Rachael Shappard - HoustonNewMedia.org https://houstonnewmedia.org/author/rachael-shappard/ Building "Bridges" Across the Bayou City! Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:00:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://i0.wp.com/houstonnewmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-cropped-Houston.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Rachael Shappard - HoustonNewMedia.org https://houstonnewmedia.org/author/rachael-shappard/ 32 32 103504436 Zoo Ball 2025: Enchanted Forests https://houstonnewmedia.org/zoo-ball-2025-enchanted-forests/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=zoo-ball-2025-enchanted-forests https://houstonnewmedia.org/zoo-ball-2025-enchanted-forests/#respond Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:00:25 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=106707 Celebrating Forest Animals Around the World On Sat., Oct. 25, Zoo Ball 2025 – Enchanted Forests raised vital funds for the Houston Zoo. At this year’s black-tie gala, a crowd of more than 600…

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]]> https://houstonnewmedia.org/zoo-ball-2025-enchanted-forests/feed/ 0 1055217 In Loving Memory of Chimpanzee Charlie https://houstonnewmedia.org/in-loving-memory-of-chimpanzee-charlie/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-loving-memory-of-chimpanzee-charlie Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:50:48 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=106699 We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Charlie, our cherished chimpanzee. At age 53, Charlie received attentive and thorough care from his primate and veterinary teams. He saw his consulting complementary…

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]]> 1055220 A Celebration of Life at Houston Zoo https://houstonnewmedia.org/a-celebration-of-life-at-houston-zoo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-celebration-of-life-at-houston-zoo Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:00:35 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=106684 First Dia de los Muertos Celebration Plus Rare Baby Okapi Public Debut Houston Zoo is honoring life and legacy with its first Dia de los Muertos celebration and invites guests to get a…

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]]> 1055223 Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week https://houstonnewmedia.org/veterinary-technician-appreciation-week/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=veterinary-technician-appreciation-week Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:00:06 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=106559 We’re celebrating our incredible veterinary technicians this week for National Veterinary Technician Week! A day in the life of a Zoo vet tech is never the same. They start the day with morning…

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]]> 1045717 Recapping our Summer Conservation Intern Program https://houstonnewmedia.org/recapping-our-summer-conservation-intern-program/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=recapping-our-summer-conservation-intern-program Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:22:52 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=106582 Over the summer, we hosted three veterinary students as part of our Summer Conservation Intern program. They worked alongside our veterinary and animal care teams to support three conservation programs here at Houston…

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]]> 1045425 Remembering Red Panda, Také https://houstonnewmedia.org/remembering-red-panda-take/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=remembering-red-panda-take Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:05:08 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105943 Today, we said goodbye to our beloved red panda, Také (Tahk-ay). Throughout the year, we have been working closely with our veterinary team to monitor Také’s health and address multiple medical conditions. Despite…

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]]> 1007132 Tiny Tapir, Big Personality https://houstonnewmedia.org/tiny-tapir-big-personality/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tiny-tapir-big-personality Fri, 08 Aug 2025 17:55:39 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105885 Meet Houston Zoo’s Newest Animal South America’s Pantanal at the Houston Zoo just got a whole lot cuter after welcoming a baby Baird’s tapir. A female calf was born overnight on July 23…

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]]> 1004963 A Celebration of Inclusion https://houstonnewmedia.org/a-celebration-of-inclusion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-celebration-of-inclusion Tue, 05 Aug 2025 14:00:34 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105868 Houston Zoo Welcomes Genuine Cup Athletes In its commitment to being a “Zoo for All” the Houston Zoo invited all 38 teams and 900 athletes, coaches, and families participating in the 2025 Genuine…

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]]> 1001109 Extraordinary Animal Bonds https://houstonnewmedia.org/extraordinary-animal-bonds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=extraordinary-animal-bonds Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:00:47 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105843 Houston Zoo Celebrates International Day of Friendship This International Day of Friendship, Houston Zoo is highlighting some of its inspiring animal friendships. From the African forest to the McNair Asian elephant bull yard,…

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]]> 1001760 Celebrating 40 Years with Primates Keeper Ron https://houstonnewmedia.org/celebrating-40-years-with-primates-keeper-ron/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=celebrating-40-years-with-primates-keeper-ron Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:30:15 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105611 One of our Primates Keepers, Ron Santos, recently celebrated a big milestone – 40 years at Houston Zoo! We sat down with him to ask about his time at Zoo, including how he…

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]]> 989912 Rare and Remarkable New Addition https://houstonnewmedia.org/rare-and-remarkable-new-addition/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rare-and-remarkable-new-addition Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:25:21 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105508 Houston Zoo Welcomes Endangered Eastern Bongo Calf  It’s a boy! The Houston Zoo has welcomed an eastern bongo calf to its herd. Bongos are one of Africa’s most endangered antelope species with an…

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]]> 979134 Cool Treats and Splashy Feats https://houstonnewmedia.org/cool-treats-and-splashy-feats/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cool-treats-and-splashy-feats Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:00:12 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105333 Rediscover Your Houston Zoo this Summer Season As Houston’s temperatures rise, the animals at the Houston Zoo are cooling down with the help of innovative enrichment created by their dedicated care teams. This…

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]]> 970988 A New Chapter for the Houston Zoo: Joining Our Vibrant City https://houstonnewmedia.org/a-new-chapter-for-the-houston-zoo-joining-our-vibrant-city/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-new-chapter-for-the-houston-zoo-joining-our-vibrant-city Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:00:18 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105215 Dear Houston, I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the new President and CEO of the Houston Zoo, stepping into an exciting chapter for our beloved institution. I feel deeply honored to lead an…

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]]> 966372 From Our Dad to Yours https://houstonnewmedia.org/from-our-dad-to-yours/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-our-dad-to-yours Tue, 10 Jun 2025 14:34:23 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105235 Houston Zoo’s Patriarchal Pachyderm Celebrates 60th Birthday This Father’s Day weekend Houston Zoo is celebrating its largest papa pachyderm. On Monday, June 16, Asian elephant Thailand, affectionately known as Thai, turns 60 years…

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]]> 967367 On the Mend and Making Progress https://houstonnewmedia.org/on-the-mend-and-making-progress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=on-the-mend-and-making-progress Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:00:54 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105122 Jaguar Tesoro Resting and Recovering After Surgery Houston Zoo is cheering on its 11-year-old male jaguar, Tesoro, as he begins his long road to recovery after sustaining a serious leg injury. Tesoro fractured…

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]]> 962436 On the Mend and Making Progress https://houstonnewmedia.org/on-the-mend-and-making-progress-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=on-the-mend-and-making-progress-2 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:00:54 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105122 Jaguar Tesoro Resting and Recovering After Surgery Houston Zoo is cheering on its 11-year-old male jaguar, Tesoro, as he begins his long road to recovery after sustaining a serious leg injury. Tesoro fractured…

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]]> 962438 Houston Zoo Conservation Partners Win Whitley Fund for Nature Awards https://houstonnewmedia.org/houston-zoo-conservation-partners-win-whitley-fund-for-nature-awards/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houston-zoo-conservation-partners-win-whitley-fund-for-nature-awards Tue, 20 May 2025 15:00:38 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=104987 We’re thrilled to share that two of our longtime conservation partners, Dr. Farina Othman and Dr. Olivier Nsengimana were honored last week in London as award recipients by the Whitley Fund for Nature.…

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]]> 956376 Saving Endangered Species in Texas https://houstonnewmedia.org/saving-endangered-species-in-texas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=saving-endangered-species-in-texas Fri, 16 May 2025 13:00:44 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=105017 Just by visiting Houston Zoo, you are helping save animals in the wild, like the Attwater’s prairie chicken (APC) and Houston toad. There are 16,000 species classified as endangered, including these two that…

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]]> 954347 A Wild Success https://houstonnewmedia.org/a-wild-success/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-wild-success Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:53:39 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=104690 The post A Wild Success appeared first on HoustonNewMedia.org.

]]> 941223 Houston Zoo Names Lisa Peterson New President and CEO https://houstonnewmedia.org/houston-zoo-names-lisa-peterson-new-president-and-ceo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houston-zoo-names-lisa-peterson-new-president-and-ceo Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:59:36 +0000 https://www.houstonzoo.org/?p=104575 The Houston Zoo announced today that Lisa Peterson will become its next president and CEO, effective June 2, 2025. Peterson brings more than 27 years of executive experience, primarily in hospitality. Since 2017,…

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