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
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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.
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Generations have posed with our iconic lion water fountain.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
20 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010 WWW.HOUSTONZOO.ORG | 21
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!
24 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010 WWW.HOUSTONZOO.ORG | 25
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.
26 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010 WWW.HOUSTONZOO.ORG | 27
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.
28 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010 WWW.HOUSTONZOO.ORG | 29
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.
30 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010 WWW.HOUSTONZOO.ORG | 31
“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
32 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010 WWW.HOUSTONZOO.ORG | 33
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
34 | AFRICAN FOREST 2010 WWW.HOUSTONZOO.ORG | 35
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