International Bongo Foundation

The Fort Worth Zoo's Enrichment Online Website

The Fort Worth Zoo operates Enrichment Online, an innovative communication network created to share animal enrichment ideas and information among animal care professionals around the world. Enrichment Online promotes the philosophy of enrichment as an essential component of daily animal care and serves as a comprehensive and valuable resource for animal care professionals. The site provides a variety of resources, including:

• detailed information about specific enrichment initiatives
• information on enrichment vendors
• enrichment literature
• animal care-related websites

American Flamingo Ecology and Wetland Conservation Awareness in Coastal Yucatan, Mexico

The Mexican government has designated the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus r. ruber) a protected native and endangered species. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) also lists this flamingo as in need of protection as a preventative tool against extinction. American flamingos occur throughout the eastern coastal areas of Mexico, Central America, the northern areas of South America, Cuba and the Bahamas. Even though their range is extensive, they have few breeding areas. Being concentrated into a few areas for breeding makes them extremely vulnerable to disturbance, which has caused the abandonment of entire nesting colonies in the past. The primary nesting area in the Yucatan Peninsula is on the north shore within the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. Approximately 85 percent of the flamingo hatches in Mexico occur in this estuary.

Basic biological information, such as migration routes, nutrition and parental care has not been intensively studied in the field. To obtain this information, Chris Brown initiated a long-term conservation and research program in 1999. At that time, Mr. Brown was the Curator of Birds at the Fort Worth Zoo and has since moved to the Dallas Zoo as Curator of Birds and coordinator of this project. The Fort Worth Zoo, through it's Nutrition Department, continues to contribute significantly to this project.

This project combines a variety of different conservation strategies for the American flamingo in Mexico. At the heart is a scientifically designed research program. Every year, hundreds of juvenile flamingos are banded, weighed and measured, and blood and crop samples are taken. All chicks are then released to join the main group, or creche, where they resume normal activities.

The Fort Worth Zoo remains one of the partner institutions in this collaborative effort, heading up the nutritional aspect of this multi-faceted conservation project. The Fort Worth Zoo's director of nutritional services, Ann Ward, coordinates and supervises collection, sampling, analysis and data summary of crop milk and nutrition blood samples. Eventually, the nutritional data obtained will help to facilitate appropriate diets for young and adult flamingoes in captivity. Also, the establishment of a database of nutritional serum parameters can provide a successful method for assessing the nutritional status of free-ranging birds in addition to captive birds.

Top

Bald Eagle Nest Restoration

At least one eaglet has hatched in a bald eagle nest restored last fall by several Texas AZA zoos and other state wildlife experts. The group partnered to build an artificial nest and perch for a pair of bald eagles that have been nesting on a northern Texas Panhandle prairie for the past several years. Biologists feared that if the nest was not restored quickly, the eagle pair, which mates for life, would lose this nesting habitat.

The nest was discovered in 2004 by Texas Tech University Research Biologist and Associate Professor Dr. Clint Boal. Since then, the two adult eagles have produced five eaglets, excluding the newly hatched one. The nest slowly deteriorated, and was found collapsed in October 2006.

The new artificial nest was constructed in November 2006 at the Fort Worth Zoo, and the poles donated by Xcel Energy were erected to provide support and additional perching. The partnership also includes Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Abilene Zoo, Texas Tech University and Amarillo Zoo. The project was completed just in time for the eagles to nest this past winter.

Project partners hope to take the conservation efforts a step farther by banding future eaglets of this pair. Banding would provide tracking opportunities, and a chance to study how bald eagles survive and develop outside their typical aquatic environment.

Top

International Bongo Foundation

History and Mission

In January 2004, 18 Mountain bongo were returned to the slopes of Mount Kenya. At the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, the 18 bongo were released into receiving bomas were they were kept for the first year as the 100-acre forest sanctuary was completed. Several calves were born during this time. Now with the sanctuary complete, the animals are living in the forest where they can begin to adapt to a more natural life.

The focus of the project is to acclimate the offspring of the original repatriated animals for life in the wild. When the time is appropriate, some of these offspring will be outfitted with tracking transponders and released into the forests of Mount Kenya.

The International Bongo Foundation held its organizational meeting at the Fort Worth Zoo in January 2006. Individuals from the Zoological Society of San Diego, Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Fort Worth Zoo and Actress Stefanie Powers attended. The focus on the foundation will be for the Mountain Bongo and dedicated initially to the return of the species to Mount Kenya. The foundation is currently in the initial set up stage.

Top

Iron Absorption and Effect of Dietary Tannins in Black Rhinoceros

The Fort Worth Zoo Nutrition Department, in collaboration with the Brookfield Zoo, is currently conducting a study to assess the effect of tannins on iron absorption. Reports indicate that excess iron storage (hemosiderosis) is a common condition in the black rhinoceros. There are many institutions taking part, including Brookfield Zoo, Dallas Zoo, El Coyote Ranch, Fort Worth Zoo, and Fossil Rim. The overall purpose of the study is to determine what changes should be made in captive rhino diets. By doing so, we hope to eventually prevent diseases that are linked to diet.

To carry out the study, the rhinos are offered four different diet treatments, each for six months, which is followed by a 14-day digestibility trial. The first treatment is the zoo diet that they are currently being fed. The second is a carefully measured baseline diet that will be the same among institutions. The third is the baseline diet with an addition of hydrolyzable tannins. The last treatment is the baseline diet plus condensed tannins.

Once a rhino has been on a diet treatment for a full six months, a member of the Fort Worth Zoo nutrition staff and the participating institution's keepers conduct a 14-day digestibility trial. This labor-intensive period involves carefully measuring food offered to each rhino and the food remaining at the end of the day. A chemical marker (N-alkane C36) is also offered during this portion of the study and provides a good measure of digestibility when excreted. Before this portion of the study is over, not only will food be weighed many times each day but samples are also taken of fecal material, blood, water and soil.

The rhinos at the El Coyote Ranch are the healthiest in this group of institutions. These four animals will remain on their current diet throughout the duration of the study to better assess the effectiveness of their diet with regard to promoting normal iron stores.

By the end of the project, a great amount of valuable data will have been collected. Digestibility data (the differences between consumed nutrients and nutrients in the fecal material) will indicate if differences occur in the amount of iron absorbed based on the presence or lack of tannins in the diet. Additionally, blood serum parameters will help assess the effectiveness of each diet. Based on this data, the most appropriate diets for captive rhinos to maintain healthy iron stores will be proposed.

Top

Native Texas Species Conservation

Partnerships for Texas Conservation

With the opening of the Zoo's new Texas Wild! exhibit, the Fort Worth Zoo has a unique opportunity to spearhead native Texas species conservation. Based on the concept of thinking globally but acting locally, the Zoo's Texas Wild! exhibit touts a message that wildlife stewards should start close to home.

On August 23, 2001, more than 20 prestigious wildlife organizations partnered with the Fort Worth Zoo to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and support the Zoo's mission to identify and prioritize wildlife conservation projects in Texas. On the same day, the Arthur A. Seeligson Conservation Fund was announced. Fulfilling the promise and mission of the new flagship exhibit, the Conservation Fund and MOU will enable the Zoo to advance the cause of native Texas species through the unification of world-class institutions.

Arthur A. Seeligson Conservation Fund

In 2001, the Fort Worth Zoo dedicated $200,000 toward the conservation of native Texas species. Established in the memory of Arthur A. Seeligson Jr., the father of Zoo supporter Ramona Bass, this fund represents the spirit behind the Zoo’s Texas Wild! exhibit. Mr. Seeligson truly loved the land and served as the inspiration for this innovative new exhibit that teaches the importance of land stewardship and of conserving the biodiversity found in our own backyard. To honor his memory, family and friends established the fund to benefit Texas wildlife. Any organization or individual whose work benefits native Texas species can apply for support from the fund.

Click here for proposal information.

Texas Horned Lizard

The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) was once common throughout most of Texas, but its population has significantly declined in most of its historical range. This decline is partially due to collection for the pet trade, loss of habitat and the introduction and spread of exotic ant species including the red fire ant.

The Texas horned lizard's primary diet in the wild is red harvester ants, though they will eat other small invertebrates such as termites and beetles. The Texas horned lizard is currently listed as a threatened species by the state of Texas. It is illegal to possess, collect, or even harass a Texas horned lizard. They do not do well in captivity and seldom live long when taken out of their natural environment.

All of the Texas horned lizards at the Fort Worth Zoo are either individuals confiscated by Texas Parks and Wildlife from the public or were captive bred in the Texas Wild! exhibit of the Fort Worth Zoo. The Fort Worth Zoo has worked with this species for more than six years to improve its husbandry techniques. Those fortunate enough to spot a Texas horned lizard in the wild should look but not touch. Take pictures and admire it for the wonderful and amazing creature that it is. Any wild sightings can be communicated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Texas horned lizard watch.

Top