houston zoo wildlife winter 2010

b e t h e f i r s t t o e x p e r i e n c e

THE AFRICAN FOREST AT THE HOUSTON ZOO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4. The Houston Zoo: 88 Years of History

7. The African Continent

8. The Adventure Begins

10. Goril la Tommy

11. Koolookamba

12. The Field Guide and Map

14. The Forest Village

16. Tommy’s Treehouse

17. Chimpanzees

21. Rhinoceros

24. Giraffes

28. Cheetahs

29. Conservation: Locally and Globally

30. The Art of Building Africa

editor: Rochelle Joseph

creative Director: Melanie Campbell-Tello

Written by: Rick Barongi, David Brady, Deborah Cannon, Hollie Colahan, Amy Harvey, Brian Hill, Rochelle Joseph, Sharon Joseph, Laurie McGivern, Joseph Moore, Peter Riger, Kelly Russo, Chance Sanford.

photography by: Stephanie Adams, Rick Barongi, Dan Breton, Ray Mendez, Paul Swen

CHIMPS RHINOS GIRAFFES17 21 24

Eduardo Aguirre

E. William Barnett

Nandita Berry

Jack S. Blanton, Sr.

Joe Cleary

Michael Cordúa

Rufus Cormier, Jr.

Jonathan Day

Linnet Deily

Anne Duncan

Barbara Goldfield (Secretary)

Martyn Goossen

Robert Graham (Chairman)

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr.

Stephen Kaufman

Donald R. Kendall, Jr. (Vice Chairman)

Glenn L. Lowenstein

Neal Manne

Stacy Methvin

Walter Mischer

Ali Moshiri

Bobbie Nau

Stephen D. Newton

Charles Onstead

Barbara Samuels

Tony Sanchez III

Cindi Scruggs

Cathryn Selman (Vice Chairman)

Herman L. Stude

Shawn Taylor

Lori Vetters

George R. Willy

E. W. “Bill” Wright III

Houston Zoo, Inc. Board of DirectorsWildlife Production Team

ExxonMobil is proud to support this publication commemorating the opening of

The African Forest at the Houston Zoo

2 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010 WWW.HOUSTONZOO.ORG | 3

The newly formed Houston Zoo, Inc.

Board embarked on the largest capital

campaign in the history of the Zoo to fund

the project. We were extremely fortunate

that Jonathan Day took the reins when

our first campaign Chair, Bob Onstead,

suddenly passed away. Jonathan was

followed by Anne Duncan as campaign

Chair. Bob Graham, Chairman of our

Board of Directors, has been particularly

important, stepping in to provide wide

ranging support. Without him, we would

not be opening up The African Forest this

December. Thanks to all their efforts, the

Zoo raised over $42 million in private

funds and broke ground on construction

of the 6.5 acre Phase One project in 2009.

In 2002, the Zoo contracted the services

of PJA Architects, a well-respected Se-

attle firm, to design The African For-

est. PJA had led the creative efforts for

Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as

many other African-themed zoo exhib-

its worldwide. We hired Hines as our

Project Manager and Gilbane Construc-

tion Company as our General Contrac-

tor. These top-notch companies joined

with our experienced Zoo staff to form

a “dream team” that would ensure the

project came in on time, on budget, and

at the highest quality.

The design of the African Forest is

uniquely different from anything else

in the Zoo. It is a totally immersive expe-

rience that disguises all the operational

areas and exhibit barriers with natural-

looking rock work, landscaping, and invis-

ible containment (glass and moats). Some

of the creative features include 20-foot-

high, concrete-earth bank walls with huge

tree planters on top, a 50-foot lava tunnel, a

mysterious cave, and replicas of Baka pyg-

my tribe huts, to name a few.

Of course the main attraction of The African

Forest will be the new animals – ten chim-

panzees, three white rhinos, greater kudu

antelope, and ostrich – while our giraffes

and cheetahs will also take up residence in

new, more spacious homes.

Deborah CannonPresident & CEO

Rick BarongiDirector

Another exciting feature will be the inter-

nal HD camera system that will record and

broadcast animal activities and keeper talks

to hospitals, schools and community groups

on a daily basis.

This commemorative edition of our maga-

zine will give you a more detailed look at

many of the behind-the-scenes stories that

are part of The African Forest.

We hope you enjoy your safari!

Congratulations on the opening of The African Forest!

I am very proud of what has been accomplished at the Houston Zoo since the establish-

ment of the public-private partnership that created Houston Zoo, Inc. in July 2002. The

significant capital improvements leading up to the opening of The African Forest have

greatly enhanced the Zoo’s guest experience.

As a child, one of my favorite family excursions involved a trip to Hermann Park and the

Houston Zoo. As a student at Rice University, the Zoo’s lush landscape provided a wel-

come environment for a break from my studies. I always enjoy taking my family and out

of town guests to the Zoo and showing them a treasured community asset.

I am particularly excited about the magnitude that The African Forest will add to the

guest experience at the Zoo. I am especially looking forward to being able to feed those

gorgeous giraffes each time I visit, as well as watching the chimps and seeing the return

of rhinos to the Zoo.

Again, congratulations on this substantial addition to our Zoo.

Sincerely,

Annise D. Parker

Mayor

Welcome to The African Forest

After more than six years of planning,

The African Forest opens in December

2010. Zoo members will be rewarded with

a sneak peek the entire week before the

public unveiling on December 10.

The original Zoo master plan, completed

in 1999, called for nine separate biomes

with several fully enclosed, cold-climate

habitats. This was re-evaluated during

the privatization of the Zoo and deemed

impractical, as it made more sense to

take full advantage of our year-round

outdoor weather, and focus on a tropical

immersion habitat that emulated the re-

mote and fascinating regions of Central

and West Africa.

“ I am par t i cu la r l y e xc i ted

about the magni tude that

The A f r i can Fo res t w i l l add

to the guest exper ience a t

the Zoo .”

Annise D. ParkerMayor

The Houston Zoo’s Rich HistoryFrom its humble begin-

nings in 1922 as a small,

fenced-in area in Hermann

Park, featuring just a few

native Texas species and

a single donated bison

named Earl, the Houston

Zoo has evolved and grown

along with the city.

The Zoo’s first 80 years under the City of Houston’s

management reflected the boom and bust cycles of

Houston’s energy-based economy. During the prolific

years from the 1950s through the 1970’s, and again in

the 1990s, the Zoo grew to its current size of 55 acres,

adding many new exhibits, including the Reptile

House, the Tropical Bird House, the Small Mammal

Building, the Kipp Aquarium, and Wortham World

of Primates. The Zoo also added new infrastructure,

including the Brown Education Center and the Den-

ton Cooley Animal Hospital. John Werler, Zoo Direc-

tor from 1963 to 1992, served during much of this

growth; as a result his name was a household word.

In 1989, the Zoo’s tremendous growth was recognized

with official accreditation by the Association of Zoos

and Aquariums. As the governing body of zoos and

aquariums in North America, the AZA’s accredita-

tion is an important distinction, giving validation to

the quality of the facilities and animal care provided

at the Houston Zoo.

The last ten years of the century brought the most

aggressive growth yet, with, among other facilities,

the opening of the McGovern Children’s Zoo, a proj-

ect covering three acres. It became clear that if the

Zoo was to rise to new heights, a new governance

model would be required. That is when Rick Barongi,

the Zoo’s fifth and current Director, took the reins.

New Leadership, New DirectionsUpon accepting the job in 2000, Rick’s one condition was

permission to create a task force to research the eventual

privatization of the Zoo. Two years later, in July 2002, the

Houston Zoo became a private, non-profit organization

with a 50-year lease and operating agreement from the

City of Houston, thanks to the guidance and hard work of

the team led by Bill Barnett, Jonathan Day, and McKin-

sey & Company.

This new public/private partnership allowed the Zoo to

undertake the most ambitious scope of improvements in

its history. In the first eight years of privatization, the

Zoo added $34 million in capital improvements. New hab-

itats included Komodo dragons, okapi, African wild dogs,

giant eland and jaguars. In addition, improved habitats

for spectacled bears, sea lions, Malayan tigers and Afri-

can lions were also completed. More ambitious new con-

struction included building the McNair Asian Elephant

Habitat and the Carruth Natural Encounters Building,

as well as adding the Wildlife Carousel, the Moran water

playground in the McGovern Children’s Zoo, and compre-

hensive landscaping, lighting, and interpretive signage

improvements across Zoo grounds.

Expectations for modern zoos have expanded far beyond

what anyone might have envisioned even a few years ago.

A great zoo must excel at all aspects of habitat design, an-

imal care, conservation, and education. While the Hous-

ton Zoo had grown exponentially since privatization, to

reach our full potential we set about planning the largest

exhibit in the Houston Zoo’s history: The African Forest.

From Vision to RealityHow do you begin to transform 13 acres of prime Hous-

ton real estate into a sensation of life, a brief glimpse

into a world few people will ever see? The process must

start with a vision, then continue with a talented group

of people who believe that this can substantially impact

people’s lives.

88years

The actual African forest is not one place; it is a dozen

countries, a hundred cultures, a thousand small worlds.

It is misunderstood, exciting, and mysterious -- virtually

unparalleled in terms of the richness and diversity of its

habitats, its flora and fauna, and its distinctive culture. It

is also plagued with challenging economic issues, which

lead to excess logging, mining, and commercial hunting

in the form of poaching and the illegal bushmeat trade.

All of these activities are contributing to today’s rampant

deforestation and loss of wildlife in this ecologically frag-

ile area.

For years, the Houston Zoo has directed conservation ac-

tivities and research in countries across the globe, recent-

ly placing a special emphasis on the equatorial regions of

Africa. It is our hope that through their experience of the

animals and the culture of this distant place, our guest

‘explorers’ and the community will indeed be inspired, as

well as entertained.

And So It Begins…The African Forest at the Houston Zoo is a one-of-a-kind

journey, where you will encounter a diversity of wildlife

in an immersive environment and fascinating characters

set in a context of discovery. As you begin your adven-

ture, your first steps will echo those first steps taken to-

ward this transformational exhibit generations ago by

the founders of the Houston Zoo – people of passion and

vision who helped lead the Zoo to this momentous goal.

For over 88 years, the Houston Zoo has been

one of Houston’s most popular cultural attrac-

tions. More than 1.7 mill ion guests visit the Zoo

each year. This attendance is a great reflec-

tion of the city itself, as the Zoo welcomes the

most diverse visitorship of any cultural venue

in the city. A sanctuary of nature in the heart

of an ever-growing urban environment, the Zoo

offers all Houstonians a unique educational op-

portunity to connect with the natural world, and

gain understanding of the complex relationships

between animals, plants, and people.


Generations have posed with our iconic lion water fountain.


The Dr. John P. and Katherine McGovernFoundation Giraffe Exhibit

Dr. John P. McGovern was widely celebrated as a

physician, educator, author, medical historian, phi-

lanthropist and humanitarian until his passing in

2007. He and his wife, Katherine (Kathy), were long-

time, avid supporters of the Houston Zoo, and she

continues to be a generous donor and frequent visitor.

Kathy and Dr. McGovern would visit the Zoo regu-

larly, often simply to watch the children enjoy their

experience here. Kathy also has a particular fondness

for giraffes; she and Dr. McGovern once sat for hours

watching one of our giraffes give birth. Later, after Dr.

McGovern’s passing, we named another giraffe calf

“Jack” in his honor. For this reason, it is especially fit-

ting that the giraffe exhibit will be named after these

two cherished Zoo supporters, whose genuine love for

the Zoo even today inspires Kathy to continue their

family foundation’s legacy by helping to make the Zoo

the best it can be for all the citizens of Houston.

The Robert R. and Kay M. Onstead Foundation Chimpanzee Observation Site

Robert “Bob” Onstead served on the Task Force that was

responsible for privatizing the Houston Zoo. He believed

so strongly in its mission and the role the Zoo plays in

the quality of life of all Houstonians, that he also agreed

to serve on the Zoo’s Board of Directors subsequent to its

privatization. Bob then stepped up even further to Chair

the Capital Campaign, which was created to raise the

funds to build The African Forest. Bob believed that the

Zoo is an important resource for the city and for families,

providing both a fun and safe environment for them to

visit together, and a way for children who don’t normally

have access to the outdoors to enjoy. Unfortunately, Bob

died suddenly in the summer of 2004 and was not able to

see his vision become reality. However, his family made

the first major gift to The African Forest Campaign in his

honor, assuring that it got off to a great start. His wife,

Kay, and his family have continued to be strong support-

ers. Charles Onstead, one of Bob and Kay’s sons, now

adds his expertise and represents his family on the Zoo’s

Board of Directors today.

AFRICA

Lush and verdant, the forest of Western equatorial Africa owes its incredible

growth to the hot, humid temperature. Even in its cities, you are surrounded by

abundant vegetation. As soon as you get into the bush, life is as it was 200 years

ago. Red dirt roads cut through the dense green growth; some go as far as the

eye can see, disappearing on the horizon.

The forest is far more silent than it used to be. Though there is a healthy bird

and invertebrate population, the large animals are shy, having been mercilessly

hunted by poachers and greatly reduced in number. Those that are left have

retreated deep within the forest and move about cautiously.

A web of river systems, in places carving deep channels in the face of rock es-

carpments, are lined by local villages where the people of Africa are at work, rest

and play. Their markets are filled with sound and color.

The Houston Zoo has created a window into this remote and very special place,

so that you can experience a realistic glimpse of a world like no other. Turn the

page and enter The African Forest.

The Legacy of Houston’s Founding Fathers

Houston’s “founding fathers” are still giving back

to the city. By providing over 40% of the funding

for The African Forest, the foundations created by

those who made Houston what it is today – The

Brown Foundation, Houston Endowment Inc., The

Wortham Foundation, Fondren Foundation, and The

Cullen Foundation – truly made this project possi-

ble. We are incredibly grateful to them not only for

their generous philanthropic support, but also for

having confidence in us and in this vision – the larg-

est undertaking in the Zoo’s history – to become lead

campaign donors when The African Forest was still

just a distant dream. In so doing, they inspired many

others in the community to join them in helping to

make The African Forest a reality, and gave a gift not

just to the Zoo, but to the entire city. We take great

pride in this accomplishment, and we can only hope

our founding fathers would feel proud as well.

“Af r i ca i s the c rad le o f mank ind . A land r i ch in l i f e and l ove , ye t t o rn apar t by mans se l f i sh ways .” ThAbo MokokonyAne, GAborone, boTswAnA

Kathy McGovern with Kiva

Kay Onstead with Dr. Jane Goodall

The Adventure Begins

You hold in your hands the definitive guidebook to The Af-

rican Forest and an introduction to some of the fascinating

characters and animals that you will meet along the way.

Your journey will transport you to the heart of the Western

equatorial African rainforest in search of the mysterious

Koolookamba. Is it a subspecies of chimpanzee, perhaps a

gorilla-chimp hybrid – or nothing more than a figment of

the ever-fertile human imagination? This real-life legend

reminds us that biologists have yet to discover and classify

many of earth’s living species.

While there is no signage pointing you in the right direc-

tion, you will see indications and likely even glimpses of

the Koolookamba throughout The African Forest. There are

multiple images hidden along the trail… so in essence, a

Koolookamba waits around many corners.

Your African Forest expedition will introduce you to Gorilla

Tommy, an adventurer and opportunist who undergoes a

surprising transformation – from exploiter of the natural

world, bent on finding proof of the mythical Koolookamba,

to protector of not only the legend of the creature, but of

the wonderful diversity of wildlife, the land and its people.

Tommy may not always be available on your visit to The

African Forest but you will find many examples of his work

and care. His Treehouse is filled with information on the

Koolookamba and possible sightings by the local people. He

is constantly working in his search to find the elusive ape.

chimps are enticed to return frequently to search for

food in a termite mound or from the limbs of fallen

trees. The building is designed to allow you and the

chimps to interact through expansive glass walls.

The building’s inside walls contain posters and

graphics describing the plight of chimpanzees in Af-

rica. At various times of day, a local guide will talk

about animal training, behavior and care.

Leaving the chimpanzee study site, you’ll round the

bend to view the chimps in the open air. Following

the route through a lava tunnel, you will come upon

an unobstructed vista presenting a mixed species

habitat for white rhinos and greater kudu.

Continuing along the trail brings you to a wide plaza

featuring the Shani Market gift shop, the Twiga Ter-

race restaurant and an all-encompasing view of our

friendly family of Masai giraffe. One section of their

habitat provides you with an unique opportunity:

Several times each day guests can come face-to-face

with the world’s tallest mammal and feed them by

hand.As you continue on to the new cheetah exhibit,

your walking expedition through The African Forest

will be complete, but it is our hope that your journey

of discovery will have only just begun. Like the ex-

plorer Gorilla Tommy, we hope that your stay in The

African Forest creates such a sense of caring and pas-

sion for the land, the animals and the people of Afri-

ca, that you will become an advocate on their behalf.

There are many ways for you to continue this journey

throughout your life. Conservation programs exist

for many animals of Africa, and certainly traveling

and experiencing Africa first-hand is the ultimate

dream. Stay connected to The African Forest and the

conservation programs supported by the Houston

Zoo by visiting our web site at www.houstonzoo.org/

africanforest.

Of course we hope to see you back in The African For-

est many times, to experience yet another magnifi-

cant African adventure!

“Af r i ca i s no t a p lace . I t ’s many, many p laces and many d i f fe rent cu l tu res that a re combined in a un ique wea l th o f adventure .” PAul swen, PhoToGrAPher, housTon

Just past our African wild dog exhibit, your adventure

starts with your first steps into The African Forest, as

the surrounding urban landscape gives way to rug-

ged rock walls topped with a towering canopy of trees.

Surprises await. Footprints, artifacts, unique sounds,

cryptic writings, video images, and other clues entice

the curious to explore an environment teeming with

fascinating stories, characters and, of course, animals.

Following a path through a rock portal, the world of

The African Forest opens with the Herzstein Trading

Post, where you can stock up on food provisions for

your journey. Small huts surround a central fire pit

that will be the site of storytelling and listening for

the sounds of local wildlife. Here, guides will present

entertaining, educational programs about The Afri-

can Forest wildlife and invite guests to participate in

local conservation efforts.

From the Trading Post, you will wind through a wood-

ed canopy to a large building overlooking a troupe of

chimpanzees. This is an observation study site where


GORILLA TOMMY

From James Bruce and Mungo Park to David Livingstone

and Sir Henry Mortan Stanley, the history of Africa is

crisscrossed with the footprints of European adventur-

ers. While early explorers sought to map the continent

or search for the source of the Nile, some who followed

came with decidedly more selfish motives: seeking fame,

fortune and profit from the continent’s resources.

But for others, Africa cast a magic spell… which brings

us to our storied explorer, Gorilla Tommy.

Tommy began as an exploitive collector with the get-

rich-quick agenda of trading animals. That is, until his

cargo plane went down. He survived, barely, thanks to

his timely rescue by indigenous people who treated his

severe injuries. The experience resulted in a newfound

respect for the deep wisdom of his benefactors and their

KOOLOOKAMBA

From mythical unicorns and dragons to the more mod-

ern day Yeti and Bigfoot, humans have a long history of

fascination with animal legends and lore.

In 1860, the French-American explorer Paul du Chaillu

became famous as the first modern outsider to describe

the existence of gorillas in Central Africa. After his ex-

pedition, he also claimed, in his controversial 1861 book,

Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa, to

have discovered a species he called the Koolookamba.

In fact, du Chaillu shot a male primate in Southwest

Gabon and described it as a new sub-species of chim-

panzee, smaller than an adult male gorilla, but stockier

than a female gorilla. He declared it more closely re-

sembled a man than any other ape and that its name

mimicked its call of “Kooloo, kooloo.”

spiritual connection with their environment and the an-

imals. Although he remains a newcomer to the forest, he

becomes a worthy student of its ways.

Tommy found himself captivated by stories of the Koo-

lookamba, a legendary and mysterious ape. He suspected

that the Koolookamba was a species that scientists had

yet to describe, so he searched for clues about the crea-

ture, attempting to photograph and record its vocaliza-

tions. Days built into months and as they did, he awak-

ened to a far deeper understanding of Africa. Stirred by

the land, its people and their ways, he began to protect

the animals from which he once sought to profit.

From his slippery beginnings as a financial opportun-

ist, Tommy became a man transformed into a passionate

defender of nature.

The controversy lingers as Du Chaillu’s description

differs from subsequent reports. The skeleton of du

Chaillu’s Koolookamba can still be seen in the British

Museum of Natural History, but its features resemble

those of a mountain gorilla (rather than a lowland go-

rilla), so it doesn’t seem possible that this was a type

of chimpanzee.

In Gabon today, 150 years after du Chaillu’s first expe-

dition, there remains a belief among the human popu-

lation in a chimpanzee-gorilla hybrid, which they still

call the ‘Kooloo-kamba’.

Fact or fiction, this forest creature ignited Gorilla Tom-

my’s transformation from exploiter of the earth to a

protector of the environment. If the Koolookamba is a

myth, it’s a myth with a powerful impact.

The Great Apes of Africa

The chimpanzee, goril la, and bonobo range

across a region of 21 countries in Central

and West Africa. Today habitat loss and the

commercial bushmeat trade have both se-

verely fragmented the ranges and reduced

the populations of all of Africa’s great apes.

Humankind’s closest relative, the chimpan-

zee, has declined by nearly 70% in less than

one hundred years, from an estimated 1 mil-

l ion individuals to fewer than 300,000. The

Cross River Goril la, the world’s most en-

dangered great ape, supports a population

of no more than 300 individuals, while the

Mountain Goril la of Rwanda, Uganda and the

Democratic Republic of Congo are only 700

in number.

The Houston Zoo works with field research-

ers and communities to support Great Ape

conservation programs in Rwanda, Senegal

and the Republic of Congo.


African Marketplace

Tommy’s Treehouse

The Outpost

A complimentary Field Guide will be provided to you upon entrance to The African Forest. It is the

hope of everyone at the Houston Zoo that your walk through The African Forest is just the first step

in a greater pursuit of exploration and education.

Strange Bedfellows?

Not at all. The giraffes in the new African

Forest will be sharing their home with os-

triches and the Southern white rhinos will

be rooming with a family of greater kudu

antelope, mirroring the natural l iving ar-

rangements of these species in the wild.

Naturalistic, mixed-species exhibits offer

guests a view into the ecosystems and

social interrelationships found in nature.

Throughout The African Forest, the Zoo

has designed and created authentic forest

and savannah habitats that serve to edu-

cate its guests and meet all of the physical

and social needs of the animal residents.

The result is an experience that is both

aesthetically pleasing for you and enrich-

ing for the animals.

We sincerely hope you will fully immerse

yourself in The African Forest and all that

the new “neighborhood” has to offer.


The African Forest Field Guide

Your journey through The African Forest has been made easier thanks to a

great deal of work done by Gorilla Tommy. He created this hand-drawn map

after many years of living and working among the animals and the area’s

indigenous peoples. On it you will find his drawings of chimpanzees, rhinoc-

eros, giraffe, and other animals, as well buildings and landmarks.

This Field Guide points the way through The African Forest and provides

information that will assist you in the greater pursuit of knowledge about

Africa, its people, and the animals found there.

In addition to Tommy’s crudely drawn map of The African Forest, the Hous-

ton Zoo has added information to aid in your educational experience. You’ll

learn more about the Baka Pygmy tribe, who are native to the region, as

well as important conservation stories such as the bushmeat crisis, which

is a great threat to not only the animals, but the people of Africa. The Guide

provides ways to learn more, including how you can help.

“Africa is my solace, my place of peace. where you learn that l i fe is about basics and where the beauty of the world and the people around you is what real ly matters most.” JAne QuIck, boTswAnA


THE FOREST VILLAGE

You begin on a path through a rock portal, emerging

in an open area that is home to the Herzstein Trad-

ing Post and a nature-based travel camp. Here, you’ll

learn about the larger context of life in equatorial West

Africa and the challenging issues facing the people of

the region such as illegal poaching and the bushmeat

trade.

Upon entering the forest beyond, you will find yourself

immersed in the exotic sounds and smells of the jungle.

The path leads you to a modest Baka Pygmy Village of

small, round, leaf-covered huts where Tommy spent his

time recovering from the crash of his cargo plane.

In the center of the settlement there is a fire pit, a

Zoos have evolved markedly over the past several de-

cades. What once were mainly family recreational and

entertainment venues have transformed into education

and conservation resources with regional and interna-

tional impact.

While the habitats of The African Forest are excep-

tional educational tools in and of themselves, of equal

importance is the Houston Zoo’s commitment to wild-

life conservation. Each exhibit incorporates compelling

messages and timely information about the status of

the animals in the wild.

Over the years, with Camp Zoofari, the Zoo’s summer

day camp series, and Wild Winks, the overnight oppor-

tunity for families, adults and school and Scout groups,

the Houston Zoo has solidified its position as an edu-

cation and conservation resource for the Houston com-

munity. The African Forest will provide a new venue

for both, as well as the exciting addition of technology-

integrated exhibits which will enable the Zoo to take

its curriculum well beyond its grounds – with distance

learning.

The African Forest features a state-of-the-art video cam-

era system that can capture animal activities occurring

behind the scenes and after hours, as well as our Meet

the Keeper Talks. In addition, our Education staff will

have the ability to use video conferencing to conduct dy-

namic presentations using bio-facts, live animals, and

video clips of the animals in their new homes.

Imagine a rural school in West Texas being taught about

rhino conservation efforts as they sit in the comfort

of their own classroom. Not only would they get the

chance to learn about such a topic, but they would also

have the unique opportunity to ask our Zoo educators

questions in real time! This camera system will bring

a valuable element to K-12 classrooms in the Houston

area and beyond. Soon, students from across the globe

could be served by the Houston Zoo’s distance learning

program.

What’s more, through distance learning, our Interac-

tive Marketing department will bring the Zoo to chil-

dren at neighboring hospitals in the Texas Medical

Center. Launching in 2011, a video feed from a studio

based inside The African Forest will broadcast several

times each day to children who are unable to visit the

Zoo in person, providing an original and entertaining

platform for our education and conservation programs.

storytelling setting for entertaining and educational

presentations by Zoo staff about The African Forest

wildlife.

Near the village, you can visit a Communications Hut

where conversations taking place throughout equato-

rial Africa are broadcast via a simulated shortwave

radio. Over the crackling, whining airwaves, Gorilla

Tommy can be heard discussing incidents of poach-

ing and the bushmeat crisis with government officials.

Adjacent to the Communications Hut, keep an eye out

for piles of confiscated wire snares and insidious traps,

underscoring the ongoing battle with poachers and the

progress being made by officials who are striving to

prevent poaching – an illegal and destructive practice.

The Houston Zoo: Broadening Horizons

“Af r i ca , the w i ld cont inent ; she i s knowledgeab le and car r i es our he r i tage , w i th a s t rong l i f e f o rce and amaz ing d ive rs i t y. ” ThAbo MokokonyAne, GAborone, boTswAnA

The first place you are likely to get a

glimpse of a chimpanzee is from inside

Tommy’s Treehouse. A long expanse of

windows provides a clear view into the

chimps’ habitat – a perfect place for pho-

tographing them. There, lucky guests

may get as close to nose-to-nose as is pos-

sible with these incredible apes.

Keepers can work in close proximity with

the chimps while demonstrating training

that usually goes on behind the scenes. A

chimp can enter a room, separated from

Conservation of the West African Chimpanzee in Southeastern Senegal

The West African chimpanzee in Senegal

survives in a region where temperatures

during the dry season can reach over 115

degrees in the shade, and rainfall is only 35

inches per year. Chimpanzees here live in

a habitat that is almost devoid of forest.

Over 95% of their extensive home range

consists of grassland or woodland, with tiny

patches of forest making up the rest. Hunt-

ing with tools, using caves, living with fire

(natural and human-made), soaking in water

pools, and living in a more cohesive com-

munity are all behaviors that may be unique

to this chimpanzee community when com-

pared to studies of this species elsewhere.

A new long-term project on the behavior

and ecology of the chimpanzee populations

in this region will be specifically address-

ing imminent conservation problems asso-

ciated with chimpanzee communities which

have not been previously studied.

the keeper by a mesh wall, through which

food treats can be passed as a reward for

their participation. Guests can view this

through a glass window and meet the

keepers to ask questions.

Within the chimp exhibit, a termite

mound is a popular gathering place when

it’s teeming with the chimps’ favorite

snacks. Arrive at the right time and you

will see keepers load it up with tasty

items like mustard and peanut butter.

The chimps make tools from sticks to fish

out the treats, a behavior first seen by Dr.

Jane Goodall just fifty years ago.

Further up the hill, a large climbing tree

provides both a comfortable resting spot

and a place for a game of chase. Round

the bend and view the chimps in an open

yard across a rocky ravine. Shade trees

provide them with a cool spot for loung-

ing. It’s another great place for photos.

More subtle features of the yard in-

clude the plantings and hills that allow

the chimps to find some private space if

they need a break from the group. Tree

stumps and branches house hidden com-

partments for concealing food and provid-

ing enrichment opportunities, which will

help to keep the chimps active through-

out the day. The tall rock walls hide the

4000-square-foot, climate-controlled

holding building where the chimps spend

the night (with plenty of room to play).

With nearly a half acre to explore, every

day is sure to be packed with activity.

TOMMY’S TREEHOUSE

Leaving the Herzstein Trading Post and Baka

Pygmy Village behind, you’ll encounter Pygmy

art on a path through a shady grove. Word is Ko-

olookambas have been sighted here. Continue to

Tommy’s Treehouse, Gorilla Tommy’s home and

base of operations, said to be one of his favorite

chimpanzee viewing areas.

Inside Tommy’s Treehouse, get a peek into Tom-

my’s life in The African Forest by viewing his

personal effects, biological collections, Kooloo-

kamba-related artifacts, photos, and videotape

archives.

From these artifacts it’s clear that Tommy has

devoted a lot of time and energy to pursuing and

protecting the mystery ape. Tommy is nowhere

to be seen, but a message indicates he’s some-

where in the forest on a Koolookamba-related

field expedition.

A video monitor shows shaky video clips of al-

leged Koolookamba sightings. Another clip

presents an interview with an African man who

describes his own true-life encounters with the

ape. In yet another video, a clearly shaken man

describes a terrifying encounter with a bush-

meat poacher.

In this setting, African Forest explorers can

closely observe chimpanzees and gain insight

into the animal’s behavior and their interac-

tions with each other in much the same way

that Gorilla Tommy collected his own research.


Chimpanzee Paradise: A Forest Playground

Abe, the character

ID: tall and wiry adult male

Notes: Abe likes to put on a big display

but without the strength and size to

back it up, he stays in the background.

He does love the ladies, and has a

particular fondness for Maizey.


Lulu, the thinker

ID: older adult female, look for her

droopy lower lip

Notes: All the females follow Lulu and

the males know she has their support.

Lulu loves to watch people but watch

out if she doesn’t get her way – she’s

been known to throw quite a fit!

Willie, the troublemaker

ID: youngest and smallest of the group, his

big ears and pink face make him easy to spot

Notes: Willie has boundless energy for

playing and will resort to extreme methods

to engage the others – jumping on them or

slapping them and running away. But he’s

also a peacemaker, the first to run up and

hug everyone if a skirmish breaks out.

sally, the independent

ID: younger female, tall and lanky like

her dad, Abe

Notes: More than any of the other

chimps, Sally likes to spend some time

alone. The rest of the time, Sally is

Willie’s best friend; they play for hours

every day.

Annie, the sweetheart

ID: younger adult female with a tiny

white beard

Notes: Annie tends to be quiet and

stay out of the fray. She always comes

over to greet people, making her a

favorite of the staff.

charlie, the patriarch

ID: adult male, gray beard and back

Notes: Charlie is not the biggest but his quiet

confidence makes him an ideal leader.

Captured in Africa as an infant and kept as a

pet before living with the Lilles (see page 20),

Charlie seems to be enjoying his new home

the most.

MEET THE CHIMPS

Lucy, the Mother

ID: older adult female, more pink on her face than

the others

Notes: Lucy has excellent maternal skills and will

even help raise another female’s baby. She can be

a little bossy though, and has been known to send

the younger males running.

Maizey, the Gourmet

ID: largest of the adult females

Notes: Maizey is Lucy’s daughter and they share

many of the same traits. Maizey does love her

food and has been known to get impatient if it’s

not available when she wants it.

Mac, the teenager

ID: young adult male, often walks upright

Notes: Mac is excitable and vocal, more

interested in people than all the other

males. He likes the girls but they tend to

push him around.

riley, the butterball

ID: largest adult male, often seen

grooming Charlie

Notes: Riley likes to make a lot of noise

but the girls don’t pay much attention to

him. He is old enough and strong enough

to lead the group but backs up his dad

Charlie instead.

The rhino’s most defining feature is also its

Achilles’ heel. The rhino’s horn (or two horns

in the case of the African rhinos) is currently

sold in the Asian black markets for over $1,000

an ounce (almost the same price as an ounce of

gold!). Never has the price and demand been

this high and that is promoting “rhino ter-

rorism” in even the most protected parks like

Kruger. Nowhere are African rhinos safe from

poachers’ bullets; our three rhinos had to have

armed guards protecting them 24 hours a day

before we flew them to Houston.

Ironically, the rhino’s horn is not a true

horn but a compact mass of agglutinated

hair-like fiber that is similar to our fin-

gernails. It is hard to believe that ingest-

ing “fingernails” could be more effective

for reducing fever and arthritis than

over-the-counter everyday drugs, but

age-old cultural beliefs are almost im-

possible to dispel.

Rhino conservation involves more than

just protecting species in the wild, and

What led you to make this decision? Carol: Greg and I talked a lot about what was going

to happen as we reached retirement age. Our goal was

always to find or create a place to house the chimps into

retirement.

Greg: The chimps were fed and happy with us, but you

always want something more for them. We’ve been do-

ing this for 38 years, I’m in my 60’s… Economics worked

against our plan to build a facility, so we began research-

ing: Where do you go? How do we do this? The answers

were very limited.

Carol: We worked really hard at keeping them as

chimps, not humanizing them, and also didn’t separate

them but kept a group together, since social aspects are

so important to their species.

Greg: Because they were so well adjusted, we were ad-

vised they’d be unusually good candidates to adapt into

the zoo world. A facility like this one at The African For-

est is rare. The Houston Zoo wanted a large group and

it’s always been our goal to keep them together, since

they’ve been together all their lives.

Carol: That was the key that made it work for us. If not,

it wouldn’t have happened.

Greg: It was the perfect marriage between the Houston

Zoo and us. There was much mutual respect and appre-

ciation between the Zoo and us as private individuals.

What do you think of the Houston Zoo’s chimp building and exhibit?

Greg: It’s phenomenal! What’s impressive to me is that

it’s expensive but there is no waste. It’s put together as

well as any building such as a hospital. There’s air con-

ditioning, lights etc… It takes a lot of effort, funds and

vision to get something like this done.

And the outdoors is as incredible as the inside! It sim-

ulates the wild as much as anyone ever could. There’s

plenty of room, and no caging, just open sky, flora, climb-

ing apparatus, water -- everything a chimp needs to be

happy. In bad weather, the chimps can go in and be very

comfortable.

Carol: The facility allows the chimps the freedom to

use all their natural abilities to forage, brachiate across,

climb, swing, rest, and play. From an emotional stand-

point, since they were raised around people, it’s also

comforting that the design of the back area allows keep-

ers to still interact with them.

Greg: And the keepers are so dedicated! There are vets

on staff, and the whole enterprise is taking care of the

chimps by running the business side, keeping funding

coming in.

What’s next for you?

Greg: That’s unknown. We’re still in this phase of help-

ing the chimps adapt. We’re taking it one step at a time.

But as we go on in life, we know they’ll be taken care of

best in this amazing facility. So we’ve met our goal. It’s

the best example of win/win/win/win – the chimps, the

zoo, us and the public.

Empty Nest, Full Hearts

Carol and Greg Lille are the previous own-

ers of our family of ten chimpanzees. The

Lilles have spent most of their l ives caring

for and raising these chimps with obvious

love and deep devotion. When they heard

of our plans for The African Forest they

were extremely impressed, which led them

to the decision to donate their chimps to

the Houston Zoo.

Since the chimps arrived in mid-July, the

Lilles have been here, assisting our keep-

ers to acclimate the chimps to their new

home.

We sat down with them to find out how this

came about, and learn of their thoughts on

the transition.


that is where zoos play an important

role. The real wild places are already

gone and most wildlife lives in small

pockets of protected habitats sur-

rounded by humanity. Even Kruger

National Park rhinos have to be man-

aged and moved out when their num-

bers exceed the carrying capacity of

the park’s boundaries.

Most of our Zoo’s 1.7 million annual

visitors would never have the oppor-

Rhinos on the BrinkBy Rick Barongi, Director of the Houston Zoo

Rhinos and their ancestors have walked

the earth for over 50 mill ion years. Only

five species remain (two in Africa and three

in Asia) barely clinging to survival in most

of their ranges. With less than 22,000 rhi-

nos left on this planet, we have little time

left to save them.

The white rhino made an incredible come-

back from the brink of extinction and is one

of the truly legendary conservation suc-

cess stories. Reduced to less than 30 ani-

mals in all of South Africa in the 1890s, to-

day the white rhino numbers some 18,000

animals – the majority of which reside in

Kruger and Umfolozi-Hluhluwe reserves.

Now they face a more serious threat to

their existence – organized poachers with

helicopters and automatic weapons. Na-

ture is a tough place to survive, and when

you are wearing a very valuable horn it is

almost impossible.

tunity to see these magnificent crea-

tures in the wild. Recent studies have

confirmed that experiencing wildlife in

person is a powerful motivator for get-

ting people to care about and support

conservation. Seeing and working with

rhinos in zoos was the primary reason

I became so passionate about saving

them. I hope our three new rhino am-

bassadors will have the same effect on

you when you visit them (and their fu-

ture offspring) in our African Forest.

The largest residents of The African Forest will

be three white rhinos, weighing in at about 3,000

pounds, and still growing! They had the longest jour-

ney, coming from a special rhino holding facility in

South Africa. Born in Kruger National Park, these

young adults have been in acclimation bomas since

June to prepare them for their flight to Houston.

The Houston Zoo’s original pair of white rhinos, Bu

and Marcy, also came from Africa in the early 1970’s

and were beloved ambassadors for their species for

over 30 years. So we are very excited that rhinos are

returning to the zoo and expect this trio (one male

and two females) to produce rhino calves and add

some much needed genetic diversity to the North

American zoo population. White rhinos are the most

social rhino species and breed better in a group than

as a pair.

There are two species of rhinos in Africa, the white

and the black rhino. Both are actually grey in color.

It is believed that the white rhino got its name from

a mispronunciation of the Afrikaans word for wide

(for their wide mouths). The white rhino’s distinc-

tively broad, square lip is ideally adapted for graz-

ing grass. It is also called the “square-lipped” rhino,

while the smaller black rhino is often referred to as

the “hook-lipped” rhino, because of its grasping up-

per lip.

Rhinos are truly amazing animals and a personal

favorite of Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi, who

has worked with rhinos in several zoos and spent

considerable time with them in African national

parks. Rick said, “Their ill-tempered, aggressive

reputation is more the exception than the rule. You

do have to be careful approaching them in the wild,

as they are very nearsighted.” He adds, “But they

have excellent hearing and smell. Once they become

familiar with your voice and scent, they are usually

quite calm. Most zoo rhinos become relaxed with

their keepers and seem to enjoy being scratched

and hand fed.”

Due to their strength and size – second only to

the elephant as far as land mammals in Africa

– white rhinos don’t have many enemies, except

for man. With a 4,000 pound mother backing you

up, rhinos calves aren’t born with an innate fear

of other animals. There are many stories of hand

reared orphan rhinos (a result of poachers kill-

ing their mothers) and how strongly they bond

with people and other animals for companion-

ship. If treated with care and affection, they can

be gentle giants. That is why we can put a group

of kudu antelope in their exhibit and know ev-

eryone will get along.

Our rhinos were carefully selected for tempera-

ment and overall health. We chose young adults,

because they seem to acclimate quicker to zoo

environments. They had to be treated for ticks

and other parasites and converted to a more nu-

tritious diet to get them ready for their 54 hour

journey to their new home at the Houston Zoo.

The new rhino habitat in The African Forest fo-

cuses on quality of space and daily enrichment

to keep the rhinos active, both physically and

psychologically. It will have shade and green

grass and a big mud wallow, which rhinos love,

especially in hot weather.

It’s the Houston Zoo’s hope that our impressive

white rhinos will raise your awareness about

their serious plight. Without increased protection,

all rhinos could disappear in the wild in the next

20-50 years, and we cannot allow that to happen.

Humanity’s indifference is the rhinos’ most seri-

ous threat. Their survival is in our hands.

RHINOSRETURN22 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010 WWW.HOUSTONZOO.ORG | 23

High Masai

Masai giraffe at the Houston Zoo aspire to great

heights. Their new habitat in The African Forest

is helping our herd of seven achieve that.

Tall and graceful at age 15, herd bull Kiva is in

his prime. He is the virtual master of all he sur-

veys, and with the visual acuity of giraffes, that’s

quite a lot! He stands 16 feet tall and weighs

2,500 pounds. That size allows him to go where

he pleases, eat the choicest morsels and keep tabs

on his cows. With a palate akin to a wine con-

noisseur, Kiva uses a remarkable combination of

scent and taste to determine exactly when the

girls will be responsive to his advances.

Leggy Tyra, our oldest cow, is 12 years old and

currently pregnant with calf number six. With

a 15-month gestation, giraffe females, like most

hoofed animals, spend most of their adult life

pregnant. Tyra gives birth to large calves and

provides excellent maternal care for about 12

months.

Masai giraffe are the most numerous of the nine

giraffe subspecies, but only 90 are exhibited in

North American zoos. To maintain genetic diver-

sity in such a small population, Mtembei, a three-

year-old bull, was brought in from Cincinnati as a

future breeder. He is our darkest giraffe; at 1,800

pounds and 13-feet tall he has some growing to

do before he catches up to Kiva. Mtembei spars

lightly with him, but isn’t big enough yet for a

real necking session, the giraffe equivalent to

arm wrestling.

Every group has a diva and Neema is ours! She

sometimes forgets she’s a giraffe and prefers

to associate with humans, unless allowed to

groom her herd mates. Her brothers and half-

brothers have all sported ‘hairdos by Neema.’

Neema is only three, and like many kids, she

isn’t keen on eating green vegetables either,

preferring carrots and yams. We’ll see if the

lure of human interaction at the feeding plat-

form overcomes this.

Juvenile males Jack, Hasani and Miles make

up the rest of our herd, ranging from one to

three-years-old. Most of their time is spent

eating, browsing and ruminating, interspersed

with some socializing and running.

Meet the NeighborsOstriches are the giraffes of the bird world and

can grow to nine feet tall. Two female ostriches

will join giraffes in their African Forest exhibit.

Like giraffes, ostriches are tall, with long legs

and excellent eyesight. If they see a predator

coming they can run 45 mph for short distanc-

es and maintain 30 mph for longer. If cornered,

they can deliver a strong kick with their two-

toed foot.

Their diet is omnivorous, but relies heavily on

plants and fruits. Similar to giraffes, ostriches

drink when water is available, but are normal-

ly able to gain sufficient water from their food.

Our giraffes are content in their brand new

barn, and have been eagerly awaiting the ex-

hibit’s Grand Opening, so they can hang out

with you at the public feeding platform. Come

see how you measure up. The giraffes highly

recommend it!

Incredible location! One of a kind new

construction on an oversized lot: this

new home features a lovely brick exterior,

dramatic two-story entry, vaulted ceil-

ings throughout, private balcony, plenty

of storage and work space, and upgrades

galore. This is urban living at its finest,

with a unique floor plan and large family

room that are well suited for entertain-

ing guests, and a nicely landscaped back

yard, big enough for a growing family.

The Zoo’s extended family of giraffes has

moved into their new digs in The African

Forest. Not only were the giraffes in need

of a spacious and more modern new home,

their move made way for the expansion of

the habitat for our Asian elephant herd.

Taking nine months from start to occu-

pancy, building the new giraffe exhibit

was certainly not your average new-home

construction. The edifice had to be 30 feet

Giraffe Conservation Giraffes are a common sight

both at zoos and on nature

documentaries. Many people

do not realize that giraffes

are as much in need of con-

servation attention as rhinos,

apes and elephants. Many

giraffe sub-species across

Africa are facing pressures

from poaching, habitat loss

and fragmentation, and

even human-wildlife conflict.

Current population esti -

mates range from 80,000 to

140,000 individuals, which

shows a need for intensive

monitoring and census tech-

niques for giraffes across

the African continent, in or-

der to ensure their survival.

Not Your Average New-Home Construction!tall, with 18-foot doorways to accommo-

date the world’s tallest animals, giving a

whole new meaning to the term “vaulted

ceilings.” With around 4,000 square feet

inside, the giraffes are enjoying spacious

and comfortable overnight quarters that

are ventilated in the summer and heated

in the winter.

When they are indoors, you can view the

giraffes through three seven-foot tall

windows. Outside, the giraffes have a third

of an acre to roam with their ostrich room-

mates and delight in the new opportunity for

personal experiences with you at the much

anticipated giraffe feeding platform.

The keepers were the ones to unpack the box-

es as the giraffes got settled into the newest

and most exciting neighborhood in the Zoo’s

history. Don’t miss this stop along the trail of

The African Forest!


There is a new way to visit with our Masai giraffe family, who have

been among the most beloved at the Houston Zoo for their charm and

obvious curiosity about their visitors.

In addition to 270 degrees of open viewing of their yard and barn,

one highly anticipated feature of the giraffe habitat will be a nearly

eye-level feeding platform! Standing seven feet higher than the plaza

level, the platform will elevate you that much closer to the

world’s tallest animal. At certain times of the day, you will

be able to make your way up a ramp to the feeding

area (getting a birds-eye view of the giraffes and

ostriches in the process) and, for a reasonable fee,

offer a snack to your long-necked pals.

Feeding giraffes is arguably one of life’s

peak experiences. Our group is par-

ticularly friendly. As Laurie Mc-

Givern, our Supervisor of

Hoofed Stock says,

they have nev-

er met a

stranger. Imagine them meeting you, batting their long lashes as they

lower their giant heads and gently take a crunchy lettuce leaf from

your hand!

The giraffe exhibit lies just off the broad dining plaza of The African

Forest’s new restaurant, Twiga Terrace – a lovely place to feed your-

self! The architecture has a French Colonial feel, with soaring ceilings

lit by chandeliers, arch top windows graced with Bermuda shutters,

decorative brackets, and a terra cotta tile roof. Sit inside or on dual

terraces outside, where your choice of rhinos or giraffes are the view!

This is just one of several new sites within The African Forest that can

serve as an event space. If you are looking for one of the hottest places

to entertain in Houston, there are a variety of spots throughout this

brand new environment where you can hold your party.

Just across the path is the Shani Market where the same design influ-

ence is found in details, such as arched pediments over the doorway

and sculpted French columns. Here you can browse through and pur-

chase a variety of items that represent The African Forest and the

Houston Zoo, as gifts or a memorable keepsake.

Since the Zoo has become one of Houston’s entertaining hot spots, can you give some examples of unique dishes you have created for specific events?

We’ve produced some awesome events, with really im-

pressive food. One that comes to mind is Feast with the

Beasts in the Bud Light Lounge. We made all items

on that menu cooked with Bud Light beer! The mini

beer-brats on a pretzel bun were my personal favorite.

I think it is appropriate to have a menu to reflect our

diversity. We’ve created indigenous dishes from Africa,

Asia and Brazil, to name just a few.

As the chef you obviously manage the menu and preparation of the food but you really are involved in much more than that.

Tying all the components of an event to the location is

the goal. After the menu comes together, I turn my fo-

cus on how we’re going to display the items. I want to

be as unique as the venue is, so I try to find things that

aren’t your ordinary way to put things together or pres-

ent them. The goal is to have people’s reaction be one of,

“Holy cow! They did that at the Zoo?”

When you think about The African Forest and the potential for events, what are some of the things that get you most excited?

I’m really excited about the backdrop for our events

-– the actual habitats themselves. The designers have

done a top notch job creating them. Even before we saw

The African Forest completed, it was blowing away any-

thing I’ve seen at other zoos! It will be fun to work off of

that as our inspiration, for both the décor and the menu.

Will there be any new African-themed menu items?

In anticipation of The African Forest opening we’ve

already bought a bunch of rustic decor and designed

menus, keeping in mind that we want people to try new

foods, but it’s got to be familiar to them. So we’re doing

a twist on known foods that are cooked with indigenous

techniques and flavors.

With the new restaurant in The Af-rican Forest being so close to the Medical Center do you see it as a new lunch option for visitors and em-ployees?

Absolutely. With the diversification of our new cafes

and stands, why wouldn’t you want to come over, grab a

bite, sit, and watch the rhinos during your lunch hour?

Catching up with Chef ShaneImagine your employees or clients enjoying

cocktails in the Reptile House and dessert

surrounded by our majestic elephant herd!

Over 150 businesses and organizations al-

ready take advantage of this beautiful and

affordable option for entertaining each year.

And now those options have expanded.

In The African Forest there are even more

opportunities to host your guests, now in

the setting of equatorial Africa. The most

picturesque venue in Houston will be in the

new chimpanzee viewing building. Parties

can also be hosted in the Forest Village, the

Twiga Terrace restaurant and The African

Forest Plaza. You can also rent the entire

African Forest for your group!

The best part about using the Houston Zoo

for your event is that it‘s turn-key. Our event

professionals will take care of all of your

party’s details, while the Houston Zoo’s own

Chef Shane will help prepare a feast that

meets your culinary needs.


Feed Our Hungry Herd – And Yours

Continuing on after the giraffe barn you will find the

new cheetah habitat. Like giraffes, the cheetahs were

given a new home to make way for the continued ex-

pansion of our elephant exhibit. Our cheetahs, Kito and

Kiburi, brought along their favorite Anatolian shepherd

dog Taji to a new yard that’s just as big as the old one,

with a nicely upgraded barn.

The viewing area for the cheetah exhibit is surrounded

by the same realistic rockwork seen throughout The Af-

rican Forest. You have a clear view of a shallow pool as

Cheetahs and Dogs Together Again in a New Homewell as hills and rocks that are the cheetahs’ favor-

ite resting spots. Taji has her own private yard in

the back but spends time on exhibit with one or the

other of the cheetahs as well. On those hot Houston

days, a mister and fan help keep the exhibit cool and

comfortable.

This new exhibit also provides plenty of opportuni-

ties for our keepers to do training demonstrations

and set up the lure course, which is always a favorite

of guests and animals alike.

Did you know Kito, Kiburi and Taji are also animal

ambassadors that leave their exhibit to make spe-

cial appearances around the Zoo and at events? We

raised our cheetahs from just a few days old with Taji

so that they would grow up as companions. Anatolian

shepherd dogs are used in Africa to help farmers pro-

tect their livestock. The large size and intimidating

bark of an Anatolian shepherd dog scares off chee-

tahs so farmers no longer shoot them. Kito, Kiburi

and Taji help us share the story of how a dog is help-

ing to save cats.

Zoos and aquariums of the 21st century are challenged to go

beyond the care, exhibition, and breeding of wildlife to be-

come centers for conservation and partners on the ground in

global efforts to preserve threatened wildlife. The Houston

Zoo strives to be a leader in conservation as it relates to the

survival of threatened wildlife and habitats, the wise use of

natural resources, and the appreciation of our natural world

by the Zoo’s audiences.


The Conservation Challenge, Locally and GloballySince 2005, the Houston Zoo has expanded its role to encompass a

number of global and regional conservation and research initiatives in

countries across the world, recently placing a special emphasis on the

equatorial regions of Africa. Whether right here at home in Texas, or

in Latin America, Asia or Africa, the Houston Zoo Wildlife Conserva-

tion Program partners with leaders in the field to support and protect

wildlife and their habitats, by combining conservation with education,

and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods in local communities.

One of the words used to describe The African Forest is “immersive.” From an architect’s point of view, what does that mean?

A totality, not something that is applied. Viewing

structures, the restaurant, the gift shop -- all are de-

signed down to the last detail. For example, we really

researched the right fixtures for the gift shop. It isn’t

like we just built the building, went out to a craft shop,

bought some African masks and said, “You’re in Africa.”

We actually went to Gabon, studied the architecture

and really tried to bring that back and recreate it.

My first reaction to that is that Af-r ica is so big. How can you recre-ate it?

We looked at just piece of it and tried to give Zoo guests

the feeling we had when we were there. We want to

give them a sense of being taken away on a journey. We

mimicked plants that would be in the African forest

region and matched the rockwork in the riverbanks, all

to suspend disbelief.

The Houston Zoo told you what they wanted to accomplish with The Af-rican Forest, which is so different than anything else that has been done. How did you get started?

It is very much like set development for a movie. The

first thing we do is write a story narrative and then ex-

press it in the immersion. The design needed to reflect

that story.

Some of the most impressive pieces of The African Forest are the rock walls. Can you briefly explain the

process in creating them and what purpose they serve?

There is a need to create barriers to keep the animals in.

How do you do that naturally? Our landscape architect

likes to develop a geological story and involve it with

the design. For example, we imagined that at one time

a river had cut these mud banks, and that is why the

trees are at the top. It’s not necessarily a story we tell

the public, but that‘s what we used as we worked on this.

The animal exhibits are amazing but there is so much more to The African Forest – Twiga Terrace Restaurant, the Herzstein Trading Post and the forest walk, for example. Can you ex-plain how it all ties in?

It’s always about the animals first. You look at how

they may move through or use an exhibit, then look

at where the best locations for viewing those animals

may be, and where to give them a respite from visitors.

Then you determine: what do we need for barriers for

the animals first and then how can we bring some of

the elements of those barriers into the public spaces?

When you walk through The African Forest, you feel

like you are in the animal’s space, not that they’re in

your space. The guests come and go, but the animals

are here for the rest of their lives. They need to be com-

fortable and feel safe.

Architects of Africa

An Interview with Patrick Janikowski,

AIA, of PJA Architects, designers of The

African Forest

Before a shovel ever broke ground or the

animals you’re seeing occupied this acre-

age, a team of architects and designers

took the dream of The African Forest

and started creating the reality. Accom-

plishing this entailed trips to Africa, many

hours spent researching, interviewing im-

portant constituents, and writing the sto-

ries of The African Forest.

Patrick Janikowski spent some time talk-

ing with us about this vision and what it

took to achieve the final results.

What are you most excited for the guests to see?

I want the guest to say, “I enjoyed it because I had a

great experience. I learned something, I was in there

with them. Now I want to do something.” If they be-

come members, support conservation or leave wanting

to do more, then we have done something important.

We’re looking for that moment of connection between

the guest and the animal. If you’re up close with a

chimp and they are looking into your eyes, you’re going

to want to do something.

Of what are you most proud?

If you have happy keepers, they enjoy going to work. They

enjoy what they do, so they take better care of the animals.

If the animals are happy, they look good and the guests are

happy. That is a win/win situation. I think we have accom-

plished that.

Also, I want to walk through the exhibit and hear people

ask, “Is it real? Look at the animals, look how natural it all

is.” I hope this exhibit shows the community what can be

done, and what needs to be done for Phase Two and Three.


“Ensuring that individuals not only get fed, but get

an appropriate diet can be a challenge,” said Lau-

rie McGivern, hoofed stock supervisor. “Creating a

food holder for a crane that a 16 inch okapi tongue

can’t get into is a major feat.”

Because the hoofed stock department has such di-

versity (which you can read about on page 8)r one

seems to be the Masai giraffe feedings.

any animals for public interaction requires a lot

of teamwork, and the hoofed stock crew knows a

thing or two about it. During training sessions,

each keeper is responsible for an individual giraffe,

while the rest of the team provides back up sup-

port.

When an animal has a medical procedure, working

together as one is required. Most animals are se-

dated, then carried by five or six keepers to get to

the clinic (though our vets do make house calls for

the bigger animals).

“Taking a nyala antelope to the dentist is quite dif-

ferent from transporting the family dog to the vet,”

said McGivern.

The job requires enormous commitment and hard

work. Communication and coordination of details

are key. And yet, the rewards are great. Each of the

keepers have special memories. For some it may be

bottle feeding Miles the giraffe when he was first

born, for another it might be a time when Olive the

anteater stuck her nose in their boot, and tickled

their toes with her tongue! With such a wide assort-

ment of animals it’s clear that the keepers in the

hoofed stock department get to have some pretty

The completion and Grand Opening of

The African Forest is a historic moment

for the Houston Zoo and the City of

Houston. Several years, tens of millions

of dollars, and countless hours have been

invested to make this a monumental mo-

ment for our community.

The significance of The African Forest

will have a long lasting impact both on

our community and on the guest experi-

ence at the Houston Zoo. But the expe-

rience is not just contained within the

20-foot high rock walls that border the

exhibits. Nor will the experience end

with the six-and-a-half acres of land that

make up this new addition to the Zoo.

The extended impact of The African For-

est is most visible at the Houston Zoo’s

McNair Asian Elephant Habitat. While

our herd is made up entirely of Asian el-

ephants, they are benefiting greatly from

The African Forest opening.

In addition to the donations raised for

the expansion, a portion of The African

Forest’s budget has been dedicated to not

only expand our elephant’s living space,

but to add amenities to it, including an

80-thousand gallon, elephant-sized swim-

ming pool, a presentation area for both

Meet the Keeper Talks and training dem-

onstrations, and an abundance of shade

structures and trees.

This newest elephant exhibit is sched-

uled to open in May 2011. Construction

started in late November, after our Ma-

sai giraffe herd moved from their previ-

ous Zoo home to their beautiful new barn

and habitat in The African Forest. It also

required the relocation of our cheetahs

and Taji, our Anatolian shepherd dog,

to a new home just outside The African

Forest, where they become back-to-back

neighbors with our African wild dogs.

As you make your way along the forest

walk in The African Forest and enjoy the

largest expansion in Zoo history, try to

imagine the exhibit being twice as big.

That is exactly what’s in store as the Zoo

makes plans to grow The African Forest

across another six-and-a-half acres with

Phases Two and Three.

Highlights of the next two phases include

gorillas, Nile crocodiles, hippos and more

chapters in the story of Gorilla Tommy

and the Koolookumba. These expansions

combined will equal the current size of

Phase One of The African Forest.

As has been the case with Phase One,

construction of the next phases will be

largely determined by community sup-

port. This includes but is certainly not

limited to contributions in the form of do-

nations and Zoo memberships.

WhAt’s next?

If you love

The African Forest,

just wait until you

see what’s next!

“ In A f r i ca , we a re b lessed to be sur rounded by w i lde rness and we s t i l l have the oppor tun i t y t o demonst ra te that we can l i ve in harmony w i th the ear th .” rebeccA kle In , boTswAnA


To find out how you can continue to support the Houston Zoo and The African Forest by visit ing www.houstonzoo.org/africanforest.

Adams, Stephanie

Ali, Jihad

Alvarado, Luis

Amie, Krystal

Anders, LaKila

Anderson, Kathleen

Anderson, Lucy Dee

Anderson, Tammie

Arriaga, Fred

Avendano, Lisa Marie

Baccus, Marcy

Bailey, Hannah

Barnhill, Amy

Barongi, Rick

Barrera, Edgar

Barrera, Juan

Barrera, Renato

Bednarski, Chris

Bergman, Jason

Bernardy, Rob

Berry, Leighann

Berting, Amy

Bethke, Vanessa

Bibeau, Bonnie

Bishop, Paul

Blackmon, Amy

Boostrom, Helen

Boyd, Tinker

Bradley, Eugene

Brady, David

Brandy III, George

Branstetter, Jr., Carter

THANK YOU!

As we celebrate the opening

of the African Forest, we want

to extend a special thanks to

our dedicated staff for their

hard work and continued ser-

vice. Thank you for all that

you do to foster appreciation,

knowledge and care of the

natural world.

Houston Zoo Staff (As of October 2010)

Brewer, Laura

Brothers, T

Brown, Allison

Brown, D

Browning, Russell

Bryja, Judith

Buhrmester, Tammy

Bumpus, Renee

Burkell, Liz

Burnett, Laura

Cadriel, Patrick

Campbell, Melanie

Cannon, Deborah

Carpenter, Tina

Carter, Joel

Casey, Kirby

Castorena, Kevin

Castrejon, Elena

Cavazos, Jesse

Cecil, Jeremy

Clark, Jessica

Clarke, Taylor

Coburn, Thomas

Cockrell, Bresean

Colahan, Hollie

Concannon, Mike

Conkin, Megan

Contreras, Carlos

Copley, Dante

Cortez, Elizabeth

Coym, Mollie

Cross, Seth

Crump, Paul

Daly, Amanda

Darjean, Antoine

Davis, Jonah

De Anda, Nicte

DeKanter, Cassandra

DeLeon, Belinda

Devine, Jr., JD

Dones, Bennett

Dorris, Oren

Drabek, Cynthia

Durkee, Stephanie

Easely, Megan

Ellis, Rick

Espinosa, Nick

Farley, Priscilla

Farr, William

Fernandez, Ruben

Fisher, Beunka

Flanagan, Dr. Joe

Flores, Maria

Fontenot, Christine

Forester, Eddie

Forestier, Leslie

Francis, Melvin

Frenzel, Jeff

Frey, Anita

Fries, Elizabeth

Fuhrman, Alissa

Fuhrman, Grant

Futch, Becky

Gadus, Pame

Galan, Aleyda

Galvan, Al

Garcia, Adriane

Garcia, Denise

Garcia, Juan

Garibaldi, Shaun

Garner, Teia

Garza, Elizabeth

Garza, Yuli

Giddins, Lilly

Gillis, Chris

Godambe, Rachel

Gomez, Alexandra

Gomez, Martha

Gomez, Silvestre

Gonzalez, Carlos

Gonzalez, Yxzel

Goodie, Brittany

Gordon, Maurice

Guerra, Omar

Gutierrez, Hernando.

Haley, Kyle

Hamilton, Isahia

Hannon, David

Harmison, Greg

Harvey, Amy

Hawkins, Tommy

Hayes, Sundra

Henigar, Ryanne

Hernandez, Yanira

Herrera, Paula

Hill, Brian


Hime, Elaine

Hodge, Kevin

Hoffman, Daryl

Holmes, Chris

Howard, Dr. Lauren

Howard, Steve

Huber, Heather

Hughes, Cotney

Hutto, Drew

Ingram, Charlona Vee

Jackson, Dianne

Jaramillo, Juliann

Jeffers, Erica

Jesudason, Audra

Johnson, ShaTara

Jolicoeur, Nathalie

Jones, PJ

Joseph, Rochelle

Joseph, Sharon

Junker, Sam

Junker, Tim

Jurek, Suzanne

Kaleel, Brooke

Kalla, Joe

Kandiko, Ben

Kazen, Cheka

Keel, Danny

Keith, Cathy

Kemery, Alicia

Kenney, Susan

Killam, Lynn

King, Ben

King, Larry

Klein, Kim

Kleinworth, Emma

Koneval, Maureen

Kuntz, Kathy

Lackey, Debbie

Land, Anna

Latham, Ashley

Lavergne, Amy

Lavictoire, Kara

LeBlanc, Chanika

LeBoff, Cory

Lechner, Damian

Leeson, Cindy

Lemon, Erica

Ligon, Courtney

Lippman, Kathryn

Lomas, Courtney

Lomas, Sabrina

Lytle, Sheri

Machuca, Jose

Macias, Maribel

Macomber-Ramirez, Courtney

Maitran, Mersing

Malek, Phil

Malone, Kaylie

Mann, Rodney

Marin, Dr. Maud

Martinez, Michael

Masharani, Kara

Massop, CB

Matthews, April

Mays, Stan

McAuliffe, Judy

McCoy, Travis

McCreery, Kelly

McGallian, Tiffany

McGivern, Laurie

McLain, Jen

McWilliams, Glen

Menefee, James

Merlos, Ashley

Meza, Nick

Mickens, Kendrick

Miranda, Janie

Montgomery, Sam

Moon, Ginger

Moor, Tequera

Moore, Joseph

Moorhead, Beth

Morales, Modesto

Morgan, Debra

Morgan, Lee

Morrison, Wendy

Morse, Ellie

Murphy, Billy

Neal, Megan

Nosakhere, Nkosane

Nunn IV, Ernest

Nusbaum, Amelia

Oliver, Gerald

Olivo, Sylvia

Ortega, Paul

Orth, Ami

Owens, Kendall

Ozuna, Michele

Partello, Louise

Patterson, Brandon

Patterson, Cortney

Patzer, Holly

Pepin, Marjorie

Perez, Glenda

Perez, Rosa

Peterson, Tess

Petre, Martha

Pierre, Jenee

Pietrucha-Mays, Phyllis

Pine, Jack

Pizano, Jody

Pohlman, Andrea

Posey, Brett

Pyle, Angie

Quassa, Erin

Rabon, Michelle

Ramsey, DeAndra

Ratcliff, Troy

Reed, Paul

Reyes, Erick

Reyes, Sharon

Reynolds, Thomas

Riger, Peter

Riger, Sara

Rinkenberger, Kamryn

Rinker, Mandy

Ritter, Jessica

Robbins, Melissa

Robinson, Silvester

Rommel, Rachel

Rossi II, Napoleon

Roth, Ashley

Russo, Kelly

Ryan, Rene

Sanders, Walter

Sanford, Chance

Santos, Giovanni

Santos, Ron

Santoyo, Maria

Saunders, Cathren

Schaefer, Beth

Schmit, Matt

Scroggins, Ryan

Sears, Katie

Shea, Diane

Shepard, Susan

Sheppard, Callian

Shotola, Kim

Siegl, Kim

Sigle, Jessica

Silas, Shanaeya

Simpson, Greg

Smith, Cedric

Sokol, Victoria

Solis, Henry

Soria, Vanessa

Soussan, Lila

Spillman, Renee

Sprague, Karen

Stevens, Martina

Ufer, Kirsten

Valdez, Viviana

Van Wert, Jessica

Vandenberg, Joshua

Varela, Abby

Vass, Rachel

Villarreal, Chris

Vincent, Brooke

Wachsmann, Mike

Warfield, Pam

Warren, Christine

Watts, Mark

Webber, Krista

Webster, Tricia

Whitaker, Alicia

White, Regina

Whitted, Jeremy

Whitted, Leigh

Williams, Brittney

Williams, Ciera

Williams, Joe

Williams, John

Winecki, James

Witek, Michelle

Wooden, Errol

Woodford, Kim

Young, Josh

Zelmer, Amber

Zewe, Carolyn

Zuma Jr., Paul

The Brown Foundation, Inc.

Houston Endowment Inc.

The Wortham Foundation, Inc.

The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation

The Robert R. and Kay M. Onstead Foundation

Kathrine G. McGovern

Annie and Bob Graham

The Cullen Foundation

The Fondren Foundation

Chevron

John P. McGovern Foundation

Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation

Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation

Zoo Friends of Houston, Inc.

Charles and Anne Duncan

The Dan L. Duncan Family

H-E-B

Vic and Barbara Samuels

Vivian L. Smith Foundation

Sodexo

The Carruth Foundation

The Hildebrand Fund

The Meadows Foundation

Estate of Billie Lee Danz

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

Donald and Diane Kendall, Jr. Family Foundation

Elkins Foundation

M.D. Anderson Foundation

M.D. Matthews Foundation

Scurlock Foundation

William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation

Sylvie and Gary Crum

Shell Oil Company

Texas Parks & Wildlife

Service Systems Associates

Sterling-Turner Foundation

Laura and John Arnold Foundation

Strake Foundation

Linnet F. Deily

The Lillian H. & C.W. Duncan Foundation

The Favrot Fund

Jonathan and Barbara Day

Devon Energy Corporation

Kinder Foundation

The Nau Family and Silver Eagle Distributors

Rick Barongi and Diane Ledder

Judy O. and Kenneth C. Margolis

AIM Foundation

Lynne S. and John Averett

Charles T. Bauer Foundation

BMC Software

CFP Foundation

James and Molly Crownover Family Foundation

Hamill Foundation

The Tapeats Fund

The William Stamps Farish Fund

United States Department of Education

The Lowenstein Family

Barbara and Louis Sklar

Andrew and Freda Bass

Jeffrey C. Hines / Hines Interests L.P.

Deborah and Gardner Cannon

Ann and Stephen Kaufman

Herbert D. Simons

Cathryn and Doug Selman

Merrill and Joe Hafner

Shannon and Gary Margolis

George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell

The W. T. and Louise J. Moran Foundation

Tess K. Peterson

Bonnie and David Weekley Fund

Toni and Noel Noble

Johanna A. Favrot Fund

Peggy and Bill Barnett

Catherine Campbell Brock

Austin and Susan Young

Suzanne and Bob Nimocks

John, Sally and Kate Cox

Docents and Volunteers of the Houston Zoo

Fort Bend Mechanical

Bob and Vicki Harvey

Mary Lou Henry

Sheila and Ron Hulme

Courtney and Christopher Sarofim

J. Michael and Patricia Solar Family Fund

Kay and Max Watson

M. Carolina Weitzman

Win and Lynn Campbell

Britten Fund

The Holthouse Foundation for Kids

Lawrence and Mildred Lieder

Betty and Stephen Newton

Barbara Segal Goldfield

Michael and Carol Linn

Nancy and David Pustka

Isla and Tommy Reckling

Sara Lou Brown

Cristina and Jim Buaas

Burguieres Family Foundation

Sam W. Gainer

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Miller

S. Shawn Stephens and James M. Jordan

Randa and Charlie Williams

Karen W. Johnson

The Gerson and Margolis Family

Julie and Drew Alexander

Atlantic Trust Private Wealth Management

Baker Hughes Incorporated

E. Philip Cannon

The Chaney Foundation

Debbie and Kent Chenevert

Meg Goodman and Mike Bonini

Sunny and Mac Haik /Mac Haik Enterprises

The Lee and Joseph D. Jamail Foundation

Penny and Paul Loyd

Macquarie Energy Capital

DeeDee and Wallis Marsh

Memorial Hermann

Patterson and Sheridan, LLP

Macey and Harry Reasoner

Janet & John Springer

Tricia and Paul Swen

Kelli and John Weinzierl/The Weinzierl Family Fund

George, Shanti, Shangrila and Shivanti Willy

Wortham Insurance & Risk Management

36 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010

THANK YOU!The African Forest would not be possible without our

amazing donors and their generous support. We thank

them for believing in this vision and for helping to make

this incredible dream a reality.

*Donors l isted, $5000 and above

“I became totally absorbed into this forest existence… For those who have experienced the joy of being alone

with nature there is really little need for me to say much more.”

– Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall with Mac, in The African Forest’s new chimpanzee viewing building

houston zoo wildlife winter 2010

Documents

african forest

formed houston zoo

africanthemed zoo exhib

african continent8

experienced zoo staff

forest village16

bill wright iiihouston

campaign chair