There is an African Forest Growing at Houston Zoo

By Brian Hill

Houston, TX - As the boom of African drums echoed across a wooded landscape, the Houston Zoo today began transforming a 6.5 acre site in the heart of the nation’s fourth largest city into an extraordinary adventure – The African Forest.

Houston Zoo officials and honored VIP guests today turned shovels in dark Texas Gulf Coast earth, officially launching Phase One construction of The African Forest, the most ambitious undertaking in the Zoo’s 87 year history.

“Less than one-tenth of one percent of the entire U. S. population will ever experience the thrill of seeing Africa,” said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi. “The African Forest at the Houston Zoo is designed to bring that exciting experience to Houston and 1.7 million Zoo guests each year,” added Barongi.

Scheduled to open in December 2010 The African Forest at the Houston Zoo will vividly recreate an awe-inspiring wilderness habitat featuring chimpanzees, rhinos, and giraffes in an environment reminiscent of the forest landscape of western equatorial Africa.

Exciting “immersion” exhibits with virtually invisible barriers between guests and the animals will provide an extraordinary adventure for Zoo guests. “The African Forest will take visitors on an entertaining journey through one of the world’s most mysterious and beautiful places,” said Houston Zoo President and CEO Deborah Cannon. “As our guests make their way along their journey, The African Forest will also serve as a dynamic living classroom emphasizing the importance of conserving our natural world,” added Cannon.

The groundbreaking also marks the beginning of the African Forest Campaign. “We have quietly worked with many of Houston’s foundation, individuals and corporations to raise a significant portion of the funds needed for The African Forest,” said African Forest Campaign Committee Chair Anne Duncan. “Today we are reaching out to the community to raise the remaining funds necessary to complete the first phase of The African Forest. We’re inviting everyone to participate and ‘take ownership’ of The African Forest at the Houston Zoo,” said Duncan.

About the African Forest Phase One
Covering 6.5 wooded acres and featuring chimpanzees, rhinos, and giraffes, Phase one of The African Forest at the Houston Zoo is unique in its narrative organization. By incorporating elements of theatrical performance and developing multiple layers of interpretation and enjoyment, the African Forest will allow visitors to explore and learn in different ways – through traditional signage, interactive elements, and dynamic personal encounters.

The Experience
The African Forest adventure begins as guests follow a path through a rock portal emerging in an open area that is home to a village trading outpost and nature-based travel camp. At the outpost guests can sign up for special weekly guided tours or “Wild Winks” overnight camps in the Forest. Small round, leaf-covered huts surround a central fire pit that will be the site of storytelling and listening to the sounds of local wildlife. Around the fire pit, Zoo staff will present entertaining and education programs about African Forest wildlife and invite guests to participate in local conservation efforts.

From the outpost, guests will follow a winding path through a wooded canopy to a large building looking out over a colony of chimpanzees. This is an observation study site where chimps are enticed to return frequently to search for food in termite mounds or from the limbs of fallen trees. The building is designed to allow guests and the chimps to come right up to a glass wall and interact. A wide ledge in front of the glass barrier gives guests a place to sit, relax, enjoy the wildlife and interact with the chimps and fellow visitors.

The center of the building includes a low deck area featuring sculptures of a chimp family. The sculptures are arranged in a fashion to create a perfect photo opportunity for guests. The building’s inside walls contain posters and graphics describing the plight of chimpanzees in Africa. At different times of the day, a local guide will talk about animal training, behavior and care.

Leaving the chimpanzee observation study site, guests will take a winding wooded path to another chimp viewing opportunity. Following the path through a tunnel that appears to have been carved through solid rock, guests will come upon an open area presenting a mixed species habitat for white rhinos, forest antelope and other African Forest inhabitants. A winding path along an open vista gives guests an unobstructed viewing opportunity.

Proceeding along the African Forest trail, guests will come upon an open plaza featuring a restaurant, gift shop and a Masai giraffe habitat with elevated viewing opportunities. One section of the habitat will provide The African Forest guests an intimate and unique opportunity to feed the Zoo’s giraffe herd. Several times each day guests come nose to nose with the world’s tallest terrestrial animals, offering the Zoo’s giraffes approved treats provided at a nominal cost by The African Forest giraffe keepers.

African Forest “Wow” Facts
Welded wire mesh reinforcing steel
475,000 pounds – A weight equivalent to 190 giraffes or 118 rhinos.
Rebar
117 miles – Enough to stretch from the Houston Zoo to Beaumont.
Electrical conduit and wire
33.8 miles – Enough to stretch from the Houston Zoo to Kingwood or Sugar Land.
Paint
900 gallons – Enough to paint the interiors of 45 3,000 square foot homes.
Plaster (specialty wall finishing)
36,938 – Enough to finish the Sheetrock for 13 new three bedroom homes.
Trees Relocated
29 live oak trees

To view Houston Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-727-Houston_Zoo