HOUSTON ZOO ANNUAL REPORT 2009

Mission: The Houston Zoo provides a fun, unique, and inspira-tional experience fostering appreciation, knowledge, and care for the natural world.

C o v e r P h o t o : t o b y, t h e r e d Pa n d a

Toby the red panda joined the Houston Zoo family last spring and has captured the hearts of Hous-tonians, living up to his reputation as the “cutest animal in the world.” Photo: Stephanie Adams, Staff Photographer

E. William Barnett Baker Botts, LLP

Freda Wilkerson Bass Exxon Mobil Corporation

Nandita Berry Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP

Jack S. Blanton, Sr. Eddy Refining Company

Winfield M Campbell, Sr. Campbell & Riggs, PC

Cathy Campbell Brock

Jan Cody Zoo Friends

Jonathan Day Andrews Kurth LLP

Linnet Deily

Anne Duncan

James A. Elkins, III Houston Trust Company

Martyn Goossen JP Morgan

Robert Graham Chairman Invesco AIM

Donald R. Kendall, Jr. Kenmont Investments Management

Glenn L. Lowenstein The Lionstone Group

Daniel C. McNair Houston Texans

Stacy Methvin Shell Downstream Inc.

Stephen D. Newton Russell Reynolds Associates

Suzanne Nimocks McKinsey & Company

Charles Onstead Raco Construction

Barbara Samuels

Courtney Lanier Sarofim

Cathryn Selman

Louis Sklar Hines

Herman L. Stude H.L. Stude

Shawn Taylor

Lori Vetters Wachovia Bank, N.A.

Bonnie Weekley

George R. Willy George R. Willy PC

E. W. Bill Wright III Wachovia Securities

Austin Young

h o u s t o n Z o o , I n C . b o a r d o f d I r e C t o r s

H O U S TO N Z O O , I N C . A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 9

The Houston Zoo is proud to present a recap of the fiscal year in the form of this 2009 Annual Report. This past year was one of great accomplishment for the Houston Zoo. A new attendance record, major improvements to the on-ground facilities, increases in revenue and major strides taken by every department highlight this great year. This report serves as a summary of the countless hours, resources and energy put in by the dedicated staff that care for the facility, the animals and guests of the Houston Zoo.

We believe our all time record attendance was due to two principal factors: people stayed closer to home due to the economic downturn and the significant improvements that have been made to the Zoo over the past several years. These improvements have created a buzz about the Zoo that is driving more people to visit and return more often.

FY 2009 also marked our first foray into the new medium of viral marketing as we rolled out our new red panda exhibit principally through online promotion. We are moving strongly into using the social networking sites which gives us access to a completely new base of potential support. We have also formed a partnership with Comcast Cable whereby Zoo videos are available

Fiscal year 2009 was truly one for the record books as we set an all time high attendance record of over 1.72 million guests.

This figure is even more gratifying when you consider the unique challenges we faced economically and from Mother Nature. We started off our first quarter with a direct hit from Hurricane Ike. Thanks to advanced planning and an incredibly dedicated staff who worked nonstop to repair the Zoo, we were back up and running in five days, one of the first public facilities to open after this devastating storm.

L E T T E R F R O M D E B O R A H C A N N O N , R I C K B A R O N G I A N D B O B G R A H A M

Robert Graham, Chairman Board of Directors Houston Zoo Inc. (left) Deborah Cannon, President and CEO Houston Zoo Inc. (center)Rick Barongi, Zoo Director Houston Zoo Inc. (right)

at any time by using the On Demand feature. Additionally, we have significantly upgraded our website so that there are new videos every week of Zoo events such as new births, animal training and other interesting Zoo activities.

As in the past few years, we continued our work on improving the Zoo — again completing approximately 50 new major projects. Perhaps the most noticeable were the new red panda exhibit, the new signage through the Zoo — including our wonderful new interactive signs — new mesh in the small cat area and some small monkey exhibits in Wortham World of Primates, new site lighting and the refurbishment of the reflection pool.

While it is easier to measure our steady progress in terms of revenue generating activities, it is more difficult to gauge our progress in terms of the quality of our animal care, exhibits and conservation programs. As you will read in this report, we have a very dynamic animal collection with many new additions in 2009. Some of the significant births and hatchings included a newborn Coquerel’s sifaka (lemur), giraffe, three bongo antelope calves and giant eland. Births among our birds included species of curassows, rhino hornbill, blue-headed macaws and 76 Attwater’s prairie chickens at our NASA based breeding facility. We also had numerous reptile and fish born or donated to the collection, of which the 6,800 Houston toads (raised from eggs rescued from the wild) is the most impressive.

Additionally, we also augmented our collection with some key acquisitions; these include our very cute red panda, shoebill storks, young male sea lion and cassowary. Our largest acquisition was the arrival of Tess and Tucker, our Asian elephant mother and calf, that expanded our elephant family to five animals.

Unfortunately, we also lost a few Zoo animal

friends in 2009 including the tragic and sudden death of Mac, our beloved two-year-old elephant calf, to an elephant herpes virus. In order to combat this deadly virus that affects both zoo and wild elephants, we have partnered with the Baylor College of Medicine and enlisted a full time researcher designated solely to finding a treatment and/or cure for this lethal virus.

Our zoo-based conservation efforts continue to help save wildlife and wild places around the globe as you will read in another section of this report. We provided over $680,000 to help critically endangered animals both near home and abroad. We hosted our second Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation (ZACC) conference in January 2009 that brought 195 field conservationists together to develop new strategies and priorities for saving the world’s biodiversity.

When we look at the highlights of our educational programs for the year, it is important to note that we continued to grow our educational programming during FY 2009, with the number of programs growing more than 25%. Perhaps most exciting was the advent of programs for homeschooled children where we can bring science-based programming in a natural setting to students who operate in a non-traditional classroom environment. Equally important is the fact that we were able to double our capacity for summer camps in the summer of 2009, including almost 300 campers from Title I schools who received scholarships for their programs. Likewise, we were able to expand our teen volunteer program so that more than 200 teens were able to volunteer this summer at the Zoo. Not only does this increase their knowledge and appreciation of science, it also builds great leadership skills and aids in the college application process.

We hope you will agree that 2009 was a very good year for the Houston Zoo. Thank you for your support in helping us to do all that we do for our local and global community.

If you’ve visited the Zoo recently you have noticed that the koalas have been replaced by Toby, a red panda. Billed as the “world’s cutest animal,” Toby made his debut last March and has been all over Facebook and Twitter. One blog even fantasized many of our other animals being jealous of him. Most guests agree that he is incredibly cute.

Red pandas are crepuscular mammals (most active at dawn and dusk) native to the foothills of the high Himalayas, so to make him feel at home we maintain Toby’s enclosure at a cool 65 degrees. Bamboo forms his basic diet but the keepers rely on two of his favorite foods – grapes and blueberries – to train a few simple behaviors. For example, when they ring a doorbell Toby knows to move from his holding area into the exhibit. One of Toby’s distinguishing features is a very thick fluffy tail which he can wrap around his body if he gets really cold.

TO B Y T H E R E D PA N D A

Toby the red panda became the focal point of a viral marketing campaign touting him as the “world’s cutest animal.”

A subset of zoos across the country are strengthening their commitment to secure the future for elephants. Exhibits are being expanded to accommodate larger herds and enhanced to meet the special behavioral needs of these incredible creatures. Here at the Houston Zoo, we’re very proud to be part of this national effort.

Last year, two newcomers to our herd of Asian elephants, Tess and her son Tucker, arrived from California. The addition of Tess brings the number of mature females in our herd to three and increases our potential contribution to the national captive breeding program. The addition of a playful youngster like Tucker enriches the herd’s social mix and offers Zoo visitors a better

view of how elephant families tend to behave in the wild.

Twenty-six-year-old Tess is a very vocal moth-er and four-year-old Tucker is a very inquisitive youngster who is learning a great deal from his keepers. Initially he seemed afraid of the water but, after a few simple lessons of “aversion ther-apy,” he now takes regular dips in the elephant pool and seems to really enjoy sharing mud baths with mom.

Our new elephant barn and exhibit complex demonstrate how modern zoos are improving their facilities to meet the special needs of the animals under their care.

The addition of Tess and Tucker greatly strengthened the familial bond for the elephant herd.

T E S S A N D T U C K E R

Signage plays an important role in the Zoo. That begins with the signs that enable guests to find their way to their favorite animals; we call this “wayfinding” signage. We recovered 20 four-sided pylons and added 15 new two-sided signs; together they have over 400 individual directions and 250 arrows providing accurate directional signage, all in vivid, cheerful color.

Next we installed more than 85 new animal identification signs, which give information on

the animal including their natural habitat, diet, conservation status and other interesting facts. In addition, we erected 42 additional signs for some of our more popular animals which give many more fun and little known facts about the animals. Most fun, however, are the new “WOW” signs that are interactive for our young guests to enjoy. These range from spinning wheels to learn more about the animal, to a yardstick to compare the child’s size to that of a giraffe, to “pop up” features. Whatever their special feature, our young guests have voted in favor of them with their feet, as it is rare to see one of the signs without children in front of them.

We took our signage to a whole new level in the reptile building where we have installed 30 LCD screens. These screens serve as both the identification signs for over 100 species as well as providing a backdrop of educational and entertaining videos. Many of these videos feature our own residents and show our keepers working with the various animals. Some also display the innovative food delivery vehicles our

Thanks to the generous support of David and Bonnie Weekley, Zoo signage got a major facelift this year.

I M P R O V E D S I G N A G E

Because signage isimportant for

understanding our surroundings, these new additions greatly enhance

the guest environment contributing to the overall

guest experience.

The new Zoo signage is not only informative but also interactive.

keepers use to ensure that their charges are kept intellectually stimulated and challenged, thereby replicating life in the wild.

Another wonderful addition has been the installation of eight sound systems throughout the Zoo. These give us the ability to have different animal and insect sounds in different parts of the Zoo. They also enable us to play music at certain times of the day as well as make announcements that can be heard throughout the Zoo. Thus, we are able to call attention to special happenings, such as our sea lion shows. These sounds greatly enhance a visit.

All of these important additions were made possible through the incredible generosity of

David and Bonnie Weekley, who were very focused on enabling us to provide items that were specifically designed to enhance the guest experience. In addition to the new signage, some less visible, but equally significant upgrades were also accomplished as a result of the Weekley’s generosity. Improving upon the refurbished reflection pool, the concrete columns along the walkways were covered in colorful tiles and then further enhanced with metal cutouts at the top of the columns which add critical lighting. Perhaps less glamorous, but necessary, all trash receptacles were replaced throughout the Zoo. And we’re pleased to report that our guests are making great use of these!

r e f l e C t I o n P o o l r e n o v a t I o n s

One of the Zoo’s most iconic and picturesque structures, the

reflection pool, underwent major renovation this year. Repairs

were desperately needed, as this 1950s-era addition to the

zoological garden was not constructed with water conservation

in mind. In fact, converting the pool to a closed system by

installing new circulating pumps is expected to save as much

as five million gallons of water a year. The renovations required

temporary relocation of the pool’s finned residents – the koi had

to spend a few months in the aquarium. They’re back home now,

swimming about in a new and beautifully landscaped aquatic

garden.

The reflection pool renovation not only provides a picturesque setting but also is a model for conservation.

FA C I L I T I E S E N H A N C E M E N T

I C a n s e e C l e a r ly n o w … t h e C a g e I s g o n e !

When temperatures drop during the winter months, our

Facilities Department takes advantage of the smaller crowds

and moves into high gear. This past winter, they installed a new

high-visibility metal mesh on the fronts of several carnivore

and primate enclosures while the animals were kept safely off

exhibit awaiting the makeovers. As a result, visitors can now

get a much better look at our leopards, clouded leopards, fossa,

howler monkeys and tamarins. You might call it a new look on

wildlife! In fact, some of our tamarins initially were afraid to

come out as they didn’t recognize the mesh was still in place.

Concrete columns were wrapped in decorative tile and exhibits became more guest-friendly.

Many of theenhancements

were not so subtle and provided a

better experience for guests through-

out the Zoo.

H U R R I C A N E I K E

Zoo staff stayed around the clock in preparation for the hurricane and its aftermath.

Hurricanes are no strangers to Houston, so the Zoo must be well

prepared to handle these seasonal bouts of intense and poten-

tially dangerous weather. The basic strategy is to “batten down

the hatches” and ride out the storm, which often calls for a well-

trained group of staff – the ride-out crew – to spend the night.

Ike slammed Houston with torrential rain and wind gusts of

100 miles an hour, but the Zoo and its animal collection emerged

from the storm relatively unscathed.

One of the more amazing storm stories was that of our fla-

mingos, who remained

outside in their pool the

entire time. Huddled

together in the middle

with their heads curled

under their wings, they

did exactly what their

wild relatives would

have done if caught in

the same situation. Zoo

Director Rick Barongi

Opening just five days after Hurricane

Ike, the Houston Zoo became a nice

distraction for many local residents, including many Zoo members.

Tucker lent a trunk to the clean up efforts following Hurricane Ike.

ventured out just before the most powerful winds struck, con-

ducting a last-minute check of the flock. “Sure enough, there

they were, these little pink balls bobbing up and down, looking

almost oblivious to the storm.”

And then there was Tucker, our new elephant calf, who

made national news by using his trunk to help his keepers clear

walkways of fallen tree limbs in Ike’s aftermath. Tucker’s as-

sistance was not only newsworthy, it was inspirational to our

staff. Many suffered hurricane damage to their own homes, but

nearly all showed up for work the following day for the three

days of clean-up required before our gates could re-open to the

public. Five thousand intrepid visitors turned up for the first

day, all of them still enduring the oppressively hot and humid

weather, and many with homes still lacking power.

A F R I C A N F O R E S T

The chimpanzee exhibit in The African Forest will give guests an unfor-gettable experience as they are immersed with these beautiful animals.

Exhibits at the Zoo are constructed to meet three very important criteria. First, enclosures must accommodate the physical and behavioral needs of the animals that reside in them. Second, they should be designed with the safety and comfort of our guests and Zoo personnel in mind. And third, exhibits should display animals in a setting that enhances their visibility and natural behavior. When all three of these criteria are met, Zoo personnel can congratulate themselves on a job well done.

With the ceremonial groundbreaking shovel in hand, the Houston Zoo prepared to build an exciting new exhibit – a 13-acre African Forest. Phase One will encompass six acres, about half the total, and offer a much-needed new home for our giraffes as well as allow us to welcome white rhinos, kudus, gazelles and chimpanzees to our animal collection.

Exhibiting these creatures in naturalistic enclosures will impart the sense of being on an African safari or a National Geographic expedition. Feeding a hungry giraffe, watching a chimpanzee who’s equally intent on watching you, or being amused by a rhino wallowing in its mud bath – these are some of the experiences that lie ahead for Zoo visitors. The absence of visible barriers plus the sub-tropical climate of the Texas Gulf Coast will add to the sensation of being in Africa, rather than just a short Metro ride from downtown Houston.

Chimpanzees, rhinos and giraffes –

while the new African Forest will have its fair share of awe-inspiring animals – it isn’t

just about magnifi-cent wildlife and

beautiful habitats.

Among other amenities incorporated in the new African Forest will be a jungle trading post, a restaurant overlooking the giraffes and rhinos and an authentic pygmy village complete with overnight camping facilities. One of the more exciting advances in this new construction, however, will be its remote technology. Strategically-placed cameras will showcase animals after hours, as well as allow us to broadcast special programs and keeper talks to patients at the Texas Medical Center. Ultimately, we want everyone to enjoy the African Forest experience, even if they’re unable to visit the Zoo.

Opening December 2010, The African Forest will be the largest expansion in Houston Zoo history.

C O N S E R V AT I O N E F F O R T S : L O C A L

Efforts of the Zoo’s conservation team begin right here in Texas, supporting local projects.

h o u s t o n t o a d s

The Houston toad once inhabited the city that bears its name, but disappeared decades ago in the wake of office buildings, shopping malls and sports arenas. It vanished from neighboring lands as well, to the point that its very survival was in ques-tion and it became the first amphibian granted protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Urban expansion remains the principal threat to the toad’s existence, but extended droughts have also contributed to its decline. Today, small populations, thought to be fewer than 300 total, in Bastrop County represent the species’ final stronghold.

The Houston Zoo is working hard to save our namesake toad. In collaboration with Texas State University and the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Ser-vice, our staff is hatching and raising thousands of toads with 5,000 releases to nature to date, as well as continuing the search for undocumented wild populations.

BLACK BEARS The Houston Zoo

focuses on educational outreach and

public awareness to help restore the black

bears to East Texas. Our staff has joined

with the East Texas Black Bear Task Force

to help inform landowners, educators and

all concerned citizens about the regional

status of the black bear including how bears

in neighboring Louisiana, Arkansas and

Oklahoma can help rebuild our indigenous

population.

C O N S E R V AT I O N E F F O R T S : G L O B A L

C H E E TA H C O N S E R V AT I O N B O T S W A N A

Tragically, the world’s fastest land animal is “racing toward extinction.” Capable of bursts approaching 70 miles per hour, the cheetah can outrun a variety of prey animals but not the threats to its survival. Cheetah populations have plummeted by 90% or more in the last century, their losses a direct result of conflicts with encroaching human populations. The Houston Zoo is proud to support Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB). Botswana represents one of the final strongholds for this species. Funds provided by the Zoo have helped CCB reach rural residents through workshops, theater and video. Thanks in part to our support, educators can demonstrate the use of predator-proof farming techniques to keep local landowners from unnecessarily killing cheetahs in an effort to protect their livestock. CCB also rehabilitates orphaned cheetahs confiscated from the illegal trade and releases these rescued animals to the wild. We use our two cheetahs to promote knowledge and appreciation for these majestic animals and to build awareness of the challenges they face in the wild.

The Houston Zoo is working with groups around the globe to help endangered species, including Cheetah Conservation Botswana.

B O N G O B A B Y B O O M

Just as the past winter turned to spring, the Houston Zoo experienced a boom of baby bongos. It started with Penelope, born to the three-year-old female, Pili, in February. Then came Linus and Dylan in March, each born to a different female, one of them being Penelope’s grandmother. Clustered births such as these can be advantageous to the herd, as mothers are often able to share in the task of nursing the new crop of calves.

Although the average visitor might claim that all bongo infants look alike, our zookeepers can easily distinguish between the different newcomers to the herd. The pattern of white stripes on its chestnut flanks offers the first clue to a bongo’s identity. Penelope has 11 stripes on each flank while Linus has 13. Dylan is the oddball having 11 stripes on one side and 13 on the other. The males, Dylan and Linus, were also born with half-inch horn buds that have already grown into two-inch spikes. By comparison, the young female Penelope’s spikes are far daintier. Somehow that seems fitting.

While the Zoo saw many new additions this year, the bongos set the pace with three births.

Not every animal baby born at the Zoo can be raised by its mother. Sometimes zookeepers and curators must take on this task to ensure the infant’s survival. And that’s exactly what was necessary for two recent Zoo babies born this past year.

Olive the giant anteater was born in August 2008, weighing in at two-and-a-half pounds. For the first three months of her life, Olive was taken home each night for feedings either by a member of our hoofstock staff or veterinary department. A year later, Olive weighed in at a whopping 95 pounds, which is about average for an adult giant anteater. Olive loves baths and exploring her keepers’ boots with her in-credible two-foot tongue.

Miles the Masai giraffe also had to be hand-raised. Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weigh-ing 110 pounds when entering the world last January, “little” Miles has added more than three inches in height each month and nearly a pound-and-a-half each day since his birth, largely on a diet of diluted goat’s milk – four gallons each day!

In order to lure Miles from the herd to feed him, our keepers rang a bell to attract his attention. He quickly learned that the bell meant food and soon began salivating – just like one of Pavlov’s dogs – before galloping over to receive his meal. He has now been fully weaned and is a completely integrated member of the giraffe herd. Miles remains exceptionally receptive to his keepers and visitors as a result of having been hand-raised.

Anteater and giraffe births led to extra work for the animal staff as both Olive and Miles had to be hand-raised.

O L I V E T H E A N T E AT E R A N D M I L E S T H E G I R A F F E

PA U L A N D PAT : Z O O V O L U N T E E R S

Volunteers are the backbone of the Houston Zoo, with some serving the Zoo on a daily basis.

“Busy hands are happy hands” according to Paul Pilkington,

a Zoo volunteer who practices what he preaches. The baker at

home becomes the Aquarium and Natural Encounters’ “chef”

when he arrives twice each week to work his shift. Preparing

food for all the aquatic inhabitants comes naturally for this avid

pastry scientist and retired petroleum engineer, whose baking

experiments end up in the tummies of Zoo employees.

The other half of this dynamic volunteer duo is Paul’s wife,

Pat, who also appears like clockwork once a week to assist in

the aquarium and elephants. Together the Pilkingtons have

garnered a number of awards at the Zoo. Paul earned his first

Keeper Aide Above and Beyond Award in 2005 and was present-

ed with the Zooper Keeper Aide Award in 2007. In 2008 both

he and Pat were honored with Keeper Aide Above and Beyond

Awards, and he repeated the achievement again earlier this

year. On top of that, Paul has been nominated for the Katherine

Evers Morris Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award at least

three times.

As if their service to the Zoo was not enough, Pat and Paul

both volunteer for other Houston-based organizations and be-

come a surrogate family for displaced Zoo employees around

holiday time.

A S T R O T H E S E A L I O N

For whatever reason, the newest addition to our sea lion team “chose” a life with people over one in the California surf. Found stranded along the coast by marine biologists not once, not twice, but three times, the youngster Astro was ultimately deemed imprinted on humans and unreleasable. He was taken in first by the Marine Mammal Cen-ter in Marin County and then by the Long Marine Laboratory in Santa Cruz before the decision was made to send him here to Houston.

Astro’s arrival at the Zoo went off without a hitch. He chowed down immediately on the fish that we offered and hasn’t quit eating since. His introduction to our resident California sea lions – Kamia and Cali – has also gone famously so we have high hopes for him in our training program. For a while, Astro will be distinguishable from the rest of the group by the scar on his neck – a striking reminder of the threat posed to wild-life by the plastics and other trash we discard in the ocean.

Determined to be land bound, Astro the new sea lion found his way to Houston after stranding himself in California.

M A C A N D T H E PA R T N E R S H I P H E I N S P I R E D

From the death of beloved elephant Mac, came a unique and exciting partnership with Baylor College of Medicine.

b a y l o r C o l l e g e o f M e d I C I n e Pa r t n e r s h I P

Somewhat serendipitously, Mac’s passing helped launch the

Zoo into a new partnership that may hold hope for combating

the virus that remains so deadly to elephants. Dr. Alan Herron,

Director of the Comparative Pathology Laboratory at the Baylor

College of Medicine, telephoned Dr. Joe Flanagan, our Director

of Veterinary Services, to express his condolences. Their

conversation turned quickly to hopes for developing a vaccine for

what specialists refer to as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes.

And so the partnership was formed.

“Not everyone has such a great resource literally right across

the street,” said Zoo Director Rick Barongi.

Moving forward, a full-time post-doctorate research fellow

from Baylor has teamed up with our Zoo veterinary staff to collect

essential data. In fact, the information gathered to date may

already have saved the life of an infected elephant calf at the St.

Louis Zoo. The calf received medical treatment recommended

by specialists at Baylor and has apparently responded well.

IN MEMORY OF MAC It’s difficult

to capture the sense of loss still felt for

Mac, Houston’s favorite elephant for the

short time he shared with us. Mac entered

the world a record-breaker, the largest

Asian elephant baby ever born in captivity.

Robust, engaging and intelligent beyond

anyone’s expectations, Mac’s antics

softened the sadness that still lingered for

Bella, a baby elephant who also brought

great joy to Houstonians for a brief time.

Bella was fraught with physical problems

from birth. Mac, by comparison, appeared

indestructible and destined for a long

life, but even the strongest, most vibrant

animal is no match for the deadly herpes

infection that can strike without warning.

The Houston Zoo helps lead the research

effort to combat this disease and ensure a

future for elephants.

P R I M AT E B A B I E S

By now, most Houston Zoo members are familiar with our sifakas, the curious primates from Madagascar with the odd name. Odder yet is the name given to our first sifaka baby – Kelyfamata – which means “small but mighty” in the Malagasy language. It is an especially appropriate name as he weighed in at birth at just 85 grams. Since then our keepers have kept a close watch on his progress, at one point weighing him on a daily basis. The infant sifaka has done very well and can be seen leaping from perch to perch in his enclosure with mom and dad. As small as Kelyfamata was, the new inhabitants of Natural Encounters have him beat on size. The pygmy marmosets live up to their name, growing to only an average of 150 grams and five or six inches in height at maturity, excluding tail length. We now have seven adults and one baby (who was the size of a human thumb at birth) living in the indoor rainforest exhibit.

Some of the smallest additions to the Zoo came in the primate department with sifaka and pygmy marmoset births.

If asked to name their favorite animals, Zoo visitors will list lions, tigers, elephants, orangutans, monkeys, bears, giraffes and … oh yes …Toby the red panda. Large mammals almost always top the list and a few birds might score high, but reptiles and amphibians are often overlooked. Yet snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, toads and salamanders are among the “must see” animals for any Zoo visit. In addition, many of these lesser known crea-tures are among the Houston Zoo’s highest con-servation priorities. At least seven of our resident reptiles and amphibians are the subject of interna-tional Species Survival Plans® (SSPs) managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Aruba Island rattlesnake, for example, ranks as one of the world’s rarest reptiles. Biologists estimate that little more than 200 individuals remain on their tiny Caribbean island home, and captive populations remain a safeguard against extinction. We maintain three of the 72 that currently reside in North American zoos. The Barton Springs salamander is a Texas native with a tiny range, threatened largely by vanishing freshwater habitat. A special breeding facility for this species has been established in Austin and the Houston Zoo maintains a

population of about 40 animals, all descended from a small group of five that we received two years ago. Based on our success to date, the prospects for an expanded breeding program look promising. Speaking of expansion, four young Komodo dragons arrived from the San Antonio Zoo in February 2008 and we acquired a mature female from the Sedgwick County Zoo last summer, bringing our total population to six. Their mother was originally part of the Houston Zoo collection, but was sent to San Antonio to mate with one of their mature male Komodos. After that, some of her babies came back to the Houston Zoo to live with their “Uncle” Smaug.

The Zoo reptile team continues to grow the collection through breeding and acquisition.

H E R E P E TO L O G Y

The cassowary, native to Australia and New Zealand, is an enigmatic bird. It has feathers, but is flightless just like its closest relatives – the ostrich, emu and rhea. In addition, its handsome appearance and stately gait belie the potential danger it presents. A cassowary defends itself with powerful legs, kicking its clawed feet forward with sufficient force to disembowel an unwary predator. Fortunately, Darwin, our new arrival from the Baton Rouge Zoo, has not shown any signs of aggression.

Other new bird arrivals of note are the shoebill or whale-headed storks that were imported from Tanzania. The pair is estimated to be about three years old. Ornithologists can’t decide whether this species is a true stork or perhaps more closely related to pelicans. While that issue is debated, the Houston Zoo holds claim to being one of only three zoos in the country to exhibit shoebills.

Two unique, and in one case very dangerous, bird species made theirdebut at the Houston Zoo.

D A R W I N T H E C A S S O W A R Y A N D S H O E B I L L S

C H I L D R E N ’ S Z O O : M E E T T H E K E E P E R

People visit zoos to see the animals, but a zoo visit can be much more than that. Personal interactions with knowledgeable keepers and volunteers can make a trip to the Zoo a day to remember. Here at the Houston Zoo we offer more than 10,000 Meet the Keeper Talks and special presentations over the course of a year – that’s an average of nearly 30 performances a day! Bat and pelican feedings and the petting zoo are favorites with the public, as are Zooper Challenges and Story Safaris which are held on the Butterfly Stage. And the Children’s Zoo is always jam-packed with energetic youngsters who make the most of our inviting exhibits and animal sculptures.

The common denominator for these experiences is interaction. The more we engage our visitors, the stronger the bond we create between people and animals – the first step in wildlife conservation.

Captivating an audience is the objective of Meet the Keeper Talks in the Children’s Zoo.

TA R G E T S P O N S O R S H I P

On any given day, our visitors have dozens of opportunities to

learn about the animals on exhibit directly from zookeepers.

The Houston Zoo offers as many as 35 Meet the Keeper Talks

daily, now generously sponsored by Target. And, because Target

places such a high value on helping underserved communities,

an additional gift from Target has also allowed us to offer schol-

arships to Title I schools, a program that gives underprivileged

children free access to education programs while they are at the

Zoo on school field trips. The Houston Zoo is one of only a few

zoos in the United States to receive such a generous sponsorship

from Target, and we are proud to recognize the company as one

of our largest corporate donors in fiscal year 2009.

With the support of Target, the Houston Zoo now provides nearly 30 Meet the Keeper Talks daily.

Last summer more than 2,000 children, ages 4-12, took part in our Camp Zoofari program – an excit-ing educational expedition that transported them “around the world.” Through Adventures in the Rainforest and Island Hoppers, the children spent an action-packed week learning about wonders of the natural world, exotic wildlife conservation efforts and the animals that call the Houston Zoo home. Camp Zoofari features interactive lessons, hands-on activities, games, exhibit visits, keeper talks and more. Most importantly, participating children receive an in-depth look at many of the Zoo’s animals, which serve as ambassadors for wildlife around the globe.

Programs such as Destination Conservation and Keeper Camp introduce children to science-re-lated career fields. Participants in these camps get to work closely with animal care and education staff both in the field and behind the scenes, learning

to use some of the same tools that field biologists, zookeepers, veterinary technicians and others use every day. Students in our Wildlife Detectives pro-gram learn how to identify animal scat, skulls and tracks and how to apply these skills when trying to identify native wildlife in their own backyards. And, of course, what would our summer camp be without learning what it takes to run a zoo? Zoobots and Selected for Survival camps explore the theory and mechanics behind the design and construction of zoo exhibits that house healthy populations of wild creatures.

Due to the continuing demand for high-quality educational summer activities, Camp Zoofari almost doubled in size in 2009. In addition, nearly 14% of our participants attended the program free of charge on scholarships supported by general Zoo funds and generous contributions from corporations and foundations.

Due to increased demand the Zoo doubled the size of summer camps in 2009.

E D U C AT I O N : C A M P Z O O FA R I

Zoo Crew is a unique volunteer experience that offers teenagers insight into the zoo and aquarium profession, at the same time giving them the opportunity to make new friends and gain firsthand knowledge of wildlife conservation efforts. This past year we accepted more than 200 exceptional young volunteers, each of them committing at least 100 hours of service over the summer. The results: our Class of 2009 tallied 22,167 volunteer hours equivalent to the work of 10 full-time staff.

The type of jobs undertaken by Zoo Crew par-ticipants are varied, including animal care, educa-tional programming, assisting with Camp Zoofari, and conducting theatrical programs throughout the Zoo. Last year’s teens assisted with work on exhibits, animal behavior research and classroom instruction, and contributed to the guest experi-ence by giving special presentations on wildlife

conservation. In the course of their service, our Zoo Crew volunteers gained skills in public speak-ing, were given leadership responsibilities and, most of all, built their capacity for teamwork.

In return for the valuable services that were donated by these dynamic volunteers, the Hous-ton Zoo awarded six $1,000 scholarships to the most deserving graduating seniors. We congratu-late our 2009 winners!

The future of zoos and conservation is being cultivated through the youth that participate as members of Zoo Crew.

E D U C AT I O N : Z O O C R E W

H O U S TO N Z O O I N C . S TA F F

The successes of the Houston Zoo could not be possible without the passion and commitment of every employee.

Christopher Adams Stephanie Adams Carlos Agudelo Ernest Alford Rosie Alford Luis Alvarado Krystal Amie Andrea Anders Kathleen Anderson Lucy Dee Anderson Andrea Ross Alfredo Arriaga Lisa Avendano Hannah Bailey Rodrick Barongi Juan Barrera Renato Barrera Kelli Barron Christopher Bednarski Jason Bergman Robert Bernardy Vanessa Bethke Bonnie Bibeau Amy Blackmon Hugh Blake Shannon Bloemke Melissa Boehm Tonya Boyd David M. Brady George Brandy III Carter Branstetter, Jr. Laura Brewer Gilbert Briones Dischunara Brown Russell Browning Judith Bryja Tammy Buhrmester Laura Burnett Kathy Burniston Daniel Calarco Melanie Campbell Deborah M. Cannon Christina Carpenter Kirby Casey David Castillo Kevin Castorena Elena Castrejon Jesus Cavazos Jeremy Cecil Mary Chauvin Jessica Woodson Clark Taylor Clarke Hollie Colahan Cheryl Compton Michael Concannon Liana Congram Carlos Contreras Mollie Coym Timothy Crawford William Cronenwett Seth Cross Paul Crump Jennifer Cunningham Amanda Daly Claudia Davis Nicte De Anda Geraldine DeHart

Cassandra DeKanter Belinda DeLeon Jessica Dietzel Bennett Dones Oren Dorris Taylor Doty Cynthia Drabek Stephanie Durkee Rick Ellis Nicholas Espinosa William Farr Dolores Fernandez Ruben Fernandez Beunka Fisher Joseph Flanagan Jamie Flint Maria Flores Christine Fontenot Jamie Ford Maya Ford-Belgrave Eddie Forester Leslie Forestier Jasmine Fortenberry Melvin Francis Jeffrey Frenzel Kimberly Fudge Grant Fuhrman Pamela Gadus Alvaro Galvan Maribel G. Gamino Alan Garcia Juan Garcia Teia Garner Elizabeth Garza Ricardo Garza Yulieth Garza Kathleen Gaughan Lilly Giddins Christopher Gillis Andrew Godambe Rachel Godambe Alexis Goldstone Martha Gomez Carlos Gonzalez Yxzel Gonzalez Tawana Greene Joel Guerrero, Sr. Hernando Gutierrez Anthony Haley Catherine Haralson Charte Harris Alyssa Hauck Tommy Hawkins Sundra Hayes Alexander Heard III Ryanne Henigar Paula Herrera Michelle Hickman Diane Higdon Brian Hill Elaine Hime Kevin Hodge Heather Hoffer Daryl Hoffman Christopher Holmes Lauren Howard Stephen Howard

Brianna Howland Cotney Hughes Scott Humphreys Priscilla Idunate Charlona Ingram Dianne Jackson Helen James Juliann Jaramillo Michael Johnson Michelle Johnson ShaTara Johnson Tamara Joho Pamela Jones Shaterrah Jones Sharon Joseph Samantha Jo Junker Timothy D. Junker Ellen Jurek Joseph Kalla Amanda Kamradt Sonny Kazen Catherine Keith Alicia Kemery Monique Kennedy Michelle Kerner Lynn Killam Benjamin King Larry King Christa Kirsch-Paulson Kimberly Klein Sara Komenda Maureen Koneval William Konstant Mark Kotal Mary Catherine Kuntz Deborah Lackey Anna K. Land Ashley Larson Ashley Latham Amy Lavergne Kara Lavictoire Cory LeBoff Keith Lechner David Lee Hamid Lee Natasha Lee Cynthia Leeson Howard Leribeus Steven Lewis Kathryn Lippman Sheri Lytle Maribel Macias Maud Marin Donna Martin Hipolito Martinez Michael Martinez Kara Masharani Gresford Massop April Matthews Mays Stanley Cherie McChesney Taneka McClain Tiffany McGallian Mary McGettrick Laurie McGivern Lauren McLaughlin Michelle McNerney

Audrey Mendeola James Menefee Kendrick Mickens Ami Miller Joshua Minor Kerrie Minor Janie Miranda Samantha Montgomery Ginger Moon Joseph Moore, Jr. Beth Moorhead Modesto Morales Debra A. Morgan LeeEster Morgan Wendy Morrison Eleanor Morse Billy Murphy Stephanie Nageotte Megan Neal Thien Nguyen Yolonda North Ernest Nunn, IV Amelia Nusbaum Gerald Oliver Sylvia Olivo Joy Oria Paul Ortega Corri Osborne Michele Ozuna Rachel Pantermuehl Matthew Parise Louise Partello Brandon Patterson Cortney Patterson Marjorie Pepin Glenda Perez Rosa Perez Jenee Pierre Phyllis Pietrucha-Mays Jack Pine Jody Pizano Andrea Pohlman Dwon B. Polk Brett Posey Melanie Powell Angie Pyle David Quiroz, Jr. Michelle Rabon Jessica Rainwater Sean Ramsdell Michael Reina Sharon Reyes Peter Riger Sara Riger Alex Rigsby Kamryn Rinkenberger Amanda Rinker Jessica Ritter Marie Rodriguez Rachel Rommel Elliott Rosenthal Napoleon Rossi II Denisse Ruiz Kelly Russo Rene Ryan Christopher Sandoval John Santillan

Edward Santos Ronald Santos Maria Santoyo Beth Schaefer Emily Schmidtke Matthew Schmit Schultz Rebecca Sears Allen Gayla Shaffer Ricci Shannon Diane Shea Susan Shepard Callian Sheppard Kimberly Shotola Kimberly Siegl Grederick Simpson Victoria Sokol Enrique Solis Nicolette Spears Edith Spillman Karen Sprague Martina Stevens Jennifer Stevenson Kashia Stragey Dena Strange Michael Street David Suttinger Donrel Taylor, Jr. Terry Richard, Jr. Paul Thomas, Jr. Jermaine Thomas Lestene Tipps Maryanne Tocidlowski Tara Tucker Sarah Jane Turner Kirsten Ufer Viviana Valdez Alissa Van Der Kamp Jessica Van Wert Abigail Varela Reyie Brian Delgado Vazquez Debra Verastegui Christopher Villarreal Brooke Vincent Adriane Vives Christopher Wallace Michael Wallrath Geralyn Warfield Pamela Warfield Christine Warren Krista Webber Tricia Webster Amy Wentzel Kristin Wettermann Jeremy Whitted Leigh Whitted Rhett Wilkins Joseph Williams Stephanie Wilson James Winecki Marc Winn Jennifer Winograd Michelle Witek Kimberly Woodford Joshua A. Young Carolyn Zewe Paul Zuma, Jr.

The following financial information for the operating results of the Zoo has been summarized from our audited financial statements for Fiscal Year 2009 which are available upon request. These results do not include the funds raised for the capital campaign as those are restricted funds.

The Zoo is an independent 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization with a Board of Directors comprised of community and business leaders who hold the Zoo to a very high standard of

management. We have been recognized for the last three years in a row by Charity Navigator with their highest rating based upon their assessment of the financial health of the organization. Only 11% of charities receive this rating three years in a row. The Zoo’s highest priorities are to provide an exemplary level of animal care, excellent guest experience and outstanding conservation and education programs. The following presents our operating statement for fiscal year 2009.

F I N A N C I A L S U M M A R Y

Our earnings are put back into ongoing improvements to ensurean exceptional Zoo.

R E V E N U E A M O U N T

City of Houston Management Fee $ 8,151,396

Admission Fees 7,833,535

Memberships 2,766,835

Contributions 1,968,129

Concessions 2,243,145

Other 2,627,510

Total Revenue $ 25,590,550

E X P E N D I T U R E S A M O U N T

Animal and Exhibit Operations $ 12,391,622

Admissions, Marketing and Membership 3,948,413

Education and Conservation Programs 2,421,473

Fundraising 1,127,676

Depreciation 1,851,700

Other 2,338,269

Total Expenditures $ 24,079,153

Change in Net Assets $ 1,511,397

31%City of Houston Management Fee

31%Admission Fees

11%Memberships

8%Contributions

9%Concessions

10%Other

51%Animal and ExhibitOperations

16%Admissions, Marketing and Membership

10%Education and ConservationPrograms

5%Fundraising

8%Depreciation

10%Other

A N N U A L S U P P O R T

$ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 T O $ 9 9 9 , 9 9 9

Anonymous Donor*The Robert and Janice McNair FoundationTargetZoo Friends of Houston, Inc.

$ 5 0 , 0 0 0 T O $ 9 9 , 9 9 9

Bud Light/Silver Eagle Distributors*ConocoPhillipsContinental Airlines – Official Airline of the Houston Zoo*Linnet F. DeilyExxonMobilHouston Endowment Inc.Macquarie Group Foundation*Kathrine G. McGovern/ John P. McGovern Foundation*Waste Management*

$ 1 0 , 0 0 0 T O $ 4 9 , 9 9 9

Mr. and Mrs. Stanford Alexander and the Stanford and Joan Alexander FoundationBank of AmericaCharles T. Bauer FoundationBMC SoftwareBridgeway FoundationThe Brown Foundation, Inc.CenterPoint EnergyCFP FoundationMr. and Mrs. Stephen I. ChazenChildren’s Memorial Hermann HospitalCooper Industries plcDr. and Mrs. S. Michael DeanDevon Energy Corporation*Ms. Cynthia EverageFedExFiesta Mart, Inc.**Ms. Kerry A. GalvinGreen Mountain Energy CompanyGeorge and Mary Josephine Hamman FoundationMs. Pamela D. HolderHouston Business JournalBowne of Houston/ Karen and Robert Michlewicz*Houston Press**Invesco AimJPMorgan ChaseMr. and Mrs. Lawrence A. LiederThe Lowenstein Family*Kelley and Stephen Lubanko*Mach Family Fund*Margot Marsh Biodiversity FoundationM.D. Matthews FoundationMr. and Mrs. Pete Medford*

Memorial HermannMomentum Audi and VolkswagenMrs. Marion E. MundyMr. and Mrs. John L. Nau IIIToni and Noel NobleOceaneering International, Inc.Mr. Charles A. PerlitzMrs. Janet M. Pfeiffer and Pfeiffer Family FoundationThe Powell FoundationRRI Energy, Inc.Allison Sarofim and the Louisa Stude Sarofim Charitable TrustShell Oil CompanySodexo**Aliyya and Herman L. StudeThe Tapeats FundTexas Monthly**Union Pacific FoundationVale-Asche FoundationThe Wachovia FoundationWalmart Stores, Inc.The West Endowment

$ 5 , 0 0 0 T O $ 9 , 9 9 9

2020 ExhibitsMr. and Mrs. D. K. AndersonRoni and Doug Atnipp/ Greenberg Traurig, LLP*Mr. and Mrs. Philip BahrBaker Hughes FoundationAdelaide Elizabeth Biggs*Bill Young Productions, Inc.BloombergBoardwalk Pipeline PartnersMary and Frank Bradley/ Greenberg Traurig, LLP*Cathy Campbell-BrockBusch Entertainment Corp.Lynne T. Campbell BonhamCGGVeritasMrs. Linwood D. Newman and the Denman/Newman FoundationMr. and Mrs. Ronald DokellEgbert Family Foundation*El Paso CorporationMr. and Mrs. Doug Erwin Ray C. Fish Foundation*Ms. Marion FriedmanMr. and Mrs. Grant L. GawronskiMerrill and Joe HafnerHildebrand Fund*IBM International Foundation**Jamba JuiceAnn and Stephen KaufmanKBR, Inc.Kroger Food StoresMr. and Mrs. Paul B. LoydMagnolia Charitable Trust

Shannon and Gary MargolisDr. Hugh A. McAllister, Jr.Mr. Alfred C. MitchellMr. and Mrs. David A. Mundy and The Mundy Family FoundationThe Newfield FoundationMr. and Mrs. Jonathan E. Parker, Jr.Pi Studios*Mrs. Sybil F. RoosSafeway Inc.Vic and Barbara Samuels and The Samuels FoundationSeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation FundAimee and Wynne Snoots*Terry Pro**TravelersRanda and Charlie Williams*

$ 2 , 5 0 0 T O $ 4 , 9 9 9

Andrews Kurth LLP*Peggy and Bill BarnettAndrew and Freda BassMr. and Mrs. Beau BissoBritten FundDr. Suzanne Bruce and Mr. John Malcolm WaddellC & D Scrap Metal Recyclers Inc.Deborah and Gardner CannonChevron Humankind Employee FundsMr. and Mrs. Ryan ColburnComfort Systems USA, Inc.Jonathan and Barbara DayDefenders of WildlifeMr. and Mrs. Michael DishbergerThe Anne & C.W. Duncan, Jr. FoundationCharles and Anne DuncanThe Jenny and Jim Elkins Family FundLeslie and Shannon Sasser*Karl Eubanks Family and the Stewart Family*Mr. and Mrs. Douglas L. FosheeThe Geib Family*Mr. Alfred C. Glassell IIIGlazier Foods**Global ImpactBarbara Segal Goldfield*Tony and Mary GracelyDr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. Milton D. Rosenau, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Scott G. GrobenGrocers Supply/The Levit FamilyDr. and Mrs. Stuart S. GrossmanEileen Cheng and Brendan HassettThe Jacob and Terese Hershey FoundationHouston TexansThe Hughey Family*

We are grateful to our generous donors for their support. All donors listed made contributions totaling $1,000 or more between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.

* Includes a contribution to Zoo Friends of Houston, Inc. ** Represents a gift-in-kind contribution

InterContinental Houston**Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP/ The Kayser FoundationMr. and Mrs. Arnold LeitnerFreeman LeitnerThe Lubrizol FoundationMr. Neal S. Manne and Ms. Nancy D. McGregorMr. and Mrs. Mike A. McGinnisTevia and Chris McLaren*Mr. Timothy D. MercerMr. and Mrs. DeWitt T. Methvin IIIMs. Susan K. MitchemBetty and Stephen NewtonRobert and Suzanne NimocksMrs. Barbara NussaMr. and Mrs. Bradley W. O’HallaMr. and Mrs. Charles M. OnsteadThe Oshman FoundationPatterson & Sheridan, LLP*Mr. and Mrs. Willem Plegt**Mr. and Mrs. Paul F. RizzaMs. Wilhelmina RobertsonMr. and Mrs. Chris RothTerry and Mona RoukService Systems AssociatesMr. Herbert D. SimonsLiz and Andy StepanianSterling BankMr. and Mrs. Shawn A. TaylorTheme Designs**The Holt Family*Mr. and Mrs. Kane C. Weiner*Mr. and Mrs. Daniel WhitemanMr. and Mrs. Fred WilliametteWork as Play**YMCA of Greater HoustonAustin and Susan Young

$ 1 , 0 0 0 T O $ 2 , 4 9 9

Ms. Linda Al-Alawi*American Alloy SteelMr. Calvin Embry and Ms. France ArchambaultLaura and John ArnoldLynne S. and John AverettMr. and Mrs. Edward Bajorek*Dr. Carol J. BakerThe Honorable and Mrs. James A. Baker III*Carol and Larry Barbour*Rick Barongi and Diane LedderMs. Anna C. Beck*Best EntertainersSuzette and Darrell Betts*Big Thicket AssociationMs. Susan Bischoff and Mr. Jim B. BarlowMr. and Mrs. Eddy S. Blanton Mr. and Mrs. Jack S. Blanton, Sr.Matthew, Marilyn and Aaron BlochDr. and Mrs. Michael A. BloomeMr. Ryan M. BoehnerLinda and Andrew Bosarge*Ms. Anneliese BosselerMr. Harry L. Bowles

Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. BowmanMr. Chris BroussardSara Lou BrownDr. Stephanie C. Brown and Mr. William Brown*Dr. and Mrs. Louis J. BujnochMr. C. Robert BunchMr. and Mrs. John D. BurnsSarah G. Burtram, Ph.D.Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. CaldwellCammarata Pediatric Dentistry*Win and Lynn CampbellMs. Diane Cervenka*Ms. Claire ChamberlainMr. and Mrs. John D. ChaneyDr. and Mrs. Marvin H. ChasenDebbie and Kent Chenevert*Jan and Mel Cody*Mr. Daniel Mittleman and Ms. Vicki ColvinMr. and Mrs. Anthony J. CompofeliceMs. Toni P. CooperMr. and Mrs. James W. CrownoverMs. Sallie CrugerMs. Sharon Curran-Wescott and Mr. Earle F. WescottCustom Auto II**Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. DalyMr. Joshua DavidsonMs. Sue A. DavisMr. and Mrs. Darrell DelahoussayeMr. John G. Dickerson and Ms. Karolina AdamMr. and Mrs. W. Leslie DoggettEl Paso CorporationEndangered Species Chocolate**Estate of William P. Aycock**Falcon Gas Storage Co., Inc.*Ms. Leslie D. ForestierMichelle and Jeff Foutch*Trish Freeman and Bruce Patterson*Friends of The ZooMs. Jane G. FrostMs. Kathleen A. Gallagher and Mr. Michael G. RudelsonMs. Melissa Giles and Mr. Erik HawesMr. and Mrs. Mark K. GlasserMarty and Kathy GoossenMr. and Mrs. Fred Gorman and Gormans Uniform Rental Inc.Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Grace, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Will GrahamMr. and Mrs. Sean GoldenMs. Helen Hager and Dr. Byron J. BohnnMr. Paul HarmonHaynes and Boone, LLPBlack and Hilyard Families*Ms. Karen D. HinsonMs. Paula W. HintonMr. and Mrs. Michael HollandHSBC – North AmericaHuffington FoundationMary Kay and Thomas Hunt*Ms. Jill Hutchison and Dr. Chris Buehler

Isaac I. Foundation, Inc.*Dr. William W. Ishee, Jr.Ms. Jenna Jackson and Mr. Chip LewisMr. and Mrs. Eric A. JansenCharles Jones and Cheryl Ballard-Jones*Sharon JosephMr. Bing KaoMr. and Mrs. Donald R. Kendall, Jr.Lora Jean (Jeanie) KilroyMr. and Mrs. Thomas KnudsonMs. Julie A. Koch and Mr. Richard R. HumphreysMr. and Mrs. Richard LaneMr. and Mrs. Truett LatimerMr. and Mrs. Robert LevinePatricia N. Lewis and Richard A. Lewis, M.D.Mr. Keith LilleySara H. and John H. Lindsey FoundationMr. and Mrs. James R. Lykes and Jean Lykes Grace FoundationDr. and Mrs. Charles Manner*Mr. and Mrs. George MartinezMickey and Mike MarvinsMs. Deborah L. McCoyMr. and Mrs. R. M. McDannald, Jr.Ms. Mary Lou McElligottMr. and Mrs. A.W. Downing MearsMrs. Marjorie J. MilbyMr. and Mrs. Steven L. Miller and Steven and Sheila Miller FoundationMr. Arthur J. MooreMr. and Mrs. R. Robert Mullins, Jr.Nets Unlimited Inc.**Mr. and Mrs. Tim J. Nielsen*Dr. and Mrs. Edward Novotny, Jr.Becky and Ralph O’Connor*Mr. and Mrs. Jerry J. OliverJim and Anita O’Shaughnessy*Mr. and Mrs. O. Keith Owen IIIBiba and Jon Parker FoundationThe Honorable Annise D. ParkerMr. and Mrs. Jonathan E. Parker, Sr.Michael and Mary Alice ParmetW. Daniel ParsonsMs. Dee Ann PedersonMr. and Mrs. Robert PenshornPepsi Bottling Group**Dr. Lavinia P. Middleton and Dr. George PerkinsTess K. PetersonRichard and Ethna PiazzaMr. and Mrs. Paul PilkingtonMr. and Mrs. James J. PostlWilliam and Dr. Stephanie Coulter Brown*Mr. and Mrs. David A. PursellNancy and David Pustka*Robert and Melissa Rabalais*Mr. and Mrs. Roger A. RamseyMargaret and Todd Reppert*Mr. and Mrs. James O. RoederMs. Gwen SargentMr. and Mrs. Eric Schaeffer*Mrs. Donna Schaffner

* Includes a contribution to Zoo Friends of Houston, Inc. ** Represents a gift-in-kind contribution

G E N E R O U S D O N O R S (cont inued)

$ 1 , 0 0 0 T O $ 2 , 4 9 9 (cont.)Securitas Security Systems USA, Inc.Cathryn and Doug SelmanMs. Jackie Sharbrough*Barbara and Louis SklarMr. and Dr. Paul E. SmithMr. and Mrs. William F. SmithDr. Patricia Solar and Mr. J. Michael Solar and Solar & Padilla, LLPDr. Jeanne H. Spedale and Mr. Gerald SpedaleMr. and Mrs. Jeff StaggMr. and Mrs. Karl SternMs. Martine C. StolkMr. and Mrs. Christopher J. Swedlund*TAM International, Inc.Team Networkz**Mr. and Mrs. James B. Tennant*Mr. and Mrs. James M. TidwellTop Trumps**Ms. Kathy Welch and Mr. John T. UngerMr. and Mrs. Timothy J. UngerVCI Group**Mr. and Mrs. Charles VettersMs. Helen R. ViereckMr. and Mrs. John VogelWhole Foods Market** Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. WilliamsMr. David WolfKatherine and Mark YzaguirreMr. and Mrs. Robert L. Zinn and Zinn Petroleum Company

E N D O W M E N T S

The Jane Block Children’s Zoo Maintenance EndowmentRyan Cartwright Endowment

M AT C H I N g g I F T C O M PA N I E S

ChevronCooper Industries plcExxonMobilRegions Financial Corporation

T R I B U T E S

In Memory of Caitlyn Bibeau Vernon HenryIn Honor of Amy Alexander

M A S T E R P L A N – C A P I TA L

$ 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 + The Brown Foundation, Inc.Houston Endowment Inc.The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

$ 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 T O $ 4 , 9 9 9 , 9 9 9Two Anonymous DonorsAlbert and Margaret Alkek FoundationThe Cullen FoundationThe Fondren FoundationKathrine G. McGovern/ John P. McGovern FoundationThe Robert and Janice McNair FoundationThe Robert R. and Kay M. Onstead Foundation

$ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 T O $ 9 9 9 , 9 9 9Anonymous DonorAIM FoundationLynne S. and John AverettRick Barongi and Diane LedderCharles T. Bauer FoundationBMC SoftwareThe Carruth FoundationCFP FoundationThe James and Molly Crownover Family FoundationSylvie and Gary CrumEstate of Billie Lee DanzJonathan and Barbara DayLinnet F. DeilyDevon Energy CorporationThe Duncan FamilyThe Lillian H. & C.W. Duncan FoundationCharles and Anne DuncanElkins FoundationThe William Stamps Farish FundThe Favrot FundH-E-BAlbert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable FoundationThe Hildebrand FundDonald and Diane Kendall, Jr. Family Foundation/Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Kendall, Jr.William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy FoundationKinder FoundationJudy O. and Kenneth C. MargolisM.D. Anderson FoundationM.D. Matthews FoundationThe Meadows FoundationThe Nau Family and Silver Eagle DistributorsVic and Barbara SamuelsScurlock FoundationService Systems Associates, Inc.Shell Oil CompanyVivian L. Smith FoundationSodexoSterling-Turner FoundationStrake FoundationThe Tapeats FundTexas Parks & WildlifeU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

$ 5 0 , 0 0 0 T O $ 9 9 , 9 9 9Laura and John Arnold FoundationAndrew and Freda BassDeborah and Gardner CannonMerrill and Joe HafnerJeffrey C. Hines/Hines Interests L.P.The Lowenstein FamilyMr. and Mrs. George P. MitchellCathryn and Doug SelmanMr. Herbert D. SimonsBarbara and Louis SklarUnited States Department of EducationBonnie and David Weekley Fund

$ 1 , 0 0 0 T O $ 4 9 , 9 9 9Two Anonymous DonorsPeggy and Bill BarnettBritten FundCathy Campbell-BrockSara Lou BrownWin and Lynn CampbellE. Philip CannonThe Chaney FoundationAnthony R. Chase and Dina AlsowayelJohn, Sally and Kate CoxMr. and Mrs. Adam DayMr. and Mrs. Ronald DokellJohanna A. Favrot FundFort Bend MechanicalBarbara Segal GoldfieldMeg Goodman and Mike BoniniKathy and Marty GoossenThe Hamill FoundationBob and Vicki HarveyThe Holthouse Foundation for KidsThe Lee and Joseph D. Jamail FoundationMichael and Susan JhinAnn and Stephen KaufmanMichael and Carol LinnMr. and Mrs. Charles MillerM. Anne MurphyBetty and Stephen NewtonRobert and Suzanne NimocksToni and Noel NobleEdward and Helen Oppenheimer FoundationTess K. PetersonCourtney and Christopher SarofimDorene and Kevin SchroderJ. Michael and Patricia Solar Family FundS. Shawn Stephens and James M. JordanAmbassador Chase and Diana UntermeyerKay and Max WatsonM. Carolina WeitzmanGeorge, Shanti, Shangrila and Shivanti WillyE.W. Bill Wright IIIAustin and Susan YoungZoo Friends of Houston, Inc.

* Includes a contribution to Zoo Friends of Houston, Inc. ** Represents a gift-in-kind contribution

P h o t o d e s C r I P t I o n s

All photos listed left to right and top to bottom.

Page 1 (1) Diamondback terrapin (2) Baby Coquerel’s sifaka,

Kelyfamata (3) Cheetah (4) Baby bongo (5) American black bear (6) Masai giraffe, Miles

Page 2 (1) Bob Graham, Deborah Cannon, Rick Barongi

Page 4 (1,2,3) Red panda, Toby

Page 5 (1) Asian elephants, Tess and Tucker

Page 6 (1) Maned wolf Interpretive Sign (2) Zebra Interactive Sign (3)MalayantigerIdentificationSign

Page 7 (1)ChileanflamingoInteractiveSign

Page 8 (1) Koi (2)NewlyrenovatedReflectionPool

Page 9 (1)NewlyrenovatedReflectionPoolwalkway

(2) New wire mesh at carnivore exhibit

Page 10 (1) Horticulture Manager, Joe Williams, cuts up fallen branches after Hurricane Ike

(2)HurricaneIkelefttheReflectionPoolfloodeduptoit’sbenches

(3) Zoo staff help pick up debris left from Hurricane Ike

Page 11 (1,2) Debris left from Hurricane Ike (3) Tucker, the elephant calf, helps

with cleanup after Hurricane Ike

Page 12 (1) Artist rendering of the new African Forest Chimp exhibit

Page 13 (1) Artist rendering of the new African Forest Chimp exhibit

(2)SitePlansforthenewAfricanForest exhibits

Page 14 (1,3) Houston toad (2,4) American black bear

Page 15 (1) Cheetah (2) Rebecca Klein, Managing Director

of CCB, and cheetah (3) CCB releasing a cheetah

Page 16(1)Babybongo,Penelope,withGrandmother, Laura

(2) Baby bongo, Dylan

Page 17 (1) Baby Masai giraffe, Miles and sister, Neema

(2) Baby Masai giraffe, Miles (3) Baby giant anteater, Olive

Page 18(1)PaulPilkington,Zoovolunteer (2)PatPilkington,Zoovolunteer

Page 19 (1) California sea lion pup, Astro

Page 20 (1) Asian elephant, Mac and trainer, Martina Stevens

(2) Asian elephant, Mac playing with ball

Page 21 (1) Baby Coquerel’s sifaka, Kelyfamata on the back of his mother, Zenobia

(2) Baby pygmy marmoset, Rufus, on the back of his big brother, Pepe

Page 22 (1) Baby Komodo dragon (2) Barton Springs salamander (3) Aruba Island rattlesnake

Page 23 (1,3) Double-wattled cassowary, Darwin (2) Shoebill stork

Page 24 (1,2) Children enjoying some touch animal experiences in the Children’s Zoo

Page 25 (1,2) Children participate in a Zooper Challenge sponsored by Target

Page 26 (1,2,3) Children attending Camp Zoofari enjoy visiting the animal exhibits and other activities such as tug-o-war

Page 27 (1) A Zoo Crew volunteer helps out the horticulture department

(2,3) Zoo Crew volunteers give presentations on grounds to Zoo guests using animal biofacts

h Z I a n n u a l r e P o r t C o M M I t t e e

Deborah Cannon, President and CEORick Barongi, Zoo DirectorDavid Brady, Vice President, MarketingMelanie Campbell-Tello, Creative DirectorStephanie Adams, Staff PhotographerMichael Reina, Communications ManagerAmber Ambrose, WriterBill Konstant, WriterSheri Lytle, Writer

h Z I P h o t o g r a P h y C o n t r I b u t o r s

Stephanie AdamsElephant StaffWilliam FarrTim JunkerDale MartinBeth MoorheadPeter RigerRachel RommelIngrid Velasco

a d d I t I o n a l P h o t o g r a P h y C o n t r I b u t o r s

Willie BlackstockCheetah Conservation BotswanaDanté Fenolio

d e s I g n

Wyn Bomar Design

To numerous other HZI staff members who participated in various aspects of this report, we greatly appreciate all of your efforts.

Houston Zoo, Inc.1513 Cambridge St.Houston, Texas 77030www.houstonzoo.org

The Houston Zoo is one of nearly 220 zoos and aquariums in North America to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA accreditation stands for excellence in care for zoo visitors, zoo animals and the Earth’s remaining wilderness. Our Zoo continues to be active in AZA’s conservation efforts, participating in 48SpeciesSurvivalPlans,123PopulationManagementPlansandkeeping 19 studbooks for animals in accredited zoos throughout the country and the world.

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Rainforest Alliance certification is a comprehensive process thatpromotes and guarantees improvements in agriculture and forestry. Our independent seal of approval ensures that goods and services were produced in compliance with strict guidelines protecting the environment, wildlife, workers and local communities.

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