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Experiencing Nature inspires us to protect it

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:28:10 GMT

The Houston Zoo's Travel Program offers exciting and affordable opportunities to explore exotic destinations, observe wild creatures in their natural realms, and experience local cultures. Guided by local wildlife experts and experienced zoo staff, our travelers are immersed in wilderness landscapes and introduced to individuals who have taken on the task of safeguarding our planet's precious biological diversity. Each excursion will feature a pre-trip meeting designed to help participants prepare for their adventures and to better understand the significance of their journeys abroad. Our goal is to inspire through experience and education. So, please join us for an tour. It could very well turn out to the adventure of a lifetime. Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda: November 26-December 5, 2010 or March 4-March 13, 2011 Mountain Gorilla Travel Itinerary Galapagos: The Land of Darwin - new program! April 24 - May 4, 2011 ...

Feast with the Beasts 2010

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:20:32 GMT

This year's Feast with the Beasts will be November 5, 2010! Tickets go on pre-sale September 7 at Noon! The Houston Zoo's 5th Annual Food, Beer & Wine Celebration Featuring Special Music Guest The Spin Doctors! Friday, November 5, 2010 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. Pre-Sale Pricing: Members: $75 Non-Members: $85 VIP Tickets: $150 Group Rates Available Money raised helps support the care and feeding of the over 6,000 animals that call Houston Zoo home. Tickets for the Fall 2010 Feast with the Beasts will go on sale on September 7, 2010. Make sure you subscribe to the Houston Zoo e-mail newsletter to get information on how to purchase tickets early. Featuring over 50 of Houston's hottest restaurants and a live performance by the Spin Doctors on the Bud Light Stage! Launched in the fall of 2006 as a fundraiser for the Houston Zoo, Feast with the Beasts was an instant hit! The Zoo's...

Meet the Keeper Talks

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:12:08 GMT

See zoo animals in action and talk to the keepers that work with them each day by attending a Meet the Keeper Talk. Talks include everything from jaguar training to fruit bat feedings. The Houston Zoo has a variety of Talks to choose from each day to make a part of your next visit. We have Talks on every animal from A to Z, notes Natural Encounters Curator Beth Schaefer, from Tuck the armadillo to Zuri the African pygmy falcon. One frequent Talk at Natural Encounters is red panda training, where you might see a keeper interacting with a panda inside the exhibit. Talks vary depending on what animals and keepers are available that day - to find exactly what will be happening in Natural Encounters, there are two marker boards that are updated each morning, one outside and one just...

Home School Programs

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:19:57 GMT

For easy navigation, please click on the links below. Or scroll down the page for more information! Homeschool Classes Group Opportunities for Homeschoolers Check out our newsletters with aniaml information, program offerings, and Zoo activities especially for homeschoolers. Fall 2010 Newsletter * To join the home school mailing list, e-mail your name and the e-mail address you would like to use to abarnhill@houstonzoo.org. Home School Day September 30th 9:00am -3:00pm All Ages Members $10 per person Non-members $12 per person Join The Houston Zoo Education Staff in an exciting day of animal programs, interesting bio-fact discovery, live animal encounters, and guided Zoo Tours. There will be many presentations every hour and opportunities to meet and learn about some exciting Houston Zoo animals. This event is rain or shine. The majority of programs will be held inside the Brown...

Today at the Zoo - Meet the Keeper Talks

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:44:25 GMT

We hope you enjoy meeting our animals and our staff! *Please note: The Tropical Bird House and Reptile Building open at 10 a.m. daily. Friday September 3, 2010 10:00 Meet the Keeper Talk at Natural Encounters 10:00 Elephant Bath 10:00 Chameleon feeding at the Reptile House 10:30 Bat Feeding at the Children's Zoo 10:30 Story Safari at the Butterfly Stage in the Children's Zoo 10:45 Flamingo Chick Walk 11:00 Story Safari at the Butterfly Stage in the Children's Zoo 11:40 Cinereous Vulture Feeding 12:00 Meet the Keeper Talk at Siamangs in Wortham World of Primates 12:30 Meet the Keeper Talk at Mandrills in Wortham World of Primates 12:00 Zooper Challenge at the Butterfly Stage in the Children's Zoo 12:00 Meet the Keeper Talk at Natural Encounters 12:30 Zooper Challenge at the Butterfly Stage in the Children's Zoo 1:00 Meet the Keeper Talk at Natural Encounters 1:30 Animal Presentation at the Butterfly Stage in the Children's Zoo 1:30 Elephant...

Home Page - Zoo Daily News

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:13:54 GMT

Click here to get weather info at the Houston Zoo!

Sea Lions will be off exhibit from August 30-September 9.
The flamingo chicks are continuing their daily walk to the flamingo pond at 10:45am

Community, School and Youth Groups

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:23:15 GMT

Whether your group is interested in spending an hour, a day, or even overnight at the Zoo, there is plenty to see and a great deal to do! Consider an overnight Wild Winks experience includes additional opportunities to enjoy the Zoo during daylight and nighttime. Perfect for your church, school or youth group. Minimum for overnight programs is 25 and the maximum is 60 participants. Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 am Cost: $50 per person What's Included: interactive, educational activities guided walks with experienced Zoo staff live, touchable animals pizza dinner and continental breakfast Weather permitting, participants will sleep in tents free admission into the Zoo when program ends See the FAQ below for more informaton. Call for date availability. 713-533-6543 or email Education These programs take place on Zoo grounds, so please dress for the weather...

Scout Wild Winks

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:58:12 GMT

Join us for an exciting look at the zoo after hours. Through guided tours in the evening and early morning, you will explore the diverse adaptations that help the zoo's amazing creatures survive in the wild. Get the inside scoop on our animals from zoo employees and get up close and personal with a zoo resident. (All participants must be at least 7 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult at a minimum of a 1:5 ratio of adults to children.) Please Note: There will be 2-3 hours of walking in both the evening and in the morning tour. What's Included? guided walks with experienced Zoo staff live, touchable animals interactive, educational activities dinner and continental breakfast sleep in tents on Zoo grounds free admission into the Zoo when program ends Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 am Cost $50 per person for a regular Wild Winks overnight $55 per person for badge Wild...

Chimpanzees of Senegal

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:16:57 GMT

Chimpanzee populations across Central and West Africa are continuing to decline at an alarming rate. Even though they can be found in 21 countries, severely fragmented habitat across their range has separated the majority of the population into smaller sub-populations. Deforestation, hunting for the commercial bushmeat trade, and killing the adults to capture the infants continue to be a major threat to the chimpanzee. The Houston Zoo is curently supporting part of a long-term study into the conservation of the West African Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) population in southeastern Senegal, which will be specifically addressing imminent conservation problems associated with chimpanzee communities not previously studied. West African chimpanzees population numbers have been in a drastic decline over the past thirty years. Having already been extirpated in Benin, Togo, and Burkina Faso, the subspecies is now at risk in Senegal where their...

Chimpanzees of Gombe and Wildlife of Selous

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:30:39 GMT

Join the Houston Zoo and Terra Incognita Ecotours for a very special trip to Tanzania: The Chimpanzees of Gombe and Wildlife of Selous Game Reserve Saturday 6th August to Saturday 13th August 2011 Group size is limited to 12 participants. Cost is $7,495 per person, round trip international air to Dar es Salaam not included. Optional 4 day / 3 night extension to Zanzibar. Link here for full itinerary or contact conservation@houstonzoo.org This trip has it all! In just ten days we will spend time in Gombe National Park watching the exact same Chimpanzees that Jane Goodall has studied for over 50 years. We will see Africa as David Livingstone first experienced Africa, with a few days in the incredible and remote Selous - home to African Wild Dogs, Leopards, Lions and so much more. We end with a few days of relaxation on the private Chapwani Island, just a short distance offshore of Stone Town on the magical spice island of...

Community/Youth Group Wild Winks

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:18:22 GMT

This overnight experience allows those 7 and older to get see the Zoo's residents in a whole new light! This program takes place on Zoo grounds, so please dress for the weather and be prepared to move from location to location throughout the Zoo. What's Included: • interactive, educational activities • guided walks with experienced Zoo staff • wild animal encounters • live, touchable animals • pizza dinner and continental breakfast • slumber inside the Zoo. Weather permitting, participants will sleep in tents. • free admission into the Zoo when program ends Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. For the courtesy of the other participants, and the safety and security of all, we ask that you not arrive late nor plan to leave the program early. Cost: $50 per person Maximum Capacity: 60 people per evening-only registered participants may attend. Children must be at least...

Family Wild Winks Overnights

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:13:49 GMT

Come Spend the Night at the Zoo! Wild Winks is a program designed for groups with children age 7 to 12 years of age and their chaperones. Wild Winks provide a perfect overnight experience for families and a truly unique birthday party or slumber party. (Must have a minimum of 15 people for a private overnight experience and dates based on availability) Special Wild Wink dates just for Families! Wild Wink overnights offers those 7 and older, a unique opportunity to spend the night at the Houston Zoo. Fee includes interactive activities, touchable animals, pizza dinner, continental breakfast and admission to the Zoo after the program is over on the second day. Sign your mob up for this unique experience! October 29, 2010 November 12, 2010 Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 am Cost: $50 per person What's Included: interactive, educational activities guided walks with experienced Zoo staff live, touchable...

Overnights & Evenings

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:12:45 GMT

Enjoy the dark side of the Zoo... An entirely different adventure than a visit during the day! If you haven't seen the Zoo at night, you're missing out! Join us for a Wild Winks and see what all the excitement is about. Wild Winks are for Families, Individiuals, Youth or Community Groups. There are special dates set aside for Scout Groups. Wild Winks program is an exciting look at the zoo after hours. Through guided tours in the evening and early morning, you will explore the diverse adaptations that help the zoo's amazing creatures survive in the wild. Get the inside scoop on our animals from zoo employees and get up close and personal with a zoo resident. For questions about the Wild WInk programs call 713-533-6543 or e-mail at wildwinks@houstonzoo.org Frequently-Asked Questions: Where do we sleep? Unless otherwise indicated and weather permitting, participants sleep in tents on Zoo grounds. ...

The Houston Zoo and Enbridge Energy Company

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:52:09 GMT

Young dialysis patients from Texas Children’s had an overnight stay at the Zoo thanks in part to Enbridge Energy Company. The kids, who came out with their families and a few medical staff members, had a truly wild time staying up late with some of the Zoo’s nocturnal animals, including cheetahs, giraffes, tigers and small cats.

Each year, thanks to corporate partners like Enbridge, the Zoo’s education department staff provides several full days of programming to patients at Texas Children’s Hospital, one of the nation’s largest pediatric hospitals. The programs are structured to allow for rotation through different sections of the hospital and to enable us to reach a different group of patients during each visit, from room-bound patients to renal patients to cancer treatment patients, as well as more ambulatory teens.

"Enbridge is a proud supporter of the Houston Zoo and their educational outreach to local pediatric patients,” said Heather Keenan, Senior Communications Advisor for Enbridge Energy Company. “The community benefits resulting from the Zoo’s superb programming are aligned perfectly with Enbridge’s community investment priorities, including our commitment to health and safety, education, culture and community, and protecting the environment."

The Houston Zoo is grateful for Enbridge’s continued support and that they share our belief that every child should be given the chance to experience the wonders of nature firsthand.

Reinventing the Rhino

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:57:53 GMT

The number of rhinos in the world has dropped dramatically and rapidly, which makes recovering the species an extremely difficult challenge for Zoos, researchers, and organizations concerned with the matter. All five species of rhinos in the world total a meager 25,000 individuals. Of these five species, the white rhino and black rhino are only found in Africa. Just one century ago, the white rhino was arguably the most endangered of the five rhino species, having been reduced to only a handful of animals. Its numbers have since rebounded to nearly 17,000, thanks to conservation efforts both in captivity and in the wild. Now, the species is no longer considered endangered. Both white and black rhinos are victims of illegal hunting, which is done to obtain their horns for medicinal and ceremonial reasons. Sadly, the black rhino has been seriously reduced in numbers to only a few thousand individuals in Africa. In an effort to improve the critical...

Photos & Videos in the African Forest at the Houston Zoo

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:55:54 GMT

Videos from the African Forest
Our complete collection of Houston Zoo videos is on our YouTube Channel

Photos - Animals & Experiences from the African Forest at the Houston Zoo
A collection of Houston Zoo photos is on our flickr photostream

Classes and Overnights

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:50:41 GMT

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African Forest Venues

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:49:16 GMT

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Conservation in the African Forest

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:47:34 GMT

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Breakfast with the Animals - John P. McGovern Children's Zoo

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:41:40 GMT

Breakfast Is Going Wild! A very special experience exclusively for Zoo members October 09, 2010 It will be a fun and wild morning when you start your day at the John P. McGovern Children's Zoo. Jump, skip, and gallop your way on over and get the opportunity to watch the feeding habits and enrichment activities of our John P. McGovern Children's Zooanimals and enjoy breakfast too. A variety of animals will be available for touch during the chat. Registration will begin the morning of September 13, 2010. These events fill up fast, so don'tmiss out on an extra special event where you will become more familiar with our wonderful animals and the enrichment that is utilized to enhance their lives. This unique experience is designed to provide you with interesting educational messages while stimulating healthy natural-like behaviors in our animal ambassadors. Juice and Buffet Breakfast will be served promptly at 7:30. ...

Houston Zoo Content Managers RSS Feed

Experiencing Nature inspires us to protect it

Feast with the Beasts 2010

Meet the Keeper Talks

Home School Programs

Today at the Zoo - Meet the Keeper Talks

***Home Page - Zoo Daily News***

Community, School and Youth Groups

Scout Wild Winks

Chimpanzees of Senegal

Chimpanzees of Gombe and Wildlife of Selous

Community/Youth Group Wild Winks

Family Wild Winks Overnights

Overnights & Evenings

The Houston Zoo and Enbridge Energy Company

Reinventing the Rhino

Photos & Videos in the African Forest at the Houston Zoo

Classes and Overnights

African Forest Venues

Conservation in the African Forest

Breakfast with the Animals - John P. McGovern Children's Zoo

Home Page - Zoo Daily News