Dish-Houston

After a pregnancy lasting almost 23 months, Shanti, a 23 year old Asian elephant delivered a healthy 385 pound male calf shortly after 2:00 a.m. today at the Houston Zoo’s McNair Asian Elephant Habitat.

“The elephant keepers have named the calf Duncan,” said Houston Zoo Large Mammal Curator Daryl Hoffman. “They like the way it sounds,” he added.

Attended by the Houston Zoo’s elephant care team and assisted by the Zoo’s veterinary staff, Shanti delivered the baby at 2:13 a.m. today. 

“After months of preparation and tender loving care, Shanti’s labor was very brief and the delivery was  quick and easy for her” said  Hoffman.  “The keepers helped the calf to his feet and he was standing on his own within about an hour after his birth,” he added.  “The calf started nursing at 9 this morning,” said Hoffman.  “In the first 90 minutes after his first meal we saw him nurse more than 15 times.  Duncan has a very good appetite,” added Hoffman. Thai, the baby’s father, is 48 years old.

Immediately after the calf was born, the elephant care team and the Zoo’s veterinary staff performed a neonatal exam. 

“We weighed and measured the calf and took a blood sample.” said Houston Zoo Chief Veterinarian Dr. Joe Flanagan. “Duncan is almost 40 inches tall at the shoulder,” added Flanagan.

Elephant keepers will keep Shanti and Duncan under a 24-hour watch for the next few weeks.   The viewing windows in the barn at the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat are temporarily closed to the public. The windows will reopen to the public after the elephant care team has seen signs that Duncan is well-bonded with his mother and is comfortable in his new home, possibly next week. Duncan is Shanti’s fourth calf.  

The 8 members of the Houston Zoo’s elephant care team, assisted by the Zoo’s 4 full time veterinarians and veterinary staff and a core group of Zoo volunteers have been monitoring Shanti closely for the past 11 months.  The routine intensified over the past 12 weeks with regular ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s health and blood work to gauge the mother’s progesterone level.   Throughout the delivery, Shanti was attended by the entire elephant care team and assisted by Zoo veterinarians and Zoo hospital veterinary technicians.

            More than 50 volunteers and Zoo staff began a seven-day a week overnight birth watch in late-November.  Utilizing a state of the art closed-circuit television system, the birth watch team observed and documented Shanti’s behavior.  When blood tests indicated Shanti’s progesterone level had fallen to a low baseline level, members of the elephant care team and veterinarians remained at the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat around the clock watching for indications that labor might begin at any moment. 

The Houston Zoo is preparing for a big delivery next year.  Following the back to back births of Asian elephant calves Baylor and Tupelo in 2010, the Houston Zoo is making preparations for Shanti, a 23 year old Asian elephant to give birth in January, 2014.

            “The average gestation period for an Asian elephant is 22 months,” said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi.  “Our nine member elephant care staff along with our four Zoo veterinarians as well as research partners at Baylor College of Medicine have been monitoring Shanti throughout her pregnancy. We’re looking forward to a successful birth and the new addition to our multigenerational herd,” added Barongi.

            The Houston Zoo’s elephant care staff along with veterinarians have been monitoring the progress of Shanti’s pregnancy with regular ultrasound procedures since the late spring of last year.  Keepers have also been monitoring Shanti’s weight and her diet and leading the expectant mother through a regular exercise program.

            In mid-November, training of a night watch pregnancy monitoring team made up of volunteers and Zoo employees will commence.  The team will observe Shanti via closed circuit TV cameras in the barn at the Zoo’s McNair Asian Elephant Habitat, monitoring and recording her behavior and watching for signs of labor.  The night watch pregnancy monitoring will begin in late November and will continue until the calf’s birth.

             In December, daily blood sample collection to monitor Shanti’s progesterone levels will begin. A steeply declining blood progesterone level typically occurs 3-5 days prior to delivery.

            The Houston Zoo is home to 7 Asian elephants including 3 males and 4 females. Shanti’s last calf was Baylor, a male born May 4, 2010.  Weighing 348-pounds at birth, Baylor was named in recognition of the unprecedented and ongoing advances made by Baylor College of Medicine’s research team to significantly reduce the threat of a potentially lethal elephant herpes virus.

About the Houston Zoo

Founded in 1922, the Houston Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique educational and conservation resource serving more than 2 million guests annually.  Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is home to more than 6,000 exotic animals representing more than 800 species.  Visitors can experience the wonders of Africa at The African Forest, the new 6.5 acre, $40 million addition featuring chimps, rhinos, and giraffes.  Travel to Africa.  No Passport Required.

DISHIES! This is one of the best events of the year! Every year it is a COMPLETE BLAST!! Last year the entire zoo rocked out to the B52's and this year's big musical treat is Blues Traveler! You can be among the first to reserve your spot for the hottest entertainment event of the year.  Ticket sales begin September 4 for the Houston Zoo’s seventh annual Feast with the Beasts! Save the date:  November 2, 2012 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.. 

            “Houston is passionate about its international food and nonprofits,” said Rafael Bustillo, who heads up commercial banking at BBVA Compass. “As a member of the Houston Zoo board, I am proud to have BBVA Compass present this exciting event that will benefit the Zoo’s animals and its wildlife conservation efforts worldwide. Through our charitable arm of BBVA Compass Foundation, we promote conservation including educational programs for children."

Feast with the Beasts is the most anticipated musical and animal entertainment event but it is THE culinary event of the year.  Enjoy exotic culinary fare from more than 60 of Houston’s hottest restaurants and special animal presentations all set against the Zoo’s naturally wild backdrop. 

Last year’s event was a sellout success and folks were clammoring at the gates trying to get in! Feast tickets are $95 for Zoo members and $105 for non-members.  Purchase before September 17 and receive $10 off.  VIP tickets are available for $150. You must be at least 21 years of age to attend.  Valid form of identification is required for admission.  All ticket purchases are non-refundable.  Feast with the Beasts will happen rain or shine.  For more details CLICK HERE.

About Blues Traveler

            It’s not every band that is still staking out new musical territory and embracing fresh challenges more than 20 years into their career, but that’s the case with Blues Traveler.  Having long ago graduated from the jam-band underground to mainstream stardom, the iconoclastic combo has consistently stuck to its guns and played by its own rules.  Blues Traveler’s large and widely loved body of work includes eight studio albums and four live discs, six of them certified Gold or Platinum, with combined worldwide sales of more than ten million units.

About the Houston Zoo

Founded in 1922, the Houston Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique educational and conservation resource serving more than 1.8 million guests annually.  Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is home to more than 6,000 exotic animals representing more than 800 species.  Visitors can experience the wonders of Africa at The African Forest, the new 6.5 acre, $40 million addition featuring chimps, rhinos, and giraffes.  Travel to Africa.  No Passport Required. For information on all the great benefits of becoming a Zoo member call (713) 533-6713 or CLICK HERE

Operated by the not-for-profit Houston Zoo, Inc., the Houston Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species, the provision of engaging educational opportunities and the creation of stimulating exhibits that broaden the experiences of our guests and encourage their curiosity.

The Houston Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.  With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.  For more information visit www.aza.org.

The Houston Zoo just announced the passing of Doc, a Bornean orangutan and a revered member of the Houston Zoo family.  Doc was 27 years old.

            Born at the Dallas Zoo on Christmas Day 1984, Doc came to the Houston Zoo at the age of three as a social companion for a then-adolescent female orangutan, Kelly.  Their companionship resulted in two births, 8 year old Solaris and 5 month old Aurora.  Both Solaris and Aurora live at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates orangutan exhibit. 

            “Doc was receiving treatment for cardiomyopathy, a condition in which blood does not flow normally through the heart,” said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi. In consultation with Dr. Jose Banchs, Director of Echocardiography at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Zoo veterinarians modified Doc’s diet and he received the same medications a human patient would receive for the condition.  

“Over the past few months his condition worsened and began to adversely affect his quality of life,” said Barongi.  Following a consultation between Zoo administrators, the primate care team and Zoo veterinary staff, Doc was humanely euthanized this afternoon.

            Known for his blustery adult personality, Doc is lovingly remembered by Zoo staff, volunteers, and Zoo guests for his playful relationship with his son Solaris, his skill as an artist and for his two most distinguishing features – his beautiful eyes and his huge hands.  “He had a soft, gentle gaze.  His eyes were sweet and demure as an infant and his gaze stayed the same throughout his lifetime,” said Houston Zoo Assistant Curator of Primates Lynn Killam. 

            Doc’s large hands were gentle instruments of play with his son Solaris.  “Those lucky enough to see it were treated to a sight unknown in the wild – a full grown male orangutan play wrestling with his son,” said Killam.  “They would play for hours, and after a rest Solaris would gingerly pull on Doc’s hair and the game would begin again,” added Killam.

            Doc created beautiful paintings that were exhibited during “Pongos Helping Pongos” art exhibits that raised funds for orangutan conservation.  “Doc was quite contemplative when working on the canvas, using light small strokes with plant leaves that showed his intelligent and gentle nature,” said Killam.

Doc will be missed by all.