Skip to Content

Ask us a Question






Yes! Sign me up for the Houston Zoo Newsletter!



Follow us on Twitter! Become a fan on FaceBook View our photos on Flickr Check out 
                our YouTube channel Subscribe to our RSS feed

Bowling For Rhinos 2009

Bowling for Rhinos 2009Saturday, July 25, 2009
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Palace Bowling Lanes
4191 Bellaire Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77025
(713)-667-6554

Event Fee:

$25 Adult
$10 Child (Ages 5-12)

Event fee without bowling is:

Child (4 & under) are FREE,
Child 5-12 is $5.00
Adult 13 & up is $10.00

Event fee includes:

  • 2 hours of bowling
  • Event T-shirt, free shoe and ball rental.
  • Food provided (first come-first serve)
  • Silent Auction with Zoo Animal Paintings
Bowling alley has access to snack bar, full service cocktail bar, and DJ with karaoke fun!

All proceeds will go towards rhino conservation.

Questions? Please e-mail: bfr@houstonzoo.org



Sponsorship Levels of Bowling For Rhinos 2009

Bowling for rhinos$60.00 Lane Sponsor

  • Lane certificate placed on ball return machine on lane

$100.00 Lane and T-shirt Sponsor

  • Lane certificate placed on ball return machine on lane
  • Company logo on event T-shirt

$200.00 Event Sponsor

  • Lane banner on an outer lane with logo
  • Company logo on event T-shirt
  • 5 tickets to zoo and 5 carousel tokens
  • A Keeper Chat at two sections chosen from list below

$300.00 BFR Co-Sponsor

  • Lane banner on a middle lane with logo
  • Bowling lane reserved for 6 people
  • Company logo in large print on event T-shirt
  • 6 tickets to zoo and 6 carousel tickets
  • Behind-the-Scenes tour for 5 people at two sections chosen from list below

Deadline for T-shirt sponsorship is July 10, 2009. All other sponsorships are due by July 13, 2009
THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Contact Stephanie Nageotte at 713-533-6822, during regular business hours, or snageotte@houstonzoo.org to schedule tour. Please also send payments attention to Stephanie Nageotte at Houston Zoo, Inc 1513 N. MacGregor Houston, TX 77030. Make checks payable to GHCAAZK. All donations are tax deductible. 


Please choose two sections from the following list to build your Behind-the-Scenes experience

Primates*, Carnivores*, Elephants, Children's Zoo, Sea Lions & Red Panda, Aquarium, Reptiles, Birds, Natural Encounters, Veterinarian Facilities, Hoofstock

*Denotes sections with age requirements



bowling for rhinosWhat is "Bowling for Rhinos"?

Each year the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) sponsors a fund raising bowl-a-thon called 'Bowling For Rhinos' (BFR). Since 1990, BFR has raised over $3 million, entirely through the volunteer efforts of over 60 AAZK chapters from across the nation. The Greater Houston Chapter of AAZK (GHCAAZK) has contributed over $74,000 since 1991.

BFR funds support Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in Sumatra. These sanctuaries not only save rhinos but entire ecosystems! 100% of the money raised goes directly to these organizations.

BFR was a huge success last year because of you and your commitment to conserving rhinos and their habitat! GHCAAZK was able to raise $10,000, which brings our total monies raised to date to $74,178!

Who should come to Bowling for Rhinos?

EVERYONE! Zoo staff, family, friends, volunteers, Zoo members and anyone who wants to have a great time and support rhino conservation.

Why Save Rhinos?

Rhinos have lived on earth for over 50 million years but whether they survive even 50 more years is open to speculation. Only 5 species of rhino exist today when once there were over 100 species. All 5 species: White, Black, Indian, Sumatran and Javan are endangered.

Only the white rhino with a population of 4,600 seems to be somewhat safe from extinction. In 1960, 60,000 black rhinos roamed Africa. Today only 2,500 remain in isolated populations. On the Asian continent, the Indian population remains at 2,000. The Sumatran numbers 200 and the Javan has only 47 animals.

The Black rhino is a symbol of conservation in Africa as our Bald eagle is to us. If the black rhino were to go extinct what message would we give our children? The rhino is a large, key species. By striving to save the rhino, we save large expanses of habitat. By saving these habitats, we are saving many endangered species, not just the rhino.

The rhino is our link to the dinosaurs as it has lived on earth over 50 million years but it can not survive machine guns and man. The rhino is killed for its horn to be used in oriental medicines and symbolic dagger handles. So valuable is the horn to poachers that the rhino can not survive unless it is on protected sanctuaries such as LWC. BFR money is used to fence in these areas, purchase planes and land rover vehicles to curtail poaching, translocate rhino into the sanctuary, and salaries for anti-poaching security guards.

The black rhino is AAZK's National symbol and we believe we have an obligation to save it from extinction. Through our efforts, we feel we can save these valuable habitats and the animals living in their safe havens for future generations to enjoy.   For more information, visit the American Association of ZooKeepers website.