It’s all happening at the zoo

Stephanie Lee

The Signal Staff

With summer quickly approaching, planning for fun summer activities becomes a subject on many people’s minds. For individuals not wanting to stray far from home, the Houston Zoo, located at 6200 Hermann Park Dr., is the place to be. Not only is the zoo a place to entertain children but it also offers a great educational experience for all ages.

The Houston Zoo has many exciting upcoming events for people of all ages to enjoy. One of the first events that will soon take place is the birth of 19-year -old Asian elephant Shanti’s calf.

Shanti was scheduled to give birth on Sat. April 10, but she still has not gone into labor.

“As the excitement grows about the birth, the work load for the staff increases also,” said Martina Stevens, elephant supervisor. “Shanti is getting regular ultrasounds. At this point in the pregnancy it can be difficult to see the calf but we do see a lot of movement of the calf. We also take daily blood draws to check her progesterone levels. As the level drops we get a good indicator of how close she is to delivering the calf. The blood is drawn from a vein in her ear and she gets a big piece of fruit as a reward for putting up with it all.”

Another great event taking place at the Houston Zoo is Summer Camp Zoofari. The camp begins June 1 and goes through Aug. 13 for kids between the ages of four and 12.

“Taught by certified educators, campers get to interact with zoo keepers and have a hands-on experience learning about the natural world and wildlife conservation,” said Brian Hill, director of public affairs. “Camps last from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for one week each, but there are also half-day camps for younger kids. We have been hosting this camp for more than 15 years and it has been extremely successful. Registration for this event is still ongoing but is selling out very fast.”

Beginning Memorial Day weekend and lasting until Sept. 7, the Houston Zoo will be hosting a brand new event called the Dinosaur Exhibit. It will consist of animatronic dinosaurs presented in a wooded area near the zebra exhibit.

“We’ll plant cycads, ferns, ginkos and monkey puzzle trees through the Dinosaur Exhibit,” said Joe Williams, horticulture manager. “Cycads were extremely common during the Jurassic period. Ginkos are found in the fossil record as far back as 49.5 million years ago. Plants that were also found more recently getting closer to the end of the time of the dinosaur are: camellias, bauhinias, pines, cypress, magnolias, laurels, palms, hibiscus and gardenias. We’ll have a number of these planted along with a number of elephant ears and bamboos.”

The exhibit will feature 10 primeval lost creatures in a natural setting. From the fierce – and the armor-plated Stegosaurus to the massive Brachiosaurus and the horned Triceratops. To add to this, the exhibit will also reveal a nest full of baby dinosaurs.

“This summer don’t miss your opportunity to ‘Doze with the Dinosaurs,” Hill said. “Those with nerves of steel can explore dinosaurs at the Houston Zoo in the dark during an after-hours flashlight tour of the zoo. Tours include hands-on activities, animal ambassadors and more.”

The largest project that the Houston Zoo is taking on this summer is the opening of the African Forest. This is a $40 million project that is 6.5 acres large and will include 10 chimps and three rhinos. It will also create a new exhibit for giraffes that will feature a feeding platform that will allow viewers to see them up close and personal.

“Less than one-tenth of one percent of the entire United States population will ever experience the thrill of seeing Africa,” said Rick Barongi, Houston Zoo director. “The African Forest at the Houston Zoo is designed to bring that exciting experience to Houston. We will accomplish that with what is known as ‘immersion exhibits’ in which the barriers between the guests and the animals are virtually invisible. The result is an extraordinary adventure for zoo guests.”

“This summer is going to be the beginning of a great year at the Houston Zoo with lots of exciting opportunities for the public,” Hill said. “You can register for any event and keep up with the birth of Shanti’s delivery at www.houstonzoo.org.”

Click the play button below to watch a video taken at the Houston Zoo.