Houston Zoo, Inc.1 5 1 3 c a m b r i d g e S t r e e t • H o u S t o n , t X 7 7 0 3 0

w w w. h o u s t o n z o o . o r g

SeaSonS of cHange a n n u a l r e p o r t | t H e H o u S t o n z o o2012

deborah cannon rick barongi Suzanne nimocksPresident and CEO Zoo Director Board Chair

2012 was truly a year of change in every season, with many firsts and milestones along the way. it marked our 90th year of serving the greater Houston community as an urban sanctuary for families and animals alike. also 2012 was the 10th anniversary of operations as a private non-profit organization (which has sparked significant growth across all areas of the zoo). last year marked another year of exhibit updates and animal additions; breeding firsts and conservation successes; ample occasions for lifelong learning; and a re-awakening of dinoSaurS!

Houston celebrated these significant achievements with us – through record-setting atten-dance numbers (over 2 million for the first time in our history!) and more than 49,000 membership households (an increase of 4% over 2011) as well as amazing generosity from a broad spectrum of donors for all aspects of our operations. nothing represented our community’s wonderful support as did their welcoming of our newest tradition – tXu energy presents zoo lights!

Your Houston zoo continues to create significant positive financial benefits across our com-munity. With more than 370 full-time employees, the combined effect of last year’s operating revenue ($36 million) and capital expenditures ($4 million+) made a significant economic impact for the Houston area in 2012. and we fully expect continual growth as we move into our next 90 years of serving the greater Houston region and beyond.

in creating a zoo befitting this great city, we are embarking on our next great adventure – returning gorillas to the Houston zoo. plans for an expansion of our african forest exhibit are well underway and will feature the endangered western lowland gorilla. Highlighting several of our international conservation projects, the new exhibit will provide guests with multiple viewpoints of a gorilla family sharing a riverbed with the red river hogs typically found together in an african tropical rainforest.

these brief highlights and the others featured in this annual report are mere glimpses into the Houston zoo. to fully explore all there is to know of your zoo, visit us soon and often! for as we say, it truly is a new zoo every day, and one that you continually help create. We hope you also are proud of the considerable accomplishments you made possible in 2012 and that you will continue to share in the many seasons of change to come.

With deep appreciation,

We at the houston Zoo can’t say thank

you often enough! through your generous support, your zoo has made significant changes to our

facilities, our programs, our profession, and our world – all to benefit the wildlife

and wild places we treasure. in this annual report we are pleased to share the

many seasons of 2012 which you have made possible. We hope you already are

enjoying 2013 at the Houston zoo as we send our sincerest appreciation your way.

giant elephant shrew: not giant, not an elephant, and not a shrew. So what is it? a very small african insecti-vore averaging only 15-20 ounces which seems to defy clas-sification. Visit ours in the natural encounters building to see this unusually-named animal.

Jellies: particularly perplexing as they resemble something more alien than familiar, moon jellies joined the zoo in both the Kipp aquarium as well as the natural encounters building. their short tentacles produce only a mild sting but their calming movements may leave you mesmerized.

african spoonbill: four african spoonbills now call the Houston zoo home. their distinctive bills give them their names and are used to sift through shallow waters for food. Watch them forage in their habitat pond if they aren’t perch-ing or preening.

bongo: as bongo are threatened in the wild and elusive forest dwellers, offspring are always a welcomed addition at the Houston zoo. brody is no exception. born to mom pe-nelope, he’s a rust-red antelope with bright white stripes. this would allow him to hide in the dappled light of dense forests but help him stand out in his exhibit.

lined seahorse: our aquarists are making good use of their new aquarium quarantine space. more than 75 speci-mens of lined seahorses (which are native to the gulf of mex-ico along the texas coast) have been bred and reared at the Houston zoo.

red-tailed guenon: Kindu was hand-reared by keeper staff and slowly introduced to family members once weaned from bottles. He eventually learned lessons on being a mon-key from his sister nagano and mom bongo as well as broth-er matani and dad Kabili. Visit the whole family in Wortham World of primates.

cougar: our female cougar, Haley, came to the Houston zoo as an orphaned cub several years ago. Shasta, our new-est cougar, was also orphaned, so they have similar origins. initially, they had the opportunity to meet through protected contact then they took turns utilizing the exhibit space. once Haley became accustomed to having Shasta around, they were observed together in their exhibit. She tolerates his an-tics and has even taught him her visitor stalking methods. look up when you visit the cougars!

animal additions

cougar

lIned seaHorse

red-taIled guenon

afrIcan spoonbIll

bongo

sPRingadditions to our animal family seem abundant and as refresh-ing as rain in Spring. each year the Houston zoo is showered with hatchings and births and ar-rivals of all sorts.

to make sure the new arrivals continue to thrive, the Houston zoo carefully plans introductions of exhibit mates. Whether family members getting re-acquainted after a separation or just a new roommate, all animals at the zoo must be made to feel comfortable and safe.

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community outreach programs from the Houston zoo are not something new but are an important part of our mission and in 2012 we extended our “community” far beyond our typi-cal outreach borders.

for many years now the zoomobile program has deliv-ered our education staff and ample animal ambassadors to schools, hospitals, festivals, libraries, and seniors’ homes to bring the zoo to you. but our animals (and staff) can get travel weary and are limited by the time and distance they can be away from the zoo.

With the addition of the african forest exhibit, equipment was installed to deliver live online programs that include an edu-cator or volunteer presenter, animal ambassadors, live-feed

video of several exhibits and their animals, Keeper talks, behind-the-scenes tours, pre-recorded video, and interactive games. the two-way video session is controlled through a state-of-the-art system housed at the zoo and provides an op-portunity for interaction between the presenter and the audi-ence, making for the wildest virtual Q&a sessions!

in 2011, preliminary programs were piloted with a few local schools and hospitals, but word of this wild learning opportu-nity spread and demand is increasing. in 2012, the Houston zoo reached 10,540 students, in 24 schools across the coun-try and even captured attention in canada. We’re steadily building our distance learning programs and look forward to expanding to other continents soon. but don’t worry, you’ll still be able to find us at home in Houston too!

engaging e n t e R ta i n m e n tJust as we hope each and every visit to the Houston zoo is an enriching experience for you, we work hard to ensure our animals receive enriching activities to keep them entertained.

life in a zoo can be a little cushy if you’re an animal. there are no predators, food is delivered, and our animal ambas-sadors may have the best health plan that mother nature can provide. So, to encourage natural behaviors in our newts, stimulate activity for our sea turtles, and create variety for our venomous snakes, we stir things up a bit for our storks by providing enrichment.

the idea of enrichment for zoo animals is not a new one, so our staff gets creative in engineering entertainment and add-ing activities for our permanent residents. Hiding food and treats within exhibits is one way to force foraging. toys are a time-tested tantalizer and come in all shapes and sizes – tires for elephant trunks, boomer balls for bears. Shed snake skins seem puzzling to birds or provide interesting scents to many mammals. found feathers are fun for felines. painting offers hours of entertainment to some you might not expect to be adept at art – like goats or sea lions. Varied plant cuttings provide materials for nesting. and dangling dinner along a zip line for lions is a treat for carnivores and guests alike!

the next time you visit the Houston zoo, pay attention to the unexpected items in our animal exhibits. and find out more during one of our many Keeper talks scheduled every day. We’re proud as peacocks to tell you what keeps our animal residents as entertained as our guests.

L e a r n i n g O n L i n e

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WateR fun in tHe Sun!While much of the country enjoys pleasant weather well

into spring, summer intrudes on Houston with the com-

mon elements of heat and humidity as early as april.

the Houston zoo uses water features to cool its animals

and now offers an updated oasis for guests too.

the Kathrine mcgovern Water play park boasts 37

splash centers in an inviting, playful design. With a

friendly sea serpent and a “fill and spill” tree, this in-

vigorating water wilderness is sure to tame any sizzling

savage beast. private changing stalls and family seating

provide additional creature comforts.

noted for its conservation-friendly design, the updated

and relocated Water play park is free with zoo ad-

mission. the 13,500-square-feet of family

fun is only activated when in use. but

when it’s hot, the park rarely gets

to “sleep,” as children of all ages

enjoy the comfort of cool – just as

our animals do in the hot weather.

Children Cool off in the new water features

o ensure we present a new zoo every day, the Houston zoo continually makes improvements to our facilities, addi-tions to our collection, and updates to our programs. there is always something stimulating to explore and enjoy. from new Keeper talks to exhibit overhauls, the Houston zoo changes constantly.

our biggest change in recent years was the addition of our african forest exhibit. returning chimpanzees and rhinos to our family and providing a giraffe encounter experience, the exhibit represents the largest expansion at the Houston zoo since privatization. and it has been wildly successful – so much so that we are busily preparing for the next phase of the african forest!

You may have noticed a construction fence between the african forest’s pygmy village and the chimpanzee exhibit.

Your next african adventure is underway as we are construct-ing a 2-acre expansion which will bring back the most-request-ed animal not currently at the zoo – gorillas. also featuring red river hogs, the exhibit is expected to be complete in 2015. fundraising began in early 2012 and is expected to be complete in 2013.

You’ll be able to continue your exploration of africa right here in Houston through further discovery of the natural and cultural diversity presented through african forest. utilizing pathways of varying heights and large, hundred-year-old trees and lush vegetation, you’ll be immersed in the majestic forests of the western lowland gorilla and inspired to learn more about these critically endangered animals and the Houston zoo’s efforts to save them.

goRi l l a s of the afRican foRest

t

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Species around the world, like gorillas, are becoming rarer. the Houston zoo is passionate about saving species and dedicates time and resources to ensuring these animals have a future in the wild. the Houston zoo has been involved in efforts to save gorillas in the wild for many years. gorillas face multiple threats including deforestation, illegal hunting, and the spread of disease. to reduce threats to gorillas, the Houston zoo joined the efforts of several conservation part-ners in africa.

operating in rwanda, the democratic republic of congo, and uganda, gorilla doctors works to provide healthcare to the communities which surround the national parks where en-dangered gorillas live. as apes are closely related to humans but lack the same immunities, they are susceptible to human diseases and become ill quickly. gorilla doctors helps pro-tect gorillas by keeping their (human) neighbors healthy. the art of conservation is an educational initiative in rwanda that utilizes visual, auditory, and performance arts with 5th graders. the project focuses on creating healthy habits for children living near gorillas and inspiring an appreciation for local wildlife among the local communities. the gorilla rehabilitation and conservation education (grace ) center in the democratic republic of congo provides 350 acres of protected habitat for orphaned gorillas. the center currently houses 15 young gorillas that live together, with plenty of room to roam. it is our hope that someday, these orphans will be released into a protected wild habitat.

the Houston zoo will continue to highlight our global con-servation efforts through graphics and Keeper talks as well as through new, interactive, one-of-a-kind opportunities in the african forest expansion. through up-close and personal ex-periences with our gorillas, we hope our Houston zoo guests will be moved to make changes in their daily lives to help conserve this rare and unique animal.

Conservation Partners:

the aRt of conseRvation, goRilla doctoRs, gRace&

Masai giraffe: the second giraffe birth since the opening of african forest, ghubari delighted guests with his happy smile and awkwardly long legs. Weighing in at 163 pounds and reaching more than six feet three inches, ghubari’s birth was big news for the Houston zoo. proud parents tyra and mtembei were on hand to accept all accolades.

nyala: Smaller in size but not as small as his name may indicate, cashew the nyala antelope was welcomed by par-ents ginger and niles. only 17 pounds at birth, he could reach over 300 pounds as an adult.

goeldi’s Monkeys: peach and andy are special addi-tions to the collection as these goeldi’s monkeys were the first-ever crowd curated exhibit for a zoo. Seeking votes from our members and guests, the goeldi’s monkeys were chosen from a group of options which were selected based on avail-able space as well as staffing expertise. When you visit the goeldi’s monkeys in Wortham World of primates, look down. not because they are small in stature but because these are a species that prefers to be in the jungle underbrush instead of the tree canopy.

white-faced saki Monkey: another first for the Hous-ton zoo, white-faced saki monkeys Jolene and Harry became proud parents of a baby boy. toumi was the first birth of this species at the zoo. Visit the happy family in our natural en-counters building.

ring-tailed leMur: after a 25 year wait, the Hous-ton zoo welcomed a new baby lemur, born to cairrean and tango. once Howie became accustomed to his exhibit, guests delighted in his antics and he was often found bounc-ing from branch to branch then hopping back to the safety of mom’s arms.

coquerel’s sifaka: only 10 facilities in north america hold coquerel’s sifakas in their collections and the Hous-ton zoo was eager to accept a new potential mate for our female, zenobia. She previously gave birth to babies who were eventually transferred to join their father at another zoo. gaius arrived at the Houston zoo with the hopes that he and zenobia will increase zoos’ populations of this endangered species (which they did with a baby boy in early 2013).

animaladditions

sHoebIll storkMasaI gIraffe

summeRas our zoo facilities grow,

so does the number of our

animal residents. Several

sweet additions joined

the pack last summer and

continue to delight guests

all year long.

rIng-taIled leIMur goeldI’s Monkeys nyala

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ith its move to Hermann Park in 1922, the Houston Zoo’s animal

population began to grow. The 40th addition to the Zoo, a lion named

Caesar, was purchased from the Al G. Barnes Circus. Houstonians regularly

donated their exotic pets, including monkeys and various small mammals.

The city’s first Parks Superintendent Clarence Brock needed an experienced

zookeeper and found the ideal candidate in late June 1922, just a few months

after the Zoo’s first wooden cages were constructed. That candidate was

Hans Nagel.

As a young man, Nagel jumped ship during officer’s training school in

Hamburg, Germany. He was rescued from the harbor by an animal collector

sailing for Hagenbeck Gardens and traveled the world capturing exotic

wildlife until German authorities caught up with him in New york. Nagel

eluded his captors and swam the Hudson to New Jersey where he met a

railroad brakeman who offered an opportunity to ride the rails to any spot in

the U.S. He picked Texas because it was big.

for ten years Nagel roamed ranches from montana to mexico, breaking horses and

earning worldwide admiration for his expeditions to Australia, South America, Asia and

Africa collecting and selling animals. By the time the Houston Evening Post interviewed

him for a July 6, 1922 article headlined “Hermann Park Zoo Is favorite Gathering Place

for Children,” Nagel was already creating a vision of what the Zoo should be and what role

he would play in it.

toP left: Hans Nagel with a leopard in 1930 middle: Bird aviary ca. 1928 Bottom: Bird House ca. 1927

right: Hans Nagel with Nellie the elephant and an unknown violinist in 1927

1920 the u.s. government thins the nation’s bison herd

and houston receives a bison named earl

1905an animal menagerie forms in

sam houston Park, including

rabbits, prairie dogs, black bear,

and a great horned owl.

4 | HOUSTON ZOO | www.houstonzoo.orgTHe evOlUTiON Of THe HOUSTON ZOO

A Journey Through Time

w

the early years

1922to

1941

haNS NagEl

and The Early years

one of the features in our anniversary edition Wildlife was an exploration of the advances of veterinary care at the Hous-ton zoo. While the clinic and treatments available in the early years seem rather primitive today, the progress is a reflection of improved understanding of each animal’s unique needs – from nutrition to gestation to natural behaviors. and the vast body of knowledge and equipment currently available to exotic veterinary medicine is light-years ahead of what was known 90 years ago.

he Houston zoo first acquired okapi in 2001 and staff and guests alike were taken with their gentle nature and unique appearance. With concern over its threatened status in the wild, we sought ways to protect this beautiful animal. We reached out to the okapi conservation project (ocp) in the democratic republic of congo’s ituri forest. they are committed to supporting the long-term survival of the okapi through local community involvement and education. people from their surrounding communities are employed to carry out all aspects of this conservation program to save the okapi from extinction, providing benefits for the wildlife as well as their human neighbors.

on June 24, 2012, the ocp was attacked by poachers and illegal miners. the outcome of this attack was tragic, leaving six people and 14 okapi stationed at the reserve dead. the ocp’s supplies and equipment were stolen or burned and

all food and medical supplies were taken. fortunately most of the staff and locals were able to escape into the forest unharmed, but this left them in urgent need of immediate as-sistance.

the Houston zoo received breaking news of the crisis and was the first to respond. We quickly organized a zoo-wide effort to provide as much support as possible. through the generosity of our staff and the Houston community, we raised $25,000 within two weeks and wired it to the ocp. the funds were promptly used to purchase critical supplies and food that were flown to the local villages affected by the crisis. many other zoos followed our lead, thus further leveraging the funds raised here. the Houston zoo’s commitment to pro-viding critical support to the people who protect the animals we cherish is redefining the role we play in saving species.

oKapic o n S e rVat i o n p r o J e c tt

advanced animal care

2012 was a big year for the Houston zoo. We celebrated two anniversaries – 90 years of serving our community as a family-friendly destina-tion for fun and learning and 10 years of opera-tions as a private non-profit organization. the sig-nificance of these combined events was celebrated by the community: more than 2 million guests visited the zoo in 2012 – our highest attendance numbers in 90 years.

Since privatization, the Houston zoo has placed a tremendous focus on creating a great guest expe-rience and introduced sound business principles. these combined with our ability to solicit support from our generous community have enabled the zoo to execute major enhancements to our facilities. this investment in the Houston zoo as a cultural, conser-vation, and education resource for the region has moved the zoo from an average attraction to one of the top zoos in the country.

the Houston zoo has been able to consistently up-date and transform our venue for the community. growing our collection, improving animal care and exhibitry standards, supporting conservation work locally and globally, and providing educational pro-gramming for formal and informal lifelong learning – the Houston zoo gladly looks forward to the next 90 years.

our long history in Houston was documented through our summer edition of the member maga-zine, Wildlife. Highlighting then and now stories, the issue clearly showed our humble beginnings, our more recent growth, and the potential for a very bright future.

wild years in HouSton

90

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one valuable lesson the Houston zoo veterinary care team has learned is to utilize the immense resources available in our own backyard. from highly specialized private practice veterinarians in the greater Houston region to researchers and physicians at the largest medical complex in the country, our vet team has built partnerships to enhance the care our 6,000+ animals receive.

if you think your dental work can be a bear, try performing a root canal on a grizzly. our tiger and black leopard received stem cell therapy to surgically treat chronic joint pain. and a tumor was removed from a puffer fish who is no longer than three inches. in 2012, the zoo called upon more than 20 spe-cialists from 12 institutions. Working closely with our in-house team of four veterinarians, their significant contributions of time and knowledge on behalf of our animal collection ensure we provide the best care possible. our entire staff (and espe-cially our animals) would like to share our deepest thanks for their dedication to the Houston zoo.

the only thing scarier than the heat of Houston is the arrival of colossal carnivores. fortu-nately, the return of dinoSaurS! to the Houston zoo was more exciting and educational than perilous. following a 65 million year hiatus, the Houston zoo’s dinoSaurS! were reawakened again after their 2010 dazzling debut.

dinosaurs once found in the texas region were featured, including a towering brachiosau-rus and the mighty t-rex. animatronic effects enlivened the experience as we introduced species not previously presented at the zoo, like the protohadros and edmontonia.

luring over 155,000 guests, the zoo used dinoSaurS! presented by orkin to tell an important story. extinction is forever. While the reasons behind the disappearance of dino-saurs are hotly debated in the scientific community, the current plight of endangered species is not. there is much that can be done and we are doing our part to protect and preserve threatened wildlife and wild places around the world. dinoSaurS! helped us start conser-vation conversations with guests while illustrating ways for them to become involved.

Summer Fun For everyone!the Houston zoo offers a myriad of programs which supplement the education that students receive in science classrooms across the state. but don’t tell the kids – we disguise our learning oppor-tunities as hands-on explorations of the zoo that are wild fun! these informal learning programs can bolster students’ under-standing of textbook science by incorporating cross-curricular activities and providing them with real-life examples of science principles at work.

camp zoofari at the Houston zoo is one of these wildly popular programs. filling every available spot each summer, campers eagerly brave the heat (and the learning) to enjoy engaging expeditions into the zoo as well as participate in conservation projects, animal-themed presentations, and dynamic discover-ies. and don’t forget the critter connections! our ambassador animals patiently perform their role during presentations to more than 2,000 children each summer.

focused on ages 4-12, camp zoofari themes change through-out the summer with age-appropriate activities that stimulate summer science learning and ensure campers connect with na-ture and wildlife. from adventures in the rainforest to Wild art to Keeper camp, there’s never a dull summer moment. and the Houston zoo has added holiday camps to serve families seek-ing kid-friendly activities during extended school breaks.

as part of our tenet to ensure we remain a zoo for all, the Hous-ton zoo reserves camp zoofari space for up to 200 campers on scholarships. through the generosity of our community, the zoo and our Send a Kid to camp appeal, need-based scholarships are awarded so that underserved children across the Houston community are able to enjoy the wonders of zoo exploration.

BeyOnd L iOns & T igers & Bears – oH mY!

Conservation ProjeCt:

SaVing sea turtlesthe Houston zoo’s three primary program areas – animal care, conservation, and education – sometimes function independent-ly, but our efforts with endangered sea turtles are a great ex-ample of their convergence.

When most people think of texas habitats, they don’t think of ocean environs. but texas has 367 miles of coastline along the gulf of mexico and a myriad of marine wildlife. our waters are home to 5 species of sea turtles (2 are endangered species and 3 are critically endangered). While now protected, they still are fighting for survival and continue to face several human-related problems – from plastic pollution to harmful commercial and rec-reational fishing interactions.

the Houston zoo is assisting in this fight by bringing its ani-mal care expertise to the battle. Senior Veterinarian dr. Joe fla-nagan dedicates countless hours and energies to treating and rehabilitating injured and stranded sea turtles. from boat pro-peller wounds to fishing line or plastic bag entanglements to fish-ing hook injuries, his medical knowledge and dedication have nursed hundreds of turtles back to health. the zoo often provides a temporary home for these recovering turtles before being re-turned to the gulf.

our education efforts are underway on many fronts of this bat-tle. Sea turtle Saturdays at the Houston zoo inform our guests about threats to sea turtles and offer opportunities for action on their behalf. additionally, our staff works with other agencies to place informational signs along beaches to warn of the damage caused by improperly discarded fishing line and offers collection stations for proper disposal. “turtle Hotline” signs give citizens the chance to help by providing a number to call if a stranded or nesting turtle is found.

to combat some of these issues, the Houston zoo works closely with other organizations on collaborative conservation efforts. zoo staff acts as part of the response team for sea turtle strand-ings, volunteers for beach sweeps for sea turtle tracks and nests,

and participates in sea turtle releases to return healthy turtles to the wild. after nearly a year of treatment, in 2012 dr.

flanagan happily released a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle he treated following a very serious injury and strand-ing. Her “living tag” indicated she’d been a part of a hatching program he’d worked on in 1993.

Wildlife can be incredibly resilient and persevere through intensive human impact, but species are not indestructible. the Houston zoo is working to en-

sure sea turtles in texas, as well as elsewhere, have the chance to survive and thrive. our multi-pronged

approach to protecting endangered species is the best weapon in this fight and will make a world of difference in

the plight of sea turtles. 1312

Sea TurTle releaSe

Dr. Jo

e Flanagan, Senior Veter inarian

animal additions

african crested porcupine: bouncy is not usually an adjective used for porcupines, but the Houston zoo’s first af-rican crested porcupine in more than 23 years is just that. rocco becomes so excited by keeper visits that he hops and bounces, making rubber boots a necessary accessory for ex-hibit cleanings!

indian star tortoise: confiscated indian star tortoises from the exotic pet trade joined the Houston zoo collection in 2002. in 2012, more than 15 offspring hatched and are helping to grow the assurance colony for this asian species.

african pancake tortoise: from tanzania and Ke-nya, this aptly named tortoise can wedge itself into narrow crevices to elude predators. Vulnerable due to habitat destruc-tion and over-collection for the pet trade, african pancake tortoises also have a very low reproductive rate making our two recent hatchlings important additions to the population.

attwater’s prairie chickens: While breeding season and chick arrival for this texas native species are in the Spring and Summer, our attwater’s prairie chickens are released each fall to bolster the numbers of this endangered bird in the wild. through a managed partnership with other facilities

and the national fish and Wildlife Service, the Houston zoo operates a breeding program which delivers newly fledged chicks to their refuge each fall.

a bevy of birds: the Houston zoo’s avian collection makes us proud as peacocks! chicks of all kinds joined the flock in 2012, including blue-throated macaws, red-billed blue magpies, green jays, white-faced whistling ducks, can-vasback ducks, and white-eared catbirds. Visit them and their many feathered friends in the pheasant run, fischer bird gar-den, and the tropical bird House.

Madagascar big-headed turtles: our animal ex-hibits hide many surprises – sometimes for the animals and guests and sometimes for our keepers. the moat of our lemur habitat houses madagascar big-headed turtles. When nest-ing behavior was noted, keepers provided additional sand for improved nesting conditions. When a hatchling was spot-ted in the water in September 2012, keepers went hunting and found four additional hatchlings. We believe this is their first breeding in any zoo and is extremely important for this critically endangered species.

attwater’s praIrIe cHIcken

Madagascar bIg-Headed turtlesIndIan star tortoIse

clouded leopard

f a l l two six -month-old c louded leopard cubs, tarak and Suskn, arrived at the Houston zoo last fall from different facilities. after a careful but uneventful introduction, they share an ex-hibit on Small cat row. look up when you visit as they are ex-tremely agile climbers and leap-ers and enjoy exploring their exhibit. the pair, a male and female, was introduced as cubs as this is thought to increase the potential for eventual successful breeding.

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wHIte-eared catbIrd

getting families outside provides less sedentary options for entertainment but also offers the chance for them to experi-ence the wonders nature presents every day. a better under-standing of the natural world can bring about more thoughtful approaches to decisions that affect what we enjoy – wildlife and wild places. So while get out and play offers a healthy alternative to highly electronic activities, it also can result in healthier attitudes toward nature.

sWimming in styleour california sea lions are stars at our main entry plaza, and star status called for a stellar home. the renovated mc-govern marine mammal marina received a resurfaced pool, updated water chillers, a california coastline mural, and new training stations for behavior demonstrations – all topped by a spectacular new shade structure. other updates included renovated behind-the-scenes facilities for our california sea lions to facilitate improved animal care and training.

beyond beautification of this happening habitat, a lot of the work was in relocating these intelligent and active animals. due to the extensive updates necessary, we realized our sea lions would need to be off-exhibit for an extended period. We made space for them near our veterinary clinic but thought constructing a pool from exhibit to clinic for a swimming transfer was out of the question.

our clever keeper staff stepped up to the challenge. after carefully planning every detail of the move, training for a ride on a specialized sea lion cart began. countless hours were spent prepping the pack for their staycation. the culmination was a successful trek to their temporary home as well as a return trip to their renovated residence. likewise, our talented facilities team built a spectacular pool to use while they camped out.

the Houston zoo’s california sea lions are an important part of our lifelong learning programs for our guests. While the Sea lion Shows at the zoo are wildly popular, they aren’t all fun and games. these animal ambassadors help illustrate the importance of a clean environment, how trash can turn to tragedy, and small steps that individuals can take to make a difference for wildlife everywhere. and the behaviors taught to our sea lions exceed mere en-tertainment – they facilitate the same behaviors necessary to provide superior daily care and needed veterinary treatment.

cReatuRe featuResghosts, goblins, ghouls and good fun are always found at the Houston zoo each october. zoo boo has brought spirited excitement to families for more than 20 years by providing a safe and familiar environment for children to experience this spooky holiday. Welcoming more than 90,000 guests over three weekends in october, zoo boo presented by bbVa compass offered games, candy stations, music, the fiesta pumpkin patch, tat-zoo parlors, and a chance to flaunt creepy costumes.

in 2012, we took the opportunity to present supernatu-ral fun by highlighting animals that sometimes get bad publicity during the Halloween season. Spiders, cats, toad, owls, and bats were featured through Keeper talks to educate guests on the animals’ importance in their ecosystems. Just think of all the bugs there would be if we didn’t have some population control help from spiders, toads, and bats! We also incorporated Howler-ween activities to better acquaint visitors with howler monkeys. native to the tropical rainforests of South america, these vanishing animals have a lion-like roar that is one of the loudest sounds heard across the jungle (and in the zoo!).

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Presented By

F r e s h a i r F u nas fall begins to settle in, the Houston zoo gears up again for events that will entertain and entice guests to enjoy explo-rations of their favorite destination. get out and play was designed to lure families outside. encouraging children and adults alike to unplug and get in touch with nature, this event offers challenging games and rousing romps to be active as a family and to get out and play more often. other local groups like the Houston texans and KicKStart KidS join the fun and help to highlight where families can enjoy outdoor activities and nature year-round in the city.

New shade structure iN sea LioN exhibi

t

Wild reVelrYfall festivities hit a fevered pitch each year as feast with the beasts approaches. a sell-out for several years in a row, in 2012 feast with the beasts presented by bbVa compass brought in more than 60 restaurants to feed nearly 4,000 guests. Special demonstrations, Keeper talks, and animal feedings highlighted the dietary needs and strict nutritional standards our staff must follow every day to feed our more than 6,000 animals. and the sweetest dessert of the night was a live concert by blues traveler on the H-e-b stage. feast is always a crowd pleaser, satisfying the appetites of people and porcupines!

he Houston zoo strives to promote conservation awareness and action in all that we do. each year, we host a conser-vation gala which gives us the opportunity to raise funds and awareness exclusively for our efforts to save species around the world. fortunately, there are many celebrated conserva-tionists who are happy to help us advance these goals. for the 2012 feed Your Wild life conservation gala presented by chevron, the Houston zoo proudly welcomed renowned conservationist, dr. Jane goodall. there are few whose names spark such recognition and admiration in this field and it was a special honor to have her present to our audience the humble beginnings of her research and the inspirations that kept her working through any adversity. the obvious pas-sion demonstrated through her words and actions gave more than motivation and encouragement, they gave a message of hope.

Sponsorships, tickets, silent and live auctions, and a “paws up” giving drive helped raise more than $440,000 to directlysupport our conservation programs. featured conservation

partners for the evening included: gorilla doctors, dedicatedto saving the lives of critically-endangered mountain and grauer’s gorillas through health care; faleme chimpanzee conservation project, assessing chimpanzee communities to prevent their extinction; and Hutan , studying orangutans and working to solve human-wildlife conflicts to promote co-existence.

in addition to funds raised through the feed Your Wild life conservation gala, the Houston zoo solicits contributions for the programs in which we are involved and also reserves a portion of our operating revenues to support these projects. for several of these partner organizations, we are their big-gest donor and strongest advocate. not only do we contributeour own funds but we connect them with other donors to fur-ther leverage our dollars. their causes match our mission and are an extension of our work to protect wildlife and habitats around the world.

1918

feed lifeYO

UR

WIL

D

A n e v e n i n g w i t h J A n e g o o d A l l

t

at one time, lions were prevalent across most of africa.

but this heralded “king of the jungle” has been unjustly

deposed and now few large healthy lion populations

remain on the african continent.

the niassa national reserve in northern mozambique

is home to the majority of the lions in that region. there,

biologists dr. colleen and Keith begg have established

the niassa lion project (nlp ) with an aim to secure the

large carnivore populations (lion, leopard, spotted hy-

ena, and african wild dog) across the entire reserve by

mitigating threats and promoting coexistence between

people and wildlife.

they work to build a positive view of wildlife and conser-

vation for the villagers of the reserve, ensuring people

see animals in their natural environments, away from

the stresses of protecting their families, livestock, and

crops. utilizing education programs for children and

adults, training programs to minimize human-wildlife

conflict, and skills training for alternative sustainable

employment options, nlp is fostering a positive rela-

tionship between the reserve’s people and the wildlife

with which they share the land.

the Houston zoo has partnered with the nlp since

2011 to provide technical and financial support as

well as development of education and capacity-build-

ing programs for nlp and the community. through the

work of the beggs and nlp, there is hope in this fragile

landscape for the survival of the majestic lion.

C o n s e r v a t i o n P a r t n e r :

niassa lion PRoject

the Houston zoo often calls our animals “ambassadors” because they play an important role as representatives for their wild cousins. Jonathan, our male african lion, may be one of our best-known ambassadors and serves to help educate guests about the plight of lions across africa.

one of the conservation events the niassa lion project organizes in a local village is called lion fun days. the event reminds local villagers of the importance of lions and other wildlife in their environment.

in order to connect the Houston community to nlp’s efforts in mozambique, we replicate their event here. our carni-vore staff hosts the lion fun days at the Houston zoo and guests participate in the same wildlife-themed activities to feel a unique sense of connection with the conservation efforts in mozambique.

in 2012 Houston zoo staff traveled to mozambique to as-sist with nlp’s lion fun days festivities. their presence at the event provided the greatest evidence of the zoo’s support for the african communities affected most by the loss of wildlife. they worked alongside the nlp staff to develop ways to en-hance and strengthen the impact of the event in mozambique and Houston. currently nlp hosts lion fun days in only one of many villages in the niassa reserve of mozambique. With the support of the Houston zoo, the nlp community program is growing and they plan to bring lion fun days to more vil-lages. through partnerships with local schools in the Houston area, the zoo also hopes to link Houston elementary schools with villages in the niassa reserve. these efforts are help-ing to teach students on two continents to become “ambas-sadors” for imperiled wildlife.

conSerVation proJect:

Lion F u n D ays

2120

locals In MoZaMbIQue partIcIpate In lIon fun day

MercHandIse sold at Houston Zoo benefIttIng wIldlIfe

MercHandIse sold at Houston Zoo benefIttIng wIldlIfe

Houston Zoo staff & volunteers, lIon fun day

one part of the many reasons for the continual growth and transformation of the Houston zoo is to meet the changing needs of our audience. the high-tech demands of today’s zoo visitors mean they want quick access to information through highly interactive media accessed from a variety of applications and devices. While the Houston zoo has long had an online presence through a vibrant website and sev-eral social media outlets, much of it was not adaptable to mobile technologies or was not reaching the broadest pos-sible audience.

after much planning and thoughtful strategizing, the Houston zoo’s website was updated in november 2012 to meet these modern technological advances. beyond a new look, the site now offers improved functionality by presenting information in the new ways our audience want to access it. We have seen a 32% increase in overall web traffic (with more than 2.3 million visits) which includes increased access from mo-

bile devices as the updated site’s functionality offers more flexibility for this usage.

additionally, an increased focus on social media helped to spread the Houston zoo’s animal care, conservation, and education messages far and wide. facebook “likes” more than doubled in comparison to 2011. twitter followers in-creased by more than 50%. a new pinterest account was established. and our Youtube channel was viewed nearly 1.5 million times last year.

the Houston zoo is prepared for the changing environment of sharing news and information with a global audience. from posting a smiling monkey pic caught on a camera trap in borneo to cheetah run videos popular in Japan to baby turtle posts shared across multiple platforms – appreciation of the Houston zoo has gone globally viral.

WinteRas the days grow shorter and

the weather chills, the Houston

zoo offers new ways to expe-

rience the wonders of winter

and wildlife. evening events

like feast With the beasts and

zoo lights provide exciting op-

portunities to explore your zoo

beyond sunset.

h O m e g r O w n h O u s T O n – g l o b a l g r o W t H

2322

Conservation Partners:

PRotecting BoRneo’sBiodiveRsity borneo is the third largest island in the world and hosts Southeast asia’s tallest mountain, mount Kinabalu at 13,000 feet. comprised of three nations: brunei, indonesia, and malaysia, the island is a hotpsot of biodiversity. environmentally rich and one of the world’s oldest rainforests, it is home to a diversity of plants and wildlife.

Several iconic species there are now threatened due to past logging practices and conversion of forests to palm oil plantations for cash crops. as a result, bornean orangutans, asian elephants, malayan sun bears, clouded leopards and numerous species of wildlife all face severe population declines.

to better understand the challenges these threatened species face, the Houston zoo works closely with several conservation partners in the malaysian State of Sabah. our long-term partner Hutan manages the Kinabatangan orangutan conservation project, the regions longest running program dedicated to the pro-tection of the bornean orangutan, works closely with local communities to establish protected areas and reforestation programs for this species.

in partnership with Hutan, danau girang field centre and the Sabah Wildlife department, the zoo supports conservation efforts for borneo’s asian elephants. the Kinabatangan region holds 200 of the islands 1,500 elephants. due to fragmented rainforest habitat, the elephants frequently move through palm oil planta-tions to reach feeding sites and the river system. the Houston zoo is helping to fund programs to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, determine migratory corridors and look into the behavior and social interactions of these very special elephants.

conservation of vanishing species and vital ecosystems is important to maintaining diversity and preserving what remains of the regions rainforest habitat.

in 2008, the Houston zoo experienced the devastating death of mac, our beloved two-year-old asian elephant, from a viral infection of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus or eeHV. His death led the zoo to a fortuitous partnership with the bay-lor college of medicine (bcm).

Working with a team of scientists at bcm led by virologist dr. paul ling, and working with other zoos and research teams nationally and internationally, we have learned much in the last four years. bcm researchers have developed sensitive diagnostic tests which can determine if an elephant has the active virus when it is still in the early stage, giving veterinar-ians an important advantage to initiate aggressive treatment before it reaches a lethal level in the blood.

utilizing the diagnostic testing, it has been determined that asian elephants in north american, european, and asian fa-cilities have eeHV, though not all elephants become sick from the infection. additionally, testing of wild asian elephants has shown that the virus exists in those populations as well. elephants seem to be most vulnerable between the ages of two and eight – putting the Houston zoo’s youngest elephants (tucker, baylor, and tupelo) at risk for serious infection – reaf-firming our vow to fight this virus.

from the breadth of knowledge gained, the Houston zoo vet-erinarians and elephant care managers formulated a detailed eeHV treatment protocol for use in any institution housing el-ephants. thus, we now have in place a system to detect early-stage infection in vulnerable animals and recommendations for medication regimens if the need arises. and our recent research on eeHV genome sequencing is building data so a vaccine can be developed.

there are many questions still to be answered but the Houston zoo, working closely with baylor college of medicine, will continue seeking the answers. We wish to thank the dan l. duncan family whose extremely generous contributions sup-port our research on behalf of asian elephants everywhere.

C o n s e r v a t i o n P r o j e C t :

protecting pacHYdermS

dr. paul lIngMac

2524

food for tHougHtWhile the holidays may not make our animals think of tasty treats, the season sure evokes cravings for celebratory cuisine in humans. at the Houston zoo, we use the holidays to focus on the feat of feeding our animal assembly.

it takes more than $935,000 to buy the groceries needed for our 6,000+ animals each year. So we annually ask the great-er Houston community to contribute to the cause: mealworms for meerkats, heaps of hay for a herd of elephants, loads of lettuce for lemurs, and crickets for all kinds of creatures. each year, the gift of grub campaign delivers fun facts about the serious topic of our animals’ nutritional needs while also so-liciting gifts to support the care and feeding of our feathered, furry, or finned friends.

in 2012, tXu energy generously offered a challenge to Houston: donate to the gift of grub campaign and tXu energy would match each gift up to a $50,000 total. and of course Houston responded! the campaign totaled more than $135,000, surpassing the challenge and cranking up the crickets for our critters. thanks Houston and tXu energy! 27

the Houston zoo was transformed into a winter wonderland to begin a new Houston holiday tradition. tXu energy pres-ents zoo lights was our seasonal spectacular to top a tre-mendous 2012. featuring a zoo filled with brilliant displays of colorful lights and festive holiday music, families enjoyed the opportunity to visit in evening hours and even to glimpse some of our animals nestled snug in their habitats.

thousands of twinkling lights entwined enchanted oaks. Whimsical, animated animal light displays joined colorful objects on this walking tour throughout the zoo. a 1958 ca-dillac, Holly berry, featured lights dancing to joyful music. this special car debuted at Houston’s own thanksgiving day parade and greeted more than 153,000 guests through the new year.

the awe-inspiring sights were the perfect backdrop for a sea-sonal stroll to create new family memories. Smart financial credit union, H-e-b, and Kprc local 2 were the zoo’s cor-nerstone partners with presenting sponsor tXu energy. the Houston zoo is already planning for an improved zoo lights experience in 2013 with triple the lights, more animals, and more fun. So plan on celebrating the season with the zoo this year, and for many years to come.

Your neW HolidaY

tradition

26

1958 cadillac, HollY berrY

running a zoo is not easy. there’s work around the clock and not all of it is as glamorous as it may seem. but every day it happens through the generosity of many who are wild at heart and selflessly support the Houston zoo.

Without fail, our staff gets the job done: advancing animal care for our collection and for the benefit of animals every-where; conservation projects making an impact at home and around the world to protect wildlife and wild places; and in-spiring generations of visitors for 90 years to understand and appreciate what nature offers. our staff consistently shows their dedication to the Houston zoo through their commitment to and compassion for the animals in their care. it is an honor to have them at the zoo each and every day.

but their work cannot be done alone. each year, legions of volunteers arrive to help. in 2012 more than 2,000 volunteers gave over 80,000 hours of their time to the Houston zoo. from the quiet heroes who arrive regular-ly each week to shovel or rake, file or teach, to the zoo crew teens who give their summer hours to learn through

doing, to the community and corporate groups which make our large events possible - our volunteers gave the equivalent of $1,750,000 in time last year. We thank them for their superb community service.

our largest and longest-lived volunteer group, zoo friends of Houston, for more than 45 years has dedicated their time and energies to raising funds for the Houston zoo’s projects and programs. their commitment has been instrumental in providing Houstonians with the chance to explore nature and enjoy wildlife. the Houston zoo is extremely grateful for their phenomenal work and dedication to their community.

at the Houston zoo we are extremely proud of our many ac-complishments achieved in 2012, but much of it would not be possible without the tremendous support of our donors and members. gifts of any size make a difference and all are treasured for what they help us do. our 2012 annual report is a celebration of the seasons of change, of the opportunity to renew and grow and improve – for you. We wildly appre-ciate your heartfelt generosity.

2012

seasons of change: bY tHe numberS

2,064,824 visitoRs

367,222 fRee access

182,855 lifelong leaRneRs Reached

153,441 Zoo lights visitoRs

80,347 volunteeR houRs contRiButed

49,015 memBeR households

3,537 donations

2,034 volunteeRs

374 staff

one successful Zoo, thanks to you!

revenue amount

admission fees 11,477,147 31%city of Houston management fee 8,658,338 23%other 5,450,899 15%membership fees 4,585,224 12%contributions 3,962,807 11%concession fees 2,823,553 8%

total 36,957,968 100%

eXpenditures amount

animal and exhibit operations 14,720,704 44%admissions, membership & marketing 6,813,402 21%depreciation 4,083,567 12%conservation and education 3,072,387 9%fundraising 1,267,514 4%guest program events 1,707,630 5%administrative, it and all other 1,511,794 5%

total 33,176,998 100%

change in net assets 3,780,970

2928

31%

23%15%

12%

11%

8%

44%

21%

12%

9%

4%5%

5%

W i l d a t h e a R t

t H a n K Y o u !the Houston zoo is fortunate to have so many to thank who support our mis-sion. it is only through your generos-ity that the zoo can continue to grow and transform into the best organiza-tion providing entertainment, cultural amenities, lifelong science learning, and preservation and protection of our world’s wildlife and wild places. thank you for your significant contri-butions.

annual support$100,000 to $999,999Houston endowmentKathrine g. mcgovern/mcgovern foundation*orkin, llc**texas renaissance festival**tXu energyzoo friends of Houston, inc.

$50,000 to $99,999bbVa compass bankchevronexxonmobilfiesta mart, inc.**H-e-bmarathon oil corporationestate of James and gladys parkerms. beth robertson*Service Systems associates*Smart financial credit uniontarget corporation

$10,000 to $49,999accentureanadarko petroleum corporationatlantic trust/elizabeth and daryl allen*mr. and mrs. John averett*mr. and mrs. philip bahrbaker Hughes incorporated*bank of america*mr. and mrs. e. W. barnettmr. rick barongicharles t. bauer foundationmr. and mrs. f. fox benton iiibmc Softwaredianna and Harry bowles*the brown foundation, inc./Herman l. Studems. rena cannon**cfp foundationmr. and mrs. Stephen i. chazenmr. and mrs. Joseph a. cleary, Jr.*conocophillipsmindy and Josh davidson*devon energy corporationdirect energy*mr. and mrs. michael dishberger

all donorS liSted made contributionS totaling $1,000 or more in 2012 | *includeS a contribution to zoo friendS of HouSton, inc. | **includeS a gift-in-Kind contribution all donorS liSted made contributionS totaling $1,000 or more in 2012 | *includeS a contribution to zoo friendS of HouSton, inc. | **includeS a gift-in-Kind contribution

3130

$2,500 to $4,999dr. Kathleen alfuth and mr. eric J. alfuthdrs. george and meg basu*baton rouge zoomr. and mrs. michael binghammr. and mrs. Jack S. blanton, Sr.*mr. and mrs. ed bosarge*amanda and robert brockmr. and mrs. John campbellthe carmax foundationmr. and mrs. anthony J. compofelicecontemporary dentaldr. Yvonne cormier and mr. rufus cormier*mr. cameron d. Smith and mrs. elizabeth m. cosgrove*mr. and mrs. thomas b. dalymrs. linnet f. deily*mr. and mrs. darrell delahoussayemr. Sungkono dermawanmr. and mrs. david edgarextendedStay america Hotels**the felvis foundation/Jessica and travis grahamdr. mavis d. fujiimr. and mrs. gary fulksgardere Wynne Sewell llpmr. beck geodetix**mr. and mrs. martyn goossengormans uniform rental, inc./ mr. and mrs. fred gormanthe grocers Supply company/ dr. rochelle levit and mr. max levitdr. and mrs. Stuart S. grossmanHealthHelpmr. Jeff a. Hill and ms. chris Joneschristina and michael HippsiberiabanKipfc corp*dr. and mrs. William W. ishee, Jr.Karen and Jim Johnsonmr. and mrs. parks c. Johnson, Sr.Kinder morgan foundationms. Julie Koch and mr. richard Humphreysmr. and mrs. matthew b. KoenigKolache factory**Harriet and truett latimermr. and mrs. robert levinemr. and mrs. allen lindseydrs. richard and andrea linkthe lubrizol foundationthe mailman foundation incmr. and mrs. Kenneth c. margolisdouglas b. marshall, Jr. family foundationdee and Stacy methvin mr. greg Joseph and ms eleanor meyermr. and mrs. raymond r. mullins, Jr.bobbie and John nau*mr. and mrs. bradley W. o’HallaSara and randy ortweinmr. erik J. osterrieder and mr. John maiomr. and mrs. ben S. parrackphillips 66tommye and david powell mr. ed l. price and ms. marie-claire abelanetdavid and edlyn pursell

mr. cameron ray and mrs. amy mehollin-raymr. and mrs. paul f. rizzams. lillie robertsonmr. and mrs. christopher c. rothSafeway inc.bobbi and Vic Samuelsleslie and Shannon Sasser*mr. and mrs. John Schiller, Jr.cindi and richard Scruggs*mr. and mrs. douglas m. Selman*Shipley do-nuts**Sightline Healthmr. Herbert d. Simonsmr. and mrs. mark d. Smallmr. and mrs. John Springer*dr. Stacy Strehlow and mr. Joseph perkinsonmr. and mrs. chris Swedlundcarolyn and garry tanner*mr. brian H. teichmandr. audra e. timminsmrs. liz turnerbetty and Jess b. tutor*utah zoological Societymr. and mrs. greg Veseyms. Helen r. Viereckms. Kendall Woodsmr. and mrs. austin p. Young iii

$1,000 to $2,499mrs. Janice albertalbert and margaret alkek foundationallen boone Humphries robinson llpSd alvisms. france archambault and mr. calvin embryms. Kathy arthurmr. doug ashmoredr. carol J. bakermr. and mrs. andrew bass*mr. and mrs. paul beck*ms. Kimberly bidingerms. adelaide e. biggsmr. and mrs. eddy S. blantondr. and mrs. michael a. bloomelinda and andrew bosarge*ms. anneliese bosselermr. and mrs. Joe bourlandmr. and mrs. William S. bragan ii*mr. and mrs. John briscoemr. and mrs. bradley a. buchermr. c. robert bunch and ms. lilia d. Khakimovamr. and mrs. John d. burnsSally g. burtram, ph.d.mrs. diane cain*ms. catherine b. callawaydeborah and gardner cannonmr. charles n. White and mrs. cathy l. catesms. claire r. chamberlainmr. and mrs. John d. chaneydebbie and Kent chenevert*choice energycleveland zoological Societyaudrey and brandon cochran*Jana and melville cody*cindi and robert colvin*

mr. and mrs. michael J. cordúamr. and mrs. daniel cowles*the crain foundationmr. and mrs. Joseph p. cunninghamcharles and melissa davis ms. Sue a. davisdazzio-gutierrez family foundationJennifer and Kenneth debow*ms. nadia deebdeep eddy Vodka**mr. and mrs. david denechaud*ms. margie dickerson*mr. brian dietrich and mrs. nancy Kozaneckimr. and mrs. philip dixondomino’s pizza**mr. John dwan*mr. and mrs. charles e. dyer iVmr. and mrs. John c. ellismr. and mrs. gary ellisonenbridge energy company, inc.ms. megan evanslaura and Quinn fanning*farnsworth & Von bergmr. and mrs. t J farnsworth, Jr.mr. and mrs. craig feazelmr. and mrs. bruce ferencemr. Kenneth i. Sill and ms. Kari e. findleythe finkelstein foundation*mr. and mrs. andrew m. fosslerHarriet and Joe foster*Jami and tucker fowlerKristina and Kevin frankelmr. david frankfort and ms. erika bermero*friends of the zooms. Jane g. frost*mr. and mrs. Steve fulghammr. and mrs. michael garnermr. and mrs. grant l. gawronskimr. grover J. geiselman iii and ms. becky robertsgiles family foundationms. melissa giles and mr. erik Hawesglazier foods**mr. and mrs. Julius glickmandr. ellen r. gritz and mr. milton d. rosenaumr. James H. Hazenmr. and mrs. Jorge Hernandezthe Jacob and terese Hershey foundationms. michelle e. Hicksms. Karen d. Hinsonms. Kathryn Hitedr. pamela d. Holder, m.d.ms. geordie m. Hrdlicka*Huffington foundationdr. christopher buehler and ms. Jill HutchisoniKea Houston**mr. J. H. itzclare and guy Jacksonmr. brendan gilbert and mrs. Jennifer l. Jackson gilbertmr. and mrs. eric a. Jansenmr. and mrs. blair Jeffery*Sharon Joseph K12 management inc.

Susan and Jim bakere & J gallo Winery/barefoot**bloomberg financial corporationdr. and mrs. Shane J. bowen*mr. and mrs. michael bowmanfrank and mary bradley/greenberg traurig*dr. gary brock and mrs. cathy brock*the bill & elizabeth brown familycenterpoint energyclaudia and roberto contreras*ms. caran crookermolly and Jim crownovermr. and mrs. peter dallepezzemr. and mrs. Jonathan S. day*denman/newman foundationmr. and mrs. donald f. faustanne and John freeman*elizabeth and roger fulghum*mr. Henry garrana*mr. and mrs. Sean goldenms. barbara S. goldfield*grey goose Vodka**mr. and mrs. Joseph a. Hafner, Jr.Houston texansmacquarie energy capital/ cynthe and brian Hughes*imperial Sugar companyms. Karen Johnsonmr. and mrs. charles e. Jones*ann and Stephen KaufmanKelsey-Seybold clinicKelli Kickerillo and todd foresterdr. and mrs. richard l. Kimbroughpeggy KostialKroger**the lionstone group*martha Katherine long and Sean Wademr. and mrs. glenn l. lowenstein*mr. and mrs. Stephen lubanko*mr. and mrs. gary S. margolisms. rhonda marlin*martha turner properties*chris and tevia mclaren*melcher charitable foundationmemorial Hermann medical plaza, l.p.mr. alfred c. mitchellthe newfield foundationtoni and noel noblethe oshman foundationmr. Shaun p. mooney and ms. dee ann pedersonmr. and mrs. James J. postl*nancy and david pustka*amy and mike reeves*dr. gayle m. rettigmr. and mrs. david e. roberts, Jr.mrs. carroll robertson raybarbara and louis Sklar*mr. david c. Smith and mrs. nadine moustafatexas children’s Hospital*mr. and mrs. fred Williametteranda and charlie Williams*Wortham insurance & risk management*

anne and charles duncan, Jr.*mr. and mrs. doug erwinmr. and mrs. nijad i. fares*mr. and mrs. William e. fishermr. bruce patterson and ms. patricia freeman*ms. Kat gallagher*ms. Kerry a. galvindr. cullen K. geiselman*google**annie and bob graham*Hildebrand fund*mr. and mrs. thomas r. HixHouston dynamomr. and mrs. donald r. Kendall, Jr.lora Jean (Jeanie) Kilroy*robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen c. Kleberg foundationpenny and paul loydmr. michael manley and mrs. paige Jacksonmr. neal S. manne and ms. nancy d. mcgregor*margot marsh biodiversity foundationmcdonald’spalmetto partners, ltd./the robert and Janice mcnair foundation*mr. and mrs. d. cal mcnairmemorial Hermann*momentum audi and Volkswagennew leaf energySuzanne and robert nimocks*nrg employees in Houstonnrg energy and reliantmr. and mrs. William c. oehmiganna omeltchenko*mrs. Kay m. onstead/the robert r. and Kay m. onstead foundationmr. and mrs. Jonathan e. parker, Jr.lynnae and Scott partridge*pepsi**the powell foundationbunny and perry radoffron and demi randmrs. Sybil f. roos*louisa Stude Sarofim charitable trustSchlumberger uSaScurlock foundation*Shell oil companybud light/Silver eagle distributors*bob and Vivian Smith foundationmr. and mrs. andy Stepanian*Sterling-turner foundationtam international, inc.the tapeats fundunion pacific foundationunited airlines – the official airline of the Houston zoo**university of Houstonranda and K.c. Weiner*mr. and mrs. Jeffrey Woodman

$5,000 to $9,999Joan and Stanford alexander*arizona zoological Societybaker botts l.l.p.*

$1,000 to $49,999mr. and mrs. e. W. barnettmr. and mrs. andrew bassbritten funddr. Yvonne cormier and mr. rufus cormiermrs. linnet f. deilyJohanna a. favrot funddr. cullen K. geiselmanmr. and mrs. george r. Willyms. barbara S. goldfieldmr. and mrs. martyn e. goossenmr. and mrs. thomas r. Hixmr. and mrs. Stephen m. Kaufmanms. Vivian mcnairdee and Stacy methvin mr. and mrs. Stephen d. newtonSuzanne and robert nimocksmr. and mrs. douglas m. SelmanValero energy corporationmr. and mrs. austin p. Young iii

Matching giftsbp amoco corp.bp foundation inc.chevron Humankind employee fundsconocophillipsconstellation energy group foundation, inc.cooper industries, ltd.el paso corporationexxonmobil foundationHalliburtonlincoln financial foudation, inc.phillips 66Quantlab financial, llc

endowMentsryan cartwright endowment

tributesin Honor of amy alexanderin Honor of peggy and bill barnettin Honor of ms. barbara brinkmanin memory of ethan brownin Honor of the cole familyin memory of ms. aline cunninghamin memory of mr. ronald dokellin Honor of mrs. anne duncanin Honor of the great pumpkinin Honor of the parks Johnson familyin Honor of the mark Johnson familyin Honor of mrs. Jeanie Kilroyin Honor of bill, linda and meredith lobbin memory of ms. irene demoville lovein Honor of the nau familyin Honor of the roop familyin Honor of the Stepanian familyin Honor of Will, Jackson and caroline Van Wie

mr. and mrs. James m. tidwellmr. and mrs. tim timpanitootsies/Shelley ludwick*dr. gwen b. tunstall and mr. edmund YeangKaren and trevor turbidy*mr. and mrs. mark r. turnernaomi turner true foundationdr. Kirk e. Heyne and ms. Karen twitchellmr. and mrs. Jim tye*mary and chan tysorms. Kathy Welch and mr. John t. ungermr. and mrs. timothy J. ungermr. and mrs. craig m. uttersonms. marie Valenzuelamr. and mrs. William Van WieVelasquez elementary Schoolmr. and mrs. charles Vetters*Vinson & elkins, l.l.p.mr. and mrs. John d. Vogeldr. Suzanne bruce and mr. malcolm Waddellmr. and mrs. alan Walkermr. and mrs. raymond Wallace*Stacey and andrew White*mr. and mrs. Stephen m. Williamsmr. Wallace S. Wilsondr. louie f. Worthingmr. and mrs. chuck YatesKatherine and mark Yzaguirre*zinn petroleum company

capital$5,000,000+Houston endowment

$1,000,000 to $4,999,999the brown foundation, inc.chevronthe cullen foundationannie and bob grahamKathrine g. mcgovern/mcgovern foundationbobbie and John nau mrs. Kay m. onstead/the robert r. and Kay m. onstead foundation

$100,000 to $999,999fox and monica benton foundationmr. and mrs. Joseph a. cleary, Jr.the margaret and James a. elkins, Jr. foundationgeorge and mary Josephine Hamman foundationpeggy Kostialmemorial Hermann medical plaza, l.p.the Samuels foundation/ptrmr. brian H. teichman

$50,000 to $99,999mr. neal S. manne and ms. nancy d. mcgregormr. Herbert d. SimonsStrake foundation

m iSS ionthe Houston zoo provides a fun, unique, and inspirational experience fostering appreciation, knowledge, and care for the natural world.

gu id ing pr inc ip leS• be a zoo for all

• practice exemplary animal care

• deliver an outstanding guest experience

• create a workplace that instills empowerment, respect,

and teamwork

• provide superior education and learning opportunities

• promote conservation awareness and action

• apply best business practices and sound financial

management

• inspire broad community support

Hzi annual report committeedeborah cannon, President & CEOrick barongi, Zoo Directordavid brady, Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President - Advancementmichele mcgovern, Director of Development, Research/Writerpeter riger, Vice President of Conservation/Writerbrian Hill, Director of Public Affairs/WriterKirsten ufer, Creative Director/Designer

Stephanie adams, Staff Photographer

pHotograpHY contributorSStephanie adamsRick Barongimolly feltnerdale martinpeter rigerpaul Swen

all donorS liSted made contributionS totaling $1,000 or more in 2012 | *includeS a contribution to zoo friendS of HouSton, inc. | **includeS a gift-in-Kind contribution

Houston Zoo, Inc. b o a r d o f d i r e c t o r S

neal manneStacy methvinWalter mischer, Jr.ali moshiribobbie nauStephen newtonSuzanne nimocks, chaircharles onsteadSara ortweinJim postlricky ravenbarbara Samuelstony Sanchez iiiJackie SharbroughStephen trauberlori Vettersaustin Young *director emerituS

philip bahre. William barnett*monica bentonJack S. blanton, Sr.*rafael bustilloJoe clearyroberto contrerasmichael cordúarufus cormier, Jr.linnet deilyanne Duncanzeina farescullen geiselmanbarbara goldfieldmartyn goossenrobert grahamWinell Herrontom HixStephen Kaufman

the Houston zoo is one of 224 zoos and aquariums in north america accredited by the association of zoos and aquari-ums (aza). aza accreditation stands for excellence in the care of zoo visitors, zoo animlas, and earth’s remaining wil-derness. the Houston zoo continues to be active in aza’s conservation efforts participating in 202 Species Survival plans and keeping 18 studbooks for animals in accredited zoos throughout the country and the world.

H o u S t o n

zoo

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elizabeth and albert Kidd*mr. and mrs. thomas c. Knudsonmr. and mrs. randall b. lakemrs. Sharon H. lanemr. and mrs. christopher laportemr. and mrs. larry lawyerrichard a. lewis, md and patricia n. lewis, ph.d.mr. and mrs. geeyung litoni and Joe listengart*mr. and mrs. mark livingstonms. christina lyonsmrs. Jacilyn mahermr. and mrs. tom malonemr. and mrs. george martinezmr. robert Keenan and ms. deborah l. mccoyms. mary lou mcelligottmr. and mrs. david mcgheemr. and ms. brett mcgregor*mr. and mrs. thomas miesnermr. and mrs. Steven millermr. and mrs. richard W. mithoff, Jr.dr. Valerie mogasms. natalia morenomr. and mrs. christopher moringmr. Jeff munozmr. and mrs. Stephen d. newton*Sheila and John neylon*mr. and mrs. michael nicolmr. K. Knox nunnally and ms. cara burtonmr. and mrs. Jerry J. olivermr. and mrs. o. Keith owen iiimr. Shawn parham*mr. and mrs. bobby parker*mr. and mrs. Jonathan e. parker, Sr.dr. george H. perkins and dr. lavinia p. middletonmr. and mrs. Vytas petrulis*pat and paul pilkingtonms. denise V. poulosmr. and mrs. george b. rabbJanell and Joe reniers*mr. and mrs. James o. roedermr. david J. romeromr. and mrs. mike rossen*christi and patrick ruffingmr. and mrs. daniel Savitzms. melanie Scalleyrachel and eric Schaeffer*Sedgwick county zoological Societymr. and mrs. Vernon a. Sevier, Jr.ms. Jackie Sharbrough*mr. and mrs. Joe Sheldonmr. and mrs. arthur Simsms. Julia f. Smithmr. and mrs. William f. Smithms. Sondria Stephensmr. and mrs. bob Stokes mr. and mrs. michael W. Stricklertricia and paul Swent.d. Williamson, inc.mr. and mrs. tadd tellepsenms. doris thomas and ms. deborah thomasmr. and mrs. brian thurman*