One of the most noticeable and natural sounds that can be heard in the Orinoco rainforest at the DWA is the "howling" of the Red howler monkeys!

One of the most noticeable and natural sounds that can be heard in the Orinoco rainforest at the DWA is the "howling" of the Red howler monkeys! Whether it be early in the morning, late in the evening, or perhaps a high school group of students that seemed particularly worth warning, Red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) announce their presence and their territory with loud vocalizations. This is enabled by an enlarged goiter-like hyoid bone that gives resonance to their sounds.

Our first Howler troop arrived in 1998, after many years of working with individuals and agencies in Venezuela. Few institutions at that time had been able to successfully keep howlers in captivity. Some of the howlers in the troop at The Dallas World Aquarium had been confiscated by Venezuelan authorities, after having been house pets for many years and could not be returned to the wild. After a successful introduction to Howler Junction, they have produced several offspring.

We are excited to announce the departure of two of our male Red howler monkeys, Mikey and Boxer, to the Cologne Zoo in Cologne, Germany. While we are sad to see them leave, we are excited because they are joining new troops and will soon be producing families of their own. Mikey and Boxer were among our first born. Mikey, born in October 2000, is the offspring of Rifito and Raquel. Boxer, born in December 2001, is the offspring of Rifito and Angela. Our cooperative breeding agreement with the Cologne Zoo will return designated offspring from Mikey and Boxer to the DWA in order to provide new blood lines and new genetics.

Lord Howe Island is a pristine island paradise which is only six miles long and one mile wide.

Lord Howe Island is a pristine island paradise which is only six miles long and one mile wide. It is located 373 miles from the East coast of the Australian Mainland. It is considered an unincorporated area of the State of New South Wales, Australia. There are 350 permanent residents and there is a limit of 400 visitors at any time.

Among its many natural treasures, Lord Howe Island boasts of its crystal clear lagoon and unspoiled coral reefs. In fact, these are the southernmost coral reefs in the world, and are home to over 500 species of fish. Two-thirds of Lord Howe Island is a permanent Park Preserve and the surrounding waters have been designated as a Marine Park since 1998. Lord Howe Island has been listed as a World Heritage site since 1982.

Originally opened in 1993, this exhibit was a one-of-a-kind in public aquariums in the United States. It featured Spectacled angelfish (Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus), Comb wrasses (Coris picta), Widebanded anemone fish (Amphiprion latezonatus), McCulloch's anemonefish (Amphiprion mccullochi) and Painted goldie anthias (Pseudanthias pictilis) along with other species endemic to the island and the coast of Australia. It did not for many years however, feature any live invertebrates.

Over the past several months you may have noticed some dramatic changes in the Lord Howe Island exhibit in our main aquarium gallery. This summer, the exhibit was temporarily closed while the rockwork structures were renovated and the lighting and water flow were updated and modernized. The exhibit's life support system is state-of-the-art and the lighting is more energy efficient and suitable for living corals.

In an effort to preserve the tradition of the exhibit along with the natural beauty of Lord Howe itself, the exhibit again features the beautiful angelfish, clownfish (anemonefish), wrasses and anthias for which it is famous. Aquarium staff will continue to add other marine life such as anemones and corals. You may have noticed already the colorful cup corals (Turbinaria sp.), button polyps (Zooanthus sp.) and sea anemones (Entamacea quadricolor) that are beginning to populate the walls of the exhibit.

The untrained eye may miss the elaborate territorial and breeding behaviors of the clownfish, angelfish, wrasses and anthias. The clownfish can be seen closely guarding their host anemones and clearing the rock walls for their eggs. The Spectacled angels flutter their fins and swat their tails as a threat to competitors. The male Painted goldies are busily battling for their harems and can be spotted chasing each other and flaring their dorsal fins to impress their chosen females. As sun begins to set, the Comb wrasses "dance" to impress their mates. All of these activities seem to happen simultaneously and make for one entertaining experience.

We are pleased to be able to share a glimpse of this colorful underwater realm with our visitors and hope that if you plan in the future to travel "down under" you will include Lord Howe Island in your travel plans.

For more information on Lord Howe Island and its incredible biodiversity, check out the book Lord Howe Island Marine Park by Neville Coleman in the Book Store and log onto www.lordhoweisland.info/conservation.htm.

Soon to be completed for the enjoyment of guests as they enter the DWA, is a new exhibit that will house the beautiful Black palm cockatoo.

Soon to be completed for the enjoyment of guests as they enter the DWA, is a new exhibit that will house the beautiful Black palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus). In sharp contrast to the pink Moluccan cockatoo, the Black palm cockatoo is the only cockatoo with all dark feathers. They are large birds, standing 19-27 inches tall, weighing one to two pounds and having wingspans between 27-39 inches.

The beautiful, backward curving erectile crest is more than just ornamental. It is used for communicating with other birds, raising it to signal interest to a potential mate, warning and defending of its territory or just welcoming another bird. The massive top portion of the beak is larger in males than in females. The tongue is red with a black tip and the black face is highlighted with a red, naked facial marking located on both sides of the beak.

In the 1980s, it was feared that trapping of this species would lead to its decline but as of 2009, it is not considered endangered and is included in the Least Concern category by the IUCN. The Black palm cockatoos at the DWA came from the former Avicultural Breeding and Research Center in Loxahatchee FL, where more than 150 were hatched. Unlike most other parrots, the Palm cockatoo lays only one egg at a time and the chicks have proven harder to raise than other cockatoos.

The SSP program for this species commenced in 1988, with its roots in a USFW confiscation in 1983, when some of the seized birds were distributed to ten zoos throughout the US (with several zoos already housing the species). There are currently 46 Palm cockatoos distributed among 21 US collections.

They are found over the island of New Guinea, Cape York Peninsula (Australia) and a number of Indonesian islands. This is a forest species but is tolerant of logging and agriculture and continues to be common in places where the forest habitat has been degraded.

Jaguars have been part of the mammal collection at the DWA since November 1997.

Jaguars have been part of the mammal collection at the DWA since November 1997, when Jaguar Mountain, the original exhibit, opened in the Orinoco - Secrets of the River addition. The habitat was approximately 20' X 15' and the 20-foot depth of the exhibit allowed for the animals to be viewed from two levels.

With the Jaguar being a prominent animal in the Mayan culture, it was decided to move the Jaguars to the Mundo Maya expansion in 2004 and Jaguar Mountain became Lobo Del Rio, the existing home to Giant river otters. The Jaguar is a large sign of power for the Mayans - a symbol of strength, divinity and general domain over all things. By night, the Jaguar god would rule over the underworld, by day he would prowl across the morning sky from east to west, returning back to the underworld at dusk.

The Temple of the Jaguar was designed with the architectural prominence of the species in mind. The primary "natural" habitat for the animal is located on the upper levels, with ramp access available to the cat when he or she prefers to move about. As much as the guests enjoy watching the cats, the cats seem to find us as equally interesting - preferring to remain at the "temple" level more than we anticipated. With some 2,400 existing square feet of space available for the cats, we are confident that the Jaguars/Ocelot have ample space. However, in order to provide more viewing space for the guests to see the natural portion of the Temple of the Jaguar, major renovation/addition will be started in the early spring.

It is a never-ending effort to keep the exhibits filled with vegetation that is representative (even though on a minute scale) of the comforts the species would experience in the wild. We feel confident that the new expansion will allow for the Jaguars and/or Ocelot to be better viewed in the "green" portion of their habitat, while emphasizing the cultural significance as part of the Mundo Maya exhibit.

On December 7, in keeping with tradition at DWA, the staff again opted to replace their annual holiday party with a fun-filled day with children that are the responsibility of the Child Protective Services Division.

On December 7, in keeping with tradition at DWA, the staff again opted to replace their annual holiday party with a fun-filled day with children that are the responsibility of the Child Protective Services Division. The number of children participating was increased from 50 to 75 this year, giving us a group of 225 (children, foster parents, media and staff) sharing gifts, food, entertainment and compassion. The names of the boys and girls were drawn by staff members, providing each child with an age appropriate gift, as well as an additional holiday bag filled with goodies. Daryl's By Design, the in-house catering company, provided a delicious and varied menu that was enjoyed by all! DWA staff also provided tours of the facility.

During the year, we are pleased to provide the setting for the filming of Wednesday's Child, as requested. Gloria Campos (News Anchor for WFAA-TV, Channel 8), producer of Wednesday's Child, filmed a segment on the day of our holiday party and was so gracious as to video some of the event. Gloria shared her involvement in Wednesday's Child and explained the far reaching scope of the program. She also introduced Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus, who were both in fine spirits and good health! The Claus family has the holiday season perfected, but it certainly seems like they improve every year!

DJ Brian Prescott, with Borrowed Time Productions, again provided free entertainment and was quite a hit, both on and off the dance floor! We hope he enjoys the event as much as we enjoy him and his music. Photographs were taken of the children by The North Texas Heart Gallery, arranged for by Penny Cook.

No one can see and feel the sadness of each child without also seeing the eagerness and hope that they manage to have for a brighter future. With the ages of the children ranging from three weeks to 16 years of age, time is of the essence for many of them. It is certainly an experience that makes one take a look at the many things we take for granted and realize that, even if only for a short period of time, we will continue to try to make a difference in the lives of some very special children. A sincere thanks to all participants!

Our book of the month feature is making a diversion this time. Instead of a book, we are featuring DVDs by Chip Taylor Communications (CTC).

Our book of the month feature is making a diversion this time. Instead of a book, we are featuring DVDs by Chip Taylor Communications (CTC). Chip Taylor is a former elementary teacher who took his love of learning from the classroom to a broader spectrum - the world. Today he owns (CTC), a distribution and production company that sells primarily documentaries and educational movies with a diverse subject matter.

In the theater, we are currently previewing eight of the twelve movies that are available for purchase in the Book Store:

• Inside Nature of South America - The Orinoco Crocodiles
• Hummingbirds: Dazzling Jewels
• Wonders of the Sea
• Birding In South America with David Ascanio I
• Deep Sea Venezuela
• Birds of South America: I Diversity
• The Llanos of the Orinoco
• Feathered Fantasy: A Birdwatcher's Mecca

These movies showcase many animal species and conservation aspects in which DWA has a particular involvement and interest. The movies vary in time from 30 to 60 minutes and sell for $19.95 in the Book Store. Come in and view the adventures of South America, an excellent way to see many of the DWA animals in their native habitats. In addition to the usual 10% member discount, mention "newsletter" in the Book Store and receive an additional 25% discount until the end of January!