Houston Zoo Houston Zoo News 2024

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Trowaman said:
wouldn’t that be 13 with Chuck coming to replace Tucker; so that’s a wash?
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They'd be at thirteen (with Tucker) or twelve (without Tucker).

They currently have eleven elephants:

1.0 Thai (1965)
0.1 Methai (1969)
0.1 Tess (1981)
0.1 Shanti (1990)
1.0 Tucker (2005) - going to White Oak
0.1 Tupelo (2010)
0.1 Joy (2017)
0.1 Tilly (2018)
1.0 Nelson (2020)
0.1 Winnie (2021)
1.0 Teddy (2021)

+

1.0 Chuck (2008) - coming from Denver
Shanti's unborn calf (due end of this year)
 
 
TheImmigrant1 said:
What the… since when did we have spider monkeys??? Maybe they’re rescues who were former pets and then were given to Houston who sent them elsewhere?
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King of Komodo Dragons said:
That's what I'm assuming also, as i definitely haven't seen any spider monkeys on my last few visits
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There was mention last year of the city receiving at least one Mexican Spider Monkey from a resident; of which was a former pet. I imagine this may have been one of the individuals.

Introducing them to the other trio in San Diego makes a lot of sense with the individuals coming from similar backgrounds. Houston have also obviously been holding this pair off display as well, so moving them to a permanent facility would've also been beneficial for them.
 
Human wall guides flamingos into new habitat at Houston Zoo (houstonchronicle.com)
Houston's flamingoes have moved from their temporary home to their brand-new permanent home at Birds of the World this morning.
This article also gives a sneak peek at the new Flamingo habitat, explains that the new exhibit will cover around 1.3 acres and costed around 13.5 million dollars, confirms that Wood Storks, Brazilian Teals, and all 3 species of vulture will be moving to their new exhibits this Thursday, gives detail of the vulture feeder disguised as a cape buffalo skull in the African aviary, and finally states that each aviary will have 15 species!!!
 
 
TheImmigrant1 said:
Houston Zoo on Instagram: "This week, our Chilean flamingos moved to their brand-new exhibit, the South American Wetlands aviary, part of our Birds of the World exhibit opening Labor Day weekend. Zoo staff, volunteers, and board members stood side by side to form a human wall to help navigate the Zoo’s 54 flamingos to their new habitat. Our newest exhibit will feature three spacious aviaries, and each housing approximately 15 different bird species. Read more via link in bio."

We were wrong about Birds of the World opening in October based on speculation relating to the zoo ball dates. Birds of the World has now been confirmed to be opening during Labor Day weekend (early September)
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also happy to read on the post on their website that they are still breeding St. Vincent Amazon Parrots, but it seems based on what they said, that the amazons will remain bts.
 
The Baylor College of Medicine has developed the first ever mRNA vaccine to treat EEHV in Asian elephants. The zoo's 40-year old female Asian Elephant Tess has been given the first ever dose of this vaccine and is so far doing well post-vaccination. Tess will be closely monitored for a while to see how effective the vaccine is for elephants.
Houston Zoo Elephant Receives First Ever mRNA EEHV Vaccine, The Houston Zoo
 
There's a 12-page spread about Houston Zoo in 'PetTalk' magazine and it's available for free online. It's a nice overview of the zoo's history, future, conservation endeavors and impact on the community. Here's the link (pages 28-39):

Houston PetTalk June 2024

In terms of future projects, Birds of the World will have 3 aviaries (African Savanna, North American Woodlands, South American Wetlands) when it opens later this year. Plus, there will be an 'Avian Conservation Environment' building in the same area.

Jack's Cafe will open (in 2025) on the footprint of the old California Sea Lion exhibit.
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
The Baylor College of Medicine has developed the first ever mRNA vaccine to treat EEHV in Asian elephants. The zoo's 40-year old female Asian Elephant Tess has been given the first ever dose of this vaccine and is so far doing well post-vaccination. Tess will be closely monitored for a while to see how effective the vaccine is for elephants.
Houston Zoo Elephant Receives First Ever mRNA EEHV Vaccine, The Houston Zoo
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According to this article, two other young elephants will also soon receive the vaccine in the next few weeks. The first-ever elephant herpesvirus vaccine injected in Houston Zoo | Houston Public Media
 
Very uncommon for a local official to call out their local zoo or aquarium, so it'll be interesting how this potentially plays out. Considering the economic windfall most places bring, a public opinion that's short of stellar doesn't typically bode well for a constructive relationship between city and zoo.

Does it cost too much to go to the Houston Zoo? Mayor Whitmire thinks so.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
Very uncommon for a local official to call out their local zoo or aquarium, so it'll be interesting how this potentially plays out. Considering the economic windfall most places bring, a public opinion that's short of stellar doesn't typically bode well for a constructive relationship between city and zoo.

Does it cost too much to go to the Houston Zoo? Mayor Whitmire thinks so.
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Whitmer just out there making enemies left and right. Trying to brow beat council, ripping up traffic safety lanes. Best thing of him becoming mayor was SD15 got a member who wasn’t prioritizing private prison growth.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
Very uncommon for a local official to call out their local zoo or aquarium, so it'll be interesting how this potentially plays out. Considering the economic windfall most places bring, a public opinion that's short of stellar doesn't typically bode well for a constructive relationship between city and zoo.

Does it cost too much to go to the Houston Zoo? Mayor Whitmire thinks so.
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Seems like the Mayor's take hasn't gone over well with the local press.

Is the Houston Zoo really that expensive?
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
Seems like the Mayor's take hasn't gone over well with the local press.

Is the Houston Zoo really that expensive?
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I don’t get why mayor Whitmore felt that need to say this. I understand that inflation has affected many people in the states and around the world so being money conscious as to what activities they may want to engage in. But this isn’t one of the ones where it’s ludicrous to understand why tickets can cost as much as they do. Houston Zoo has been on a roll with rolling out amazing projects in the last decade alone.

To name a few and are amongst the best of their kind: Texas Wetlands, South America’s Pantanal, and Galápagos Islands. That’s not counting the dedication the zoo has shown about their Asian Elephant program and wanting to expand their home yet again. And now have the upcoming Birds of the World aviaries I’m sure will be stellar. Perhaps if the zoo had stagnated in projects and was demanding higher ticket prices, then I’d understand the frustration. But this isn’t it and Houston Zoo is amongst the best zoos in the states.
 
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