Houston Zoo $50 Million African Forest Exhibit

Very exciting, especially the cheetahs (for me). It is interesting that the three white rhinos are being imported from South Africa. Hopefully this will reinvigorate the declining U.S. breeding program.

(According to an article put out by the San Diego Wild Animal Park, which is THE place in America for white rhinos, there is big trouble. The first generation that they imported bred prolifically. However, only one in ten of those are breeding to the second generation. They now suspect that something in the diet of the first generation caused a deficiency in their offspring that makes it near impossible for them to produce offspring.).
 
snowleopard said:
there will now be a cheetah exhibit included in Phase I of the project
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Interesting. What I had heard is Cheetahs were going to be relocated into the hoof run and bird areas on the other side of the zoo, likely in the exhibit currently housing the cranes on the end. They, like the giraffes, we being moved as part of the Asian elephant expansion.

BTW, I REALLY hate the stupid people on the Chronicle's website, complaining about tax dollars being spent on the zoo and that there is an admission charge, you know, the non profit zoo, that relies on donations to exist.
 
Trowaman said:
BTW, I REALLY hate the stupid people on the Chronicle's website, complaining about tax dollars being spent on the zoo...
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Like many of us on this site, my vacations are centered exclusively around visiting a zoo. When a zoo opens a major new attraction, that is often reason for me to visit that city, pumping money into the city budget via dining out, hotel stays, transportation, etc. Those people should realize that investing tax dollars in public attractions like zoos (or downtown revitalizations or museums) is an investement that yields a return in increased tourist revenue. Not to mention improving the quality of life for local residents.
 
So, in brief, I went back to Houston this weekend to visit my parents and checked out the zoo. I got a few things to report since last i visited in Dec 2009.

1) Jaguar redesign is VERY nice. I actually stood inside the cage while it was being rebuilt (behind the scenes tour for Tiger, it expanded into Jaguar and our host let us walk into the enclosure they were building). I wish it poke out another 5 feet or so for more land area and hope it becomes more lush, still quite nice, warm, and sunny.

2) Shoebill Stork Aviary is redone. It's not the Atwatter Prairie Chicken exhibit anymore. This is a 30' tall aviary the size of a house. It is VERY impressive to see something this big for two birds. There are two trees inside that are very unique i how they are built/grown with knots and holes in all the weirdest places. Coolest bird exhibit I have EVER seen.

3) New Red Panda. Toby got a friend. Houston Zoo's blog says it's a 1 year old male from the Fargo Zoo. I am glad Toby got a companion, he kinda needed it, especially with how much Houston hyped him up in his debut.

Ok, African Forest construction update.

Construction crews were out and the West Gate was closed for the day (Friday). The giraffe yard is clearly outlined and the barn has electricity (lights were on). Cool thing about the giraffe barn is a catwalk for the second floor with easy to reach feed trays so hay/alfalfa/whatever can be dropped in from the second floor easily. THe area looks to be the same as the current giraffe enclosure. The wall is going up on the far side where the restaurant will be. Apparently the patio for the restaurant will also be where guests can feed the giraffes (smart business, dine with the giraffes, have the little ones beg for cash while mom and dad are still digesting). Not much to see where I was on rhino barn and chimp exhibits, other than the chimp building is complete (all 10 chimps are currently inside). Construction was being done on the new gift shop and welcome area with the buildings clearly outlined.

Also, I couldn't see it from where I was, but the chimp yard is supposably mostly done now, via these pictures: Chimp Update: The Great Outdoors | The Official Houston Zoo Blog

If this is what the exhibit looks like, I'm going to be disappointed, I was hoping for lush, forested environment.

Progress is progress.
 
team tapir said:
Most new exhibits take some time to become lush they need to fill out

Team Tapir
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While I feel the Jaguar exhibit is designed to grow in and become more lush, I do not see that approach being taken with the chimp exhibit. It APPEARS that the chimp exhibit is not designed to ever become lush, rather to remain a grassy field with some barren climbing structures, similar to their current orangutan exhibit just with structures that look like trees instead of an obvious jungle gym.
 
Thats disapointing I look at the Houston Zoo as a very lush zoo.On my visit to the zoo my brother and I were staying in San Antonio and it poured the whole way there when we got to the zoo the rain had stopped and the grounds were flooded and steam was rising up all over.This really added to our experience like visiiting a zoo in a rainforest.it rained again several times but we had a great time anway and really enjoyed the zoo.

Marty from Team Tapir
 
@Trowaman: thanks for all of the updates from Houston Zoo, and since I just visited I agree that the jaguar and shoebill stork exhibits are both impressive. I gave both enclosures a thumbs up in my extensive review! I do hope that some foliage is added to the chimpanzee habitat in time for its grand unveiling, as judging from that photo it appears to be extremely bare.
 
Houston Zoo's Facebook has some updates for us.

Giraffe's have been moved. They are currently off viewing and are in their new home in African Forest. The update goes on to say that there will be limited viewing available soon so visitors can still see the animals, even if the experience is not what it will be.

They go further to say an announcement regarding their former home will come in October, this will be phase 2 (?) of the Asian Elephant expansion, greatly needed with the calf and second calf on the way.

With giraffes transferred, chimpanzee's on the premises with a mostly complete yard, it seems the zoo is waiting on it's three white rhino's that are to be transferred in from South Africa. ~3 months to go!

Last item of business, they go on to say African Forest will open in "early" December. Knew it was Dec., but this is more narrow than any of us had heard before.
 
It is going to take the zoo a long time for their giraffes to get used to their new home ;) . I can't wait once this complex opens in December.
 
3 words from the Zoo Director last night at a guest lecture event:

1) Rhinos will be arriving around 5:00 local time TODAY from Africa.
2) Chimps had their first day on exhibit yesterday. Supposedly went well.
3) Dec. 10 - Opening day.

Still have no word on Kudu or Ostrich.
 
White rhinos arrive at Houston Zoo's African Forest | kvue.com | KVUE Texas News | State headlines

White rhinos arrive at Houston Zoo's African Forest

Posted on October 15, 2010

HOUSTON – After a 54-hour trip from Johannesburg, South Africa, three white rhinos arrived at their new home, the Houston Zoo, late Thursday afternoon.

The rhinos will be living in the Zoo’s new African Forest, a 6.5 acre habitat that will open to the public on December 10.

All three of the white rhinos – Sibindi, Lynne and Annie-Kamaria—are 5 years old. Sibindi is the only male.

The trio made their lengthy journey aboard a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines cargo flight in specially designed, 2,000-pound steel crates that allowed them to stand and lie down comfortably.

"The rhinos went first class all the way," said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi.　 "They were accompanied on the flight by a team of veterinarians and animal care specialists from Kruger National Park and the Houston Zoo who had direct access to them at all times to care for them during the trip."

Prior to their trip, the rhinos were given medical checkups and were acclimated to their shipping containers and caretakers. They were also converted to the diet they’ll live on at the Houston Zoo.

Southern white rhinos are the largest species of land mammal, after the elephant.

The rhinoceros has roamed the Earth for over 50 million years – in fact, it’s believed that at one time more than 100 species of rhino existed.

Now, only five species – white, black, Indian, Sumatran and Javan – survive.

Adult white rhinos weigh a whopping 4,000 to 5,000 pounds and are the most social rhino species.

They have really good hearing and a great sense of smell, but very poor eyesight.

All rhino species are under threat of extinction. Without drastic action, experts fear some rhinos could be extinct in the wild within the next two decades.

Currently, there are about 18,000 white rhinos living in Africa.

So when the African Forest opens in December, show Sibindi, Lynne and Annie-Kamaria some Texas hospitality -- stop by and say hi to three of Houston’s biggest residents!
 
Here is a video about the project narrated by the zoo director. It is only about the new African Forest expansion, and shows clips of animals that supposedly would be part of it. So what is the first animal they show? A tiger from Asia! What is the last animal they show? A tapir from South America! Someone needs to give the zoo video editor a geography lesson.


 
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For some reason, I cannot get the video link to paste properly. Sorry. If you really want to see it, go to YouTube and type in Houston Zoo.
 
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