View from The Texas Zoo A New Year Begins!

A QUARTERLY NEW SLETT ER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE T EX AS ZOO
South Texas Zoological Society
View from The Texas Zoo
In this Issue . . .
Past Zoo Events
2
Up Coming Events
3
Animal Byte
4
New Exhibit Info
4
Wish List
4
Youth Programs
5
Volunteer Opportunities
6
Memberships/Adoptions
6
Zoosday Themes
6
Calendar of Events
6
A New Year Begins!
Printing is costly to our
budget and the
environment. Please
help by printing your
full copy only if you
need it. Or, view the
full newsletter at
www.texaszoo.org.
Sign up for emails
We are making better use of
technology to contact our
members. Please email us at
contactus@texaszoo.org so we
can contact you in a greener,
more efficient way via email.
Don’t Forget
You’ll find your zoo in The
Victoria Advocate. Every
other Monday, read
“Zoo-ology.” This article
will highlight different
species, interesting facts
form the Animal Kingdom
and even insider secrets to
the Texas Zoo. Don’t miss
it!
I SSUE 8
It is hard to believe that we are
already into the year 2012. Your
Texas Zoo has many New Year’s
Resolutions and big plans in store.
New exhibits, renovations and
building expansions are all in our
future. Your support has meant the
world to us. Without you these
upgrades would not be possible.
THANK YOU!
-Please continue to visit The Texas
Zoo. Our growth and success is
your success too.
-Stay in touch via email or
facebook.
-Visit the web site for details and
new information.
-Watch for new Events and New
Programs.
Thank you again and Have a
Happy New Year!
Your Texas Zoo Staff
J anuar y 2012
Board of Directors
Officers
Melissa Rivera
President
Scott Wideman
Vice President
Allyson Pall-Griffin
Secretary
Rhonda Griffin
Treasurer
Inez Kucera
Member at Large
Directors
Lauren Belk
Dee Dee Ramirez
Tina Wayne
Adam Wertman
Chelsy DiMaggio
Karen Matak
Monica Jacob
Zoo Staff
Andrea Blomberg
Director
Michael Magaw
Animal Curator
Amanda Rocha
Program director
Dlorah Maddux
Office & Customer
Service Manager
2012 Sponsor
Munchie Hut is open every weekend offering beverages and tasty snacks.
Newsletter for The Texas Zoo
Page 2
Past Texas Zoo Events
Record breaking number of people came to the Zoo to enjoy the Halloween Events. Haunted
Zoo, the evening scary event, was held over two weekends. Tour Guides from beyond the
grave lead groups through the whole zoo. Participants were surprised and scared out of
their minds by zombies, clowns and swamp people.
Zoo Boo, daytime trick-or-treating event, took place over two
days. Children were able to participate in different games,
crafts and had the opportunity to trick-or-treat at different
companies’ booths.
The Texas Zoo celebrated the holiday season by throwing a Breakfast
With Santa event on December 3rd. Pancake breakfast, generously donated and served by McDonalds, kicked off the morning. Guests were
entertained by carolers and got the opportunity to create a one of a
kind keepsake ornament and they decorate and ate sugar cookies. The
man himself, Santa Claus, made an appearance and guests got the chance
to ask the big man for a Christmas wish while posing for pictures.
Christmas presents were given to our zoo animals throughout the day.
Fun was had by all who watched the animals enjoy their treats.
The Texas Zoo participated in the City of Victoria’s Christmas in Downtown.
Alligators, boas, fox and sheep were available for the public to touch and
learn about.
Every year the City of Victoria has a Lighted Christmas Parade. This
year, the Zoo entered a float. Staff were joined by friendly, oversized
animal friends as they waved and smiled to all of the on lookers down
Main Street.
Page 3
Newsletter for The Texas Zoo
Upcoming Events
@
The Texas Zoo
Peacock
Gala
January 14-16
January 20, 2012
Everyone only
pays $1
Stay on
Track!
SatuBreak
Odyssey Spring
rday Camp
M
ar
ch
24
, 2012
9am-4pm
5th & 6th grade
March 12-16
Journey Spring Break Camp
9am-12pm
1st & 2nd grade
Jungle
Love
February
11
9am4pm
Wild
About
Wine
March
24
March 12-16
TX Native Day Camp
9am-12pm
3rd & 4th grade
March 17
Possum & Friends Day Camp
1pm-4pm
pre k-kinder
March 17
March 31
Page 4
Newsletter for The Texas Zoo
Animal Byte
Creature Feature
New Exhibit Info
The new exotic bird gazebo is finished! Iago
and Sinbad are loving their new home.
Breaking Ground
The Texas Zoo is home to Christa and Saffron the
Bengal Tigers. Tigers are the largest members of
the cat family and are known for their power and
strength. Their beauty and large stature make
them one of our most popular exhibits. Tigers are
known for their stripes and like our fingerprints,
no two animals are marked the same.
Bengal tigers live in India and Bangladesh, in the
Sunderbans or mangrove forests. They were once
much more wide-spread but just in the last
century their range has dramatically decreased.
They are by and large solitary animals but females
will sometimes peacefully share their ranges. Bengal tigers and the other four remaining subspecies
are all endangered in the wild. Habitat loss and
hunting over the last 100 years have decreased the
wild population of Bengals from hundreds of
thousands of animals to as few as two thousand
five hundred animals.
A tiger’s roar can be heard up to two miles away.
Tigers are excellent swimmers and consequently
do not avoid the water.
Keeper Chats
Everyday at 2pm and 3pm our Zoo Keepers will be
available at different exhibits to speak with the public.
Gator Feedings
Wednesday and Saturday at 12 pm our beloved
American Alligators will be fed for the public to view.
Come over to the Gator House to watch the action and
learn a few fun facts.
Reptile Show
Come down to The Texas Zoo for the Reptile Show
featuring some of the Zoo’s snakes, tortoises and
lizards. This hands on experience will be one to
remember. Weekends at 1pm.
The aviary is about to undergo a major
renovation in February. The improved
aviary will allow guests to feed birds up
close. Stay tuned for more details.
Visit the Texas Zoo soon to see the new
additions and renovations. And remember
things are constantly changing so stop by
often to see the new upgrades.
Wish List
Brooms/ push brooms
Water hoses (100 ft)
Kiddie pools
Large chew bones/knuckle bones
Dried fruit
Garden veggies (no tomatoes)
Bleach/ dish soap
Bagged cypress mulch
Upright vacuum cleaner—new or used
8 qt rubber feeder pans
Weed eater gas powered
Ladders
Aquarium filters (medium)
Reptile basking bulbs 75w
Newsletter for The Texas Zoo
Page 5
Stay On Track!
2012 Youth Programs
Zoosday Every Tuesday 10am Pre K
March
March
March
March
12-16
12-16
17
17
Odyssey Spring Break Camp 9am-4pm 5th and 6th Grade
Journey Spring Break Camp 9am-12pm 1st and 2nd Grade
TX Native Animal Day Camp 9am—12pm 3rd and 4th Grade
Possums & Friends Day Camp 1pm-4pm Pre K-Kinder
April 7
April 7
Reptile Day Camp 9am-12pm 5th and 6th Grade
Hawks Day Camp 1pm-4pm 1st and 2nd Graders
May 7
May 19
May 19
Junior Volunteer Applications Due ages 13-17
Exotic Bird Day Camp 9am-12pm 3rd and 4th Graders
Mammal Day Camp 1pm-4pm Pre K–Kinder
June
June
June
June
Junior Volunteer Program Starts
Zoo Explorers Summer Camp 9am-12pm 4th through 6th grades
Zoo Friends Summer Camp 1pm-4pm Pre K-Kinder
ZooMu Summer Camp with Children Discovery Museum 9am-12pm ages 4-8
11
18-22
25-29
25-29
July 9-13
July 16-20
July 23-27
Zoo Crew Summer Camp 9am-12pm 1st and 2nd Grade
Zoo Warrior Summer Camp 9am-4pm 3rd and 4th Grade
Conservation Rangers Summer Camp 9am-4pm 5th and 6th Grade
August 3
Junior Volunteer Program Ends
November 7
November 17
November 17
Creatures of the Night 6:30pm-8pm 3rd-6th Grade
Fuzzy Critter Day Camp 9am-12pm 1st and 2nd Grade
Bug Day Camp 1pm-4pm 3rd and 4th Grade
December
December
December
December
Barn Yard Friends Day Camp 9am-12pm Pre K –Kinder
Conservation Day Camp 9am-12pm 5th and 6th Grade
Discovery Winter Camp 9am-4pm 3rd and 4th Grade
Quest Winter Camp 9am-12pm 1st and 2nd Grade
15
15
17-21
17-21
*look for additional camps and dates online
Page 6
Newsletter for The Texas Zoo
Volunteer Opportunities
Experience a true zoo adventure
We can’t do it with out you! Volunteer
jobs range from working with animal
care, gardening to admin work. We
also need lots of help with Special
Events. The next volunteer training is
February 5th. Pre-register via phone
or email. Check out ww.texaszoo.org,
fill out a volunteer application and
send it in. Additional Volunteer
Trainings will be announced on the
web site.
for your next birthday party, and
leave all the details to us!
Books Yours Today!
Call / Email / Stop By
Members receive a discount on parties!
See website for complete details.
Is your membership almost expired?
If you want to volunteer for just
events, volunteer training is not
mandatory but you have to be 14 years
of age or older. Call 361.573.7681 for
more details.
Don’t miss out on the instant savings in the gift shop and to over
one hundred reciprocal zoos across the Nation.
Also enjoy free admission to Your Zoo for a year and
free admission to special events.
Have You adopted You New Family Member Yet?
When you adopt a Zoo Resident you will be providing food and enrichments for one year. You also receive
a Certificate of Adoption and an information sheet on your animal. Visit www.texaszoo.org to adopt today!
Zoosday Themes
Bring your preschooler every Tuesday morning at 10am for animal-themed adventures.
January ill
k At My B
1/3 Loo
ble
r My Rum
1/10 Hea oo! Is It?
!H
1/17 Hoo
k Oink
1/24 Oin
y
ck Out M
1/31 Che
ity
Commun
Mark Your Calendar!
February
2/7 Are You Pulling My Beard?
2/14 Watch My Shuffle!
2/21 Sliding Home
2/28 What’s That Howling?
Questions? 361.573.7681
J A N UA RY
14-16
20
28
Dollar Days
Peacock Gala
Native American Cultural
Event
Marc
h
3/6 Ring A
round
3/13 Don’t
Act So Ruff
3/20 Who
se Legs Are
Those?
3/27 Slith
ering Arou
nd
MARCH
F E B RUARY
1
11
Region III Teacher Workshop
Living Organisms
12-16 Odyssey Spring Camp
12-16
Jungle Love
17
17
24
31
Grades 5th & 6th
Journey Spring Break Camp
Grades 1st and 2nd
TX Native Animal Day
Camp Grades 3rd & 4th
Possum Day Camp Grades
pre k-kinder
Wild About Wine
Breakfast With Bunny &
Spring Fling!