunteering, visit the zoo’s volunteer page.

Jenn shows off Miles, a Texas Tortoise, who is a resident animal at the ClinicHometown: Corpus Christi, TXSection: Clinic- Clinic KeeperSpecial Interests/ Hobbies:Anything outdoors, 4-wheeling in Goliad, TX and fishing.Interesting Fact:I have an identical twin sister.What made you want to become a zookeeper?I've always loved animals . I originally started volunteering in elephants and then was hired as a keeper there. I then transferred to the clinic so I could work with a greater variety of animals.How would you describe your job duties?As clinic keepers we are mainly in charge of daily husbandry. That means we clean, feed, medicate, and observe clinic “patients”. We also assist vets with treatments of the animals.We also maintain quarantine, and its animals. Zoo quarantine is not for sick animals, it is used to keep all incoming animals separate from the zoo collection until thoroughly examined and free of illnesses.Jenn assists the Zoo's Vets and Vet Techs with many procedures. Here she secures a dove while Vet Tech Ryanne tube feeds him.

What is a typical day like working in the clinic?
Every day is different, you never know what it will hold.

What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?
I have a one year certification from HCC as a veterinary paramedic.

What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?
Start volunteering and stick with it.  It is a great way to get the experience zoos require and you have a greater chance of getting hired on when you have been a volunteer.

What is your favorite animal story?
My great-grandparents had a ranch in Goliad, TX where I spent a lot of time as a child.  When I was about 10 I tried to get the goats and cows to like me and to approach me willingly.  Finally, 2 bulls approached me and I was able to hand-feed them.  All the time afterwards that they lived on my great-grandparent’s ranch, I could walk up to the fence and call them over and they would come running to me.  That was my first big animal experience.

First, I wanted to know what exactly everyone’s looking for.  Cache containers are waterproof and durable — usually made of metal or plastic — and should be small enough to be well hidden yet large enough to actually be found. Translated, that means you’d be looking for something that could be the size of a pill bottle or a shoebox and anything inbetween. Each houses a log book where the player can leave their mark to let the next person know they’d been there; Most will also have little toys or gadgets that can be traded. Sound cool?

Here’s an example of  a cache box and the kinds of things you might find in it. Note the log book in a ziplock to the right.

Of course seasoned players like Dale may want more of a challenge, so there are some searches that require you to solve a puzzle in order to gain the coordinates. Others might have coordinates inside the first container that lead you to another, and so on until you find the actual treasure.

The other end of geocaching is just as fun: you can put together as many of your own boxes as your heart desires and get creative about hiding them. There are universal guidelines to follow which can be found on this easy to use website: www.geocaching.com. If you become a member there (it’s free), they provide a datebase where you can list your cache coordinates so other members can start looking for them. If you click around on the site, it’ll tell you a whole lot more.

Fascinating! It just might make you look at things around you in a whole new way.  Dale told me “People hide them behind street signs, under the lamppost bases in shopping center parking lots, in gardens, under rocks.” So the next time you park at the store or sit on a park bench, if you find yourself wondering if there are geocache’s nearby, this game might be for you!

“If you like things technical, this is a great hobby,” says Dale. “But also, if you like the outdoors, it provides an endless variety of locales and terrain to get around.  It opens up a whole new world..  every where you go you think — this would be a good place to hide a cache!”

The guidelines state that none can be hidden in places that aren’t open to the public 24/7 or charge admission, therefore there are none exactly on the Houston Zoo’s grounds. BUT there are some close enough!  It could be fun to combine your next visit with a geo cache hunt! Last we spoke, Dale said there are some in Hermann Park (up to a dozen), on the Rice University campus (approx 6), in and around the Texas Medical Center (check the above mentioned website for the most up to date information). I think Dale himself has been behind a few of those!

Whether you’re new to Geocaching or an old hand at it, do you think you can find them?  Is this new to you or have you already played the game?  Let us know in the comments area!

Written by Rochelle Joseph. Please visit my animal and nature blog at http://naturegirrrl.blogspot.com

Photos by Dale Martin

As a stylist and Image Consultant, I dress people for a living– a career requires that I look pretty spiffy myself. But when I moved to Houston and started volunteering here, my life took a 180 degree turn. I confess I’ve never felt as right as when clad in the clothes that identify me as a part of the Houston Zoo. As such, I suffer no shame in admitting how proud I am to wear the “uniform”.

And what exactly is that you ask?  Here’s the rundown, from head to toe:

Shirt: We receive a Houston Zoo logo shirt with a designated color — in the volunteers case, it’s bright blue; staff wears burgundy, green or gray.  I opt for the polo version when I’m doing docent work but rely on the tee shirt when I do things that could get messy– like making paper mache enrichment items or cleaning out Kiva’s pen after Hurricane Ike.

Here I am modeling said shirt.  Shield your eyes… what you are about to see may be just too stunning to view full on.

Pants: Around here, Cabella’s 7 pocket khaki’s are the hot item, as trousers or shorts. I ordered mine as soon as I completed my volunteer orientation. These are often worn with a wide leather belt, which is helpful for those, like Keepers and Rangers, who need to hook things on it, like walkie talkies.

Shoes: I sport lightweight hiking boots — sturdy for standing or walking all day, and they hold up through water, mud, and let’s just say it… poop!  In summer, Keen sandals keep tootsies cool while covering the toes, which is a good idea around animals (that’s a whole other post).

Boots: Good to have a pair of Wellies in the car in case of rain or mud, a necessity if you’re a Keeper Aide.  Staff are issued heavy duty ones, but are free to express their personality through this item.  I’ve seen a hot pink pair and a leopard print set walking around grounds.

Accessories: Depending on what you choose to do as a volunteer, there can be hours spent out in the sun and a hat comes in mighty handy. I have one like this with a collapsible brim that I can stuff into my pocket, but the most popular seems to be the baseball caps with the zoo logo, which can be found in our gift shop.

Although my pants indeed have seven pockets, I put my volunteer-blue, HZ fanny pack to good use (see first picture above).  It’s just the right size to carry a water bottle, note pad/pen (for blog ideas), my iPhone (with the HZ App of course — and HZ Ranger and emergency numbers programmed into it), my pocket guide and a few extra maps of the grounds in case a guest asks me for one. Never hurts to have a bandana hidden in there too.

I top it off with my name tag. Can I tell you what a thrill it was to put this on for the first time? With this finishing touch, I am officially official, it’s bold black and white graphic making my identity unmistakable.  I think our guests appreciate these too. At a glance they can know who does what, and call us by name.

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All kidding aside, when I wear these clothes, it tells me that I’ve been trusted to represent the zoo, even when I’m off site. If I happen to go somewhere before I can get home to change, say the grocery store or the pharmacy, you wouldn’t believe how many grins I get.  Grown adults eyes light up when they see the HZ logo, as if it brings out the kid in them, or recalls happy memories of visits here.  I find myself answering almost as many questions on the street as when I’m on grounds. And I’m sure I’m not the only one.

It feels pretty great to be a walking reminder of a place that’s so special to the hearts of many. And since I’ve been spending my time with stars like Jonathan, Blanco and Shanti, I find I don’t miss Calvin, Armani or Gaultier one bit!

Written by Rochelle Joseph. Please visit my animal and nature blog at http://naturegirrrl.blogspot.com

Photos: Thank you to Amazon.com/hunter for Wellies, Cabella’s for Khaki’s, Altrec.com for the hat and shoes.com for the Keens. All other photos by Rochelle Joseph

But when the Houston Zoo said they were offering an App, I decided it was time. And it was easy — I simply pressed the app store button on my device and typed in “Houston Zoo”. The App appeared and I hit the download button. Voila! Within seconds, without having spent a dime, there in the palm of my hand was all the information I needed regarding the zoo – as a visiting member, and as a volunteer whose job it is to answer questions from our guests and help their visit be an easy and memorable one.

I’m here to encourage you to try it yourself if you haven’t already. You don’t even need to be at the zoo.  Just pull out your Iphone or your Ipod Touch and follow the steps I did and check it out. It’s as helpful for planning your visit before you come to the zoo as it is when you’re on grounds.

As a docent these are a few of the questions I get asked all the time: When is the next Keeper Chat? Where is the carousel from here? Are there recycling bins on grounds?  Where are the rest rooms, the food courts, the ice cream places?   How far is it to the gift shop?  Is there a back exit, even though we came in the front? What’s this tiger/elephant/stork/warthog’s name? While the Zoo will always have plenty of people like me walking around to help our guests, all of these questions and more can be answered in a pinch by the App. And I learned yesterday that the zoo is about to add several new videos, pictures and features — and, they will continue to update and improve it to better serve you.

So I’m, curious — for those of you who’ve used the Houston Zoo App, will you leave me a comment telling me what  you’ve liked best about it or tell me of a situation where the App was helpful to you?

If you have something other than an iphone or ipod touch:  We’re looking to expand into other smart phone applications –like Driods and Blackberries –and would love to know how many of you would like to have something designed for those phones. Just let us know in the comments.  Thanks!

Written by Rochelle Joseph. Please visit Rochelle’s own blog, Adventures in Nature,  at http://naturegirrrl.blogspot.com/

Pat started out at the general commissary where food for our animals is ordered, prepared to the needs and specifications of each species and delivered to our keepers. Once she moved on to feeding the fish, all that experience came in handy.

Then she heard about an opportunity to be on the rare and unique experience of a birth watch for one of the baby elephants. Taking the midnight to 4 AM shift, Pat and a handful of like-minded volunteers (meaning: crazily committed people– Dale, who I wrote about HERE, was one of them) kept their vigil in a trailer with TV monitors trained on the pens for months and months waiting for the baby to be born.  But it’s clear the rewards were great.  “I was there when the baby was born!” says Pat. She was able  to watch over the TV monitors since only our highly trained staff were allowed in the actual barn. “We continued our shifts for awhile after she’d arrived”

Pat says she made many friends in those wee hours, as the weeks of waiting piled up. “And,” added Pat, “ it was then that I witnessed  the tremendous devotion of the elephant keepers.”  Pat decided she wanted to continue working with the elephants and boy did she get into it, as the picture below shows!  Pat told me with a twinkle in her voice, “Elephant pooper-scooper, that’s my claim to fame!”

Hey, I understand. After my stint as a carnivore keepers aid, I wrote about scooping bear poop myself.  Let’s face it, it’s an amazing job!

When the opportunity to go on safari with zoo staff and other volunteers came up, Pat went along with them to Kenya and got to know a new bunch of people over the dozen days they were traveling.

“It was like a walking encyclopedia to be on safari. People like Sharon Joseph and Tammy (in Primates) were so knowledgeable about all of the animals that they knew more than our guides occasionally! My daughter and I didn’t have to use our guide books very often, since we could just ask them the questions.” And with that, she gave a little chuckle.

When Pat sent me the picture below, my eyes almost fell out of my head!  I mean, how many people can say they’ve done this?!?!!!

She’s even had parties at the zoo for her sister’s 50th birthday and for her own 60th. “I don’t know if people realize just what a great venue the zoo is for throwing your own parties.”

For as much as Pat gives to our zoo, she’s also a volunteer and on the Board of Directors for Taping for the Blind and is a tour guide for Houston TranStar. Known for “adopting” zoo friends, most notably a Thanksgiving meal for those who aren’t with family each year and throwing baby showers and the like, Pat and Paul also found room in their rather large hearts to adopt two rescue kitties! (Note to self– get Pat and Paul to bring in cat pictures).

Becoming a volunteer at the Houston Zoo opens the door to many a world. Certainly being a visitor is a way to experience things, see things, feel things that you might only if you were a world traveler — and an exotic one at that (and you don’t even have to leave your own back yard). But becoming a volunteer expands that, and Pat’s story is a stellar example of how it can manifest. As she so aptly described, “These experiences have been the highlight of my retirement!”

Written by Rochelle Joseph. Come visit my personal animal blog at www.naturegirrrl.blogspot.com

Thank you to Pat Pilkington and Stephanie Adams for the photos