To give you an idea of the projects covered in the book, we thought we would highlight a few of the projects the Houston Zoo supports throughout the week:

Dr. Greg Rasmussen: Painted Dog Conservation

Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) was originally established as Painted Dog Research in 1992 by Dr. Gregory Rasmussen. During the first two years the human-induced incidents from snares, shootings and road kills accounted for 95% of all Painted dog (aka African wild dog) mortalities. Early public presentations showed prejudice and ignorance and it was clear that unless this situation was addressed, the species could become extinct. The initial emphasis was to identify the critical issues and develop a strategy that would make a substantial, lasting contribution to Painted Dogs, nature conservation and, very importantly, to the lives of the local people.

Today, PDC employs over 60 people from the local communities to run programs that ensure the survival of the Painted dogs and improvement the livelihoods of the local people.

PDC is a leading model for community-based predator conservation. By combining the most advanced modern technology with traditional knowledge of local communities, PDC has experienced great success – Zimbabwe’s wild dog population has increased from 400 to 700 individuals since the project’s inception. PDC’s model also brings direct benefit to local people with increased employment and unparalleled education opportunities.

Painted Dog in rehabilitation facility just before release back into the wild

Residents of PDC’s neighboring communities not only benefit from its programs but also actively contribute to them.  For example, community members are employed in anti-poaching units and produce beautiful and unique art from the confiscated snare wire.  They assist in systematic monitoring of the painted dog population and teach environmental educational.  The active engagement of local residents empowers communities, strengthens conservation, and raises environmental awareness. 

When you come to the Houston Zoo on May 19th and 20th for our Wildlife Heroes weekend visit the Painted dog exibit area, and try your hand at building your own snare wire sculptures.  Wire sculpture building will take place at 10am until 12 pm on both days .  Hope to see you there!

You can meet Dr. Greg Rasmussen at the 2012 Wildlife Conservation Expo on October 13th in San Francisco, CA

To give you an idea of the projects covered in the book, we thought we would highlight a few of the projects the Houston Zoo supports throughout the week:

Okapi Conservation Project, Democratic Republic of Congo – John Lukas

This not John Lukas but this is an Okapi in Epulu Conservation Station, DRC

John Lukas is the Executive Director of the White Oak Conservation Center in Yule, Florida and the founder of the Okapi Conservation Project.

There is very little that is not amazing about the Okapi. Perfectly colored to blend into the deep forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this distant relative of the Giraffe looks like more like a relative of the Zebra from their striped hindquarters and legs. Currently believed to  exist exclusively in the Ituri Forest of the DRC, a country that is struggling with civil strife, illegal mining operations and illegal logging,  it is a flagship and iconic species for a region which is one of the most biologically diverse in the world.

The species was not discovered by scientists until 1901 which is even more amazing for a mammal the size of a horse

The Okapi is a conservation success story, in a very difficult region, all due to the workd of the Okapi Conservation Project. You can view the Houston Zoo’s Okapi right next to our Elephant exhibit.

John Lukas will be a presenter at the Wildlife Conservation Network Expo on October 13, 2012 in San Francisco, CA

Come and visit the Okapi exhibit at the Zoo on May 19th and 20th for our Wildlife Heroes weekend to learn about the alternate protein source effort the Okapi project is attempting to reduce the need for poaching.

To give you an idea of the projects covered in the book, we thought we would highlight a few of the projects the Houston Zoo supports throughout the week:

Rosamira Guillen, Director of Proyecto Titi: Cotton-top Tamarins.

That monkey has one bad hairdo.

Cotton-top Tamarin, Colombia. Proyecto Titi

Cotton-top tamarins are an endangered species of primate found only in the tropical forests of Colombia. Weighing about 1 pound, this tiny monkey needs our help in order to survive. Proyecto Tití is a conservation program that works to study cotton-top tamarins in their tropical forest habitat  as well as educating local communities about the need to protect the biodiversity of Colombia. But, to make conservation economically feasible  for many local communities, they have developed some innovative strategies to empower local people to get involved and benefit from conservation activities.

Rosamira Guillen has worked tirelessly to protect this species. Over 90% of the cotton-top tamarins forest has been lost to development and other activities. Proyecto Titi began in 1985 and is committed to raising public awareness to the plight of the cotton-top tamarin through a variety of projects involving numerous individuals and organizations.

From community education programs to alternative uses for heating and cooking, Proyecto Titi is making a difference in protecting this very important primate within a limited habitat. Learn more at http://proyectotiti.com

If you are on the West Coast and would like to meet Rosamira Guillen, she will be presenting in Losa Altos, California on June 2nd and then at the Wildlife Conservation Network Expo in San Francisco, CA on October 13th, 2012.

Join us for the Wildlife Heroes weekend here at the Houston Zoo on May 19th and 20th and learn about the community commerce effort this project has created to offer new ways to generate income for the poor surrounding communities.  During the keeper chats on this special weekend you will also hear about various research techniques this project uses for this unique species.

To give you an idea of the projects covered in the book, we thought we would highlight a few of the projects the Houston Zoo supports throughout the week:

Dr. Marc Ancrenaz, Borneo’s Orangutans and the Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project

You have seen a number of posts the past few years on Dr. Ancrenaz and the Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project. The Houston Zoo has been a partner of this program going back to 2004. Orangutan conservation is an important piece of our programming and Dr. Ancrenaz and his team have made it part of their lives since 1998.

Borneo is the world’s third largest island and a region of high biological diversity that has lost upwards of 75% of its original tropical forest cover. The two most prominent species on the Borneo are the orangutan and the Asian elephant, both of which are classified as Endangered and have lost significant habitat to logging and the subsequent conversion of natural forest to oil palm plantations.

Bornean Orangutan photo courtesy Paul Swen

The Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Program includes significant priorities and goals for this region:

• Enhanced knowledge of orangutan ecology and conservation status including the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Ulu Segama/Malua Forest Reserve, Timimbang Forest Reserve and Eastern Sabah landscapes
• Assessment and monitoring of orangutan population health and genetic status
• Orangutan ecological adaptation to degraded and fragmented habitat
• Development of policies for population management within and outside protected areas
• Reduced level of conflicts between human activity and orangutans including improved land use and reforestation
• Community engagement and education in the conservation of orangutans and habitat
• Environmental education programs for Malaysian school children

To learn more and watch a short vidoe of the region – link here

Join us for our Wildlife Heroes weekend on May 19th and 20th and learn how local communities monitor Orangutan populations.  At the orangutan exhibit you can be a researcher and participate in an activity to document what you see our Orangutans doing.  See you at the Zoo!

To give you an idea of the projects covered in the book, we thought we would highlight a few of the projects the Houston Zoo supports throughout the week:

Raoul Du Toit: African Rhinoceros

Raoul Du Toit truly is a Rhino Hero. Raoul is the International Rhino Foundations African Rhino Program Advisor and the Director of the Lowveld Rhino Trust in Zimbabwe. He has worked for over 25 years to protect the Black Rhino and White Rhinos of Africa, two species whose populations sturggle due to habitat loss and immense poaching pressures.

The Rhinoceros has survived on our planet for millions of years and once occurred not only in Africa and Asia but in Europe andNorth Americaas well. But today, only five species of rhino survive. Four of these five species sit on the verge of extinction and the fifth, the White rhino, holds a population of less than 18,000 individuals across the African continent.

The Rhino is truly a species on the edge. Zoos, conservation organizations, and field researchers have worked together for many years to help fight for their survival. It is difficult to protect a species whose numbers have plummeted so quickly but when you consider the 25,000 rhinos worldwide are spilt between 5 species, it makes the challenge of recovery all that more daunting.

To learn more about the Houston Zoo’s work with Rhino Conservation or to support our efforts, follow the link.

To give you an idea of the projects covered in the book, we thought we would highlight a few of the projects the Houston Zoo supports throughout the week:

Dr. Patricia Medici, Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative

The Houston Zoo has been a fan of Pati Medici’s going back nearly a dozen years.  Chair of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Tapir Specialist Group, Dr. Medici assists in directing conservation activities for all four species of  Tapir – 3 from Latin America and 1 from Malaysia.

Tapirs are what we would call “landscape architects”. They not only create trails through the thick underbrush of the forest for other animals, but they also manage the forest because of the plants they eat and the seeds they disperse.

The Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative aims to establish a long-term Tapir Research and Conservation Programs in all key Brazilian biomes. Specifically, basic ecology, population demography, habitat use and animal movement, genetic profile, and health status will be evaluated in each biome. The main goals of this project are to use the data collected to assess the conservation status and viability of the lowland tapir populations in the Brazilian biomes, and to design specific set of recommendations for the conservation of the species in each one of them.

My first heroes were animal people.  When I went to zoos my heroes were the zoo keepers and when I watched animal documentaries the researchers were my heroes.  We all need amazing people to inspire us and that is why the new book Wildlife Heroes is so wonderful. 

The book includes 40 people overcoming impossible odds to save endangered species all over the world.  If you are looking for real heroes for your children to look up to look now further! 

The unique stories in this book of local communities becoming involved in anti-poaching, education and research efforts for wildlife in their own back yard are immeasurably inspiring!  In one story a young boy, Thia grew up in Northern Vietnam watching his village hunt the very species he fights to save today.  His passion to help a unique species called the pangolin will warm your heart!
 
I have had the honor of meeting many of the heroes in this book (including the authors) over the years and they inspire me to move forward in my own wildlife conservation work.  These are real people making a real difference! 

This book introduces readers to pollinator and amphibian decline and other environment issues that continue to threaten our world.  But it also offers great messages of hope.  In the last chapter Jack Hannah suggests ways the reader can help, and the good news is that by purchasing the Wildlife Heroes book you are already helping- 100 % of the proceeds go to the projects featured in the book.  A win for everyone!

Hope to see you at the Houston Zoo for our Wildlife Heroes weekend May 19th and 20th!

Dr Joe with turtle

Be ready for a story of an endangered Kemp’s Ridley female sea turtle with a happy ending! 
Our head veterinarian, Dr. Joe Flanagan has been working to save sea turtles for many years now.  He is the main sea turtle vet in the area and knows no limits when it comes to helping the species.  Last Memorial Day, a large female endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was found by sea turtle beach patrol staff digging a nest in the sand on a Galveston beach.  The team immediately noticed that she had sustained severe injuries.  She had attempted to dig 3 nests, but had not dropped any eggs.  They rushed her to the Houston Zoo’s veterinary clinic for treatment and examination by Dr. Joe.
 
Upon arrival Dr. Joe was alarmed by the state of this female Sea turtle.  He has seen many injured and stranded sea turtles over the years and tries to remain optimistic for most of his cases, but Joe later admitted he was very doubtful this one would survive her injuries.  She had lost a lot of blood and her carapace or shell was severely damaged, it was clear she had been impacted by a boat propeller. 

Identification tags revealed that Joe had met this turtle before.  He discovered that he had released her as a baby turtle almost 20 years prior.  She was a Head-start (a process where individuals of a species are sheltered in captivity through the more vulnerable stages of development and then released where they were found) turtle released in1992.  This case quickly became very near and dear to his heart. 
After Joe had done everything he could for the turtle at the Zoo’s clinic she was transported to the sea turtle Barn in Galveston to recover.  She laid the eggs she had attempted to deposit on the Galveston beach.  Many of them were viable and sent to Padre Island to be incubated and hatched.  Her offspring were released later in the year. 
Joe visited her at the Galveston Turtle Barn many times throughout the year, delighted to see her respond to his many treatments.  The skin has healed nicely and although there is a potion of her carapace/shell missing, but it does not affect her ability to swim.  He was very excited to announce recently that she is fit to be released.  Almost a year from finding her severely damaged body on the beach she is ready to go back to the wild!

Once in a while, we simply lose things. People lose things all the time; keys, their phones, sunglasses, a stroller – thankfully without the baby it was brought in to wheel around, one sock – we all lose one sock. I knew a red panda that lost his sock once but that is a story for another day.

Unfortunately we lose species – back in 2010 the Yangtze River Dolphin was pronounced to be extinct. That is a pretty big mammal to go extinct under our watch. In 1975, a specimen of large rodent was discovered on a small island in the Philippines. Known as the Dinagat Island Cloud Rat (Crateromys australis to us rodent nerds), this species was never seem again and thus declared extinct. That was until this year when the Dinagat Island Cloud rat was seen and videotaped by two researchers.

Drawing of Dinagat bushy-tailed cloud rat by William Oliver of the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation

It may not sound like much, who needs another rodent in the world right? But this is an amazing find and amazing little mammal. I say little mammal but this is one of the largest and most beautiful of rodent species, endemic to only this one tiny island in the Philippines. Yes I wrote beautiful and rodent in the same sentence, get over it. This island is also home to a few other little known species which most of you are going to think are a bit bizarre but here goes: How about the Dinagat hairy-tailed rat! Sounds exquisite but more exciting is the Dinagat moonrat which is not really a rat but an insectivore – try that for a Jeopardy question, Alex Trebeck!

There are a number of species of Cloud Rats – that’s right, the more the merrier – in the Philippines including the Giant bushy-tailed cloud rat, the Ilin Island cloud rat., northern and southern Luzom cloud rats, Panay bushy-tailed cloud rat and the dwarf cloud rat. This group of species are found nowhere else but the Philippines and are under pressure frm both hunting and habitat loss to agricultural development.

So the next time you lose your phone, don’t worry I found it and have recycled it, but the next time you or your red panda lose a sock, just realize it may take you 37 years to find it again, but when you do it will be one of the most amazing discoveries of your life.

Nester

Identification tags revealed that Joe had met this turtle before.  He discovered that he had released her as a baby turtle almost 20 years prior.  She was a Head-start (a process where individuals of a species are sheltered in captivity through the more vulnerable stages of development and then released where they were found) turtle released in1992.  This case quickly became very near and dear to his heart. 
After Joe had done everything he could for the turtle at the Zoo’s clinic she was transported to the sea turtle Barn in Galveston to recover.  She laid the eggs she had attempted to deposit on the Galveston beach.  Many of them were viable and sent to Padre Island to be incubated and hatched.  Her offspring were released later in the year. 

Joe visited her at the Galveston Turtle Barn many times throughout the year, delighted to see her respond to his many treatments.  The skin has healed nicely and although there is a potion of her carapace/shell missing, but it does not affect her ability to swim.  He was very excited to announce recently that she is fit to be released.  Almost a year from finding her severely damaged body on the beach she is ready to go back to the wild!

Joe ultrasounding nester