Tag: Rainforest Pyramid (Page 1 of 3)

Diablo: Galveston’s Komodo King by Waves Magazine

November 27, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Diablo, the Komodo Dragon inside his exhibit at the Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid (photo by: Kerry Toorcana)

In the November edition of Waves Magazine which serves as the ultimate guide to Galveston for visitors and residents alike, you can read about Diablo, our 14-year old Komodo Dragon who can seen on most days inside the Rainforest Pyramid or on occasion at the Visitor’s Center.

Diablo, the Komodo Dragon inside the otter exhibit at the Moody Gardens Visitor Center during a rainy day outing. (Photo by: Olivia Phu)

Moody Gardens is home to many remarkable creatures, but Diablo, the 14-year-old Komodo dragon, truly stands out as a crowd favorite. From his impressive size—eight feet long and 175 pounds—to his intelligence and engaging behavior, Diablo captivates visitors with every encounter. Hatched in 2010 at the Los Angeles Zoo, he arrived at Moody Gardens as a tiny hatchling and has since grown into a living relic of prehistoric times, thanks to exceptional care and training. For those who know him best, Diablo is much more than just a fascinating animal; he’s a reminder of nature’s incredible history and diversity.

As the Animal Welfare Manager, Marci has spent countless hours socializing and conditioning Diablo, drawing on her two decades of expertise in reptile and animal care. While Diablo exhibits incredible traits, Marci and her team remain vigilant, adhering to strict safety protocols to ensure everyone’s well-being when working with this powerful wild animal. Even the most docile dragons must be handled with care, as Diablo’s sharp teeth and unpredictable moods remind staff of his untamed nature.

Read more about Diablo, and his caretaker Marci as well as the challenges and hopes that he faces for the future as an aging reptile.

The original article was written by Dr. Richard D. Henderson, DVM of the Galveston Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Henderson serves as the veterinary medical provider for the Moody Gardens Rainforest and Aquarium Pyramids, and is responsible for examining and treating animals in the collection including over 300 species of fish, seals, penguins, reptiles, amphibians, birds, small mammals and primates.

(Photo by: Olivia Phu)

Happy birthday, Murphy and Diablo!

August 20, 2015 / / 0 Comments

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The Komodo Dragons of Moody Gardens celebrated their fifth birthday with quite the party. Murphy and Diablo, Galveston’s only Komodo Dragons, were surprised with a lizard style birthday cake containing some of their favorite treats including eggs and meat. The crowd gathered around as the zoo keeper team fed them their delicious birthday treat. The dragons also received handmade cards and birthday decorations to enjoy on their special day.

Among the crowd, were two particular guests that had something very special in mind for the dragons. Twins Izzy and Abby have celebrated every birthday with the dragons and visit them frequently. Every year, they bring cards and sing “Happy Birthday,” but this year, they decided to adopt a Komodo dragon from the World Wildlife Fund on behalf of Murphy and Diablo.

“This is such a warm and inspirational happening, one that touches us all here in the Rainforest Pyramid,” said T’Noya Gonzales, Asst. Behavior Management Coordinator.

The Komodo Dragon is the largest lizard species in the world with potential of reaching 10 feet in length and weighing over 150 pounds. Despite their size, these guys are known for their burst of speed. They can briefly reach speeds up to 13 mph.

While the dragons have already had their cake, the celebration will continue.  Be sure to stop by and wish them a Happy Birthday!
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Moody Gardens Recognizes Six Outstanding Animal Care Professionals

July 23, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Zookeeper WEEK.Logo 2006 VThis week is National Zookeeper Week and Moody Garden’s Life Science and Exhibit Operations department has taken this opportunity to recognize the dedication and hard work that goes into this challenging career path. Moody Gardens would like to thank each and every person on our team for providing the highest level of animal care and well-being while creating personal connections between our guests and our conservation, education and research efforts. The LSEO management team recognized 6 individuals with outstanding animal professional awards. These employees have had a significant impact on Moody Gardens through outstanding dedication, competence, conscientious performance, excellence in engaging guests and ingenuity.

The 2015 Outstanding Animal Care Professionals are: Dave Brossette, T’Noya Gonzales, Karen Holcroft, Marci Kurtz, Maggie Reynolds and Sean Salinger. As evidenced by their dedication to their job, only 3 recipients were present at the awards lunch on Tuesday, 21 July as duty called the others away.

Marci Kurtz, Sean Salinger and T’Noya Gonzales receive their recognition.

Marci Kurtz, Sean Salinger and T’Noya Gonzales receive their recognition.

Taveta Golden Weavers

May 26, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Taveta Golden Weavers – Rainforest Pyramid

A group of 22 Taveta Golden Weavers are the newest addition to the Rainforest Pyramid! This small, yellow bird is an African (Kenya and Tanzania) species of songbird that weaves oval shaped nests. The males are the nest builders and they usually are colonial nesters. Females pick a mate based on the male’s skill at weaving. The males are already making themselves at home and are working on more than 3 different nests at the moment. Make sure to look up and see if you can spot them next time you visit the Rainforest Pyramid!

Moody Madness: CHAMPIONSHIP

April 8, 2014 / / 0 Comments

There’s still a champion left to be crowned! The real battle is here as we have the Amazon River Otter representing the Rainforest Pyramid face off against the California Sea Lion representing the Aquarium Pyramid. Who will come out on top? That’s all up to you.

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CLICK HERE to vote or vote below for your favorite

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Moody Madness: Final 4

April 2, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Stunning.

That’s the best word to describe the voting results for the Moody Madness Elite Eight.

Both top seeds, the Saki Monkey and the King Penguin, saw their chances of being named Moody Gardens’ favorite animal end in shocking results. The loss was especially tough for the King Penguin, which was defeated by just three votes.

Here were the final Elite Eight results:

MoodyMadnessBracket_Final4_Web

So we are down to the Final Four. Who will be the champion of the Rainforest and Aquarium Pyramids? That’s for you to determine!

CLICK HERE to vote or vote below for your favorites!

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Moody Madness: Elite 8

March 28, 2014 / / 0 Comments

The Sweet Sixteen of the Moody Madness tournament saw most of the top seeds move on, with the exception of two upsets.

The Cinderella story of the tournament to determine the most popular animal at Moody Gardens continues to be the Two-Toed Sloth. After a surprise win over the Cotton-Top Tamarin, the Sloth pulled out a stunning victory over the Komodo Dragon.

Can the Sloth continue its improbably run against the Giant River Otter? Can the top-seeded White-faced Saki Monkey and King Penguin continue their march to the Final Four? That’s up to you to decide.

Click the image below to see the results from the Sweet 16 round:

MoodyMadnessBracket_Elite8_Web

 

CLICK HERE to vote or vote below for your favorites!

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Group Volunteer Opportunities

February 7, 2013 / / 0 Comments

group volunteerVolunteering is a great way to boost morale and promote team building for your company, organization, or student group. Corporate and group volunteers at Moody Gardens have an opportunity to get involved with ground work and special events, such as the Festival of Lights.

 

At Moody Gardens, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the help of our incredible volunteers. We depend on them for assistance in many areas of operation.

 

The Corporate and Group Volunteer Program allows participants to provide hands-on assistance in many areas, including but not limited to:

  • Gardens and grounds keeping (mulching, planting, and weeding)
  • Painting
  • Exhibit upkeep
  • Event preparation
  • Cleaning attractions, such as the lazy river and playground structures, and surfaces
  • Paint and change bulbs for the Festival of Lights
  • Special events, such as Ghostly Gardens, Easter in the Gardens, and Festival of Lights

 

Corporate and Group Volunteer Program details:

  • Weather permitting, groups may volunteer year round
  • Highest need for volunteers is between September and May
  • A maximum of 50 volunteers will be accepted
  • Groups are taken on a first-come, first-served basis
  • There is a 4-hour minimum requirement
  • Must be 16 years or older
  • Children may not accompany adults while volunteering
  • Each participant must sign a liability waiver

 

Volunteering with a group gives you the opportunity to become part of the conservation and education efforts that are a major aspect of Moody Gardens. You also have the chance to give back to your community and meet new people.

 

When you aren’t spending your time helping us out, be sure to check out the popular attractions, such as the Rainforest Pyramid and Aquarium Pyramid. For overnight stays, check out one of the best places to stay in Galveston—the Moody Gardens Hotel. We are so appreciative of our volunteers, and look forward to working with you soon!

 

Learn More About the Animal Residents

February 1, 2013 / / 0 Comments

At Moody Gardens, we have thousands of animal residents and a huge variety of different species! Keep reading to learn more about these exciting creatures from all over the world.

pygmy loris

Pygmy Loris: A Pygmy loris is a mammal that can be found in the rainforests and bamboo groves throughout Asia, including China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. This wooly creature has a brown coat and grows to be up to ten inches long and weighs about two pounds. They are recognized by their large eyes and small ears. Pygmy lorises are nocturnal animals that feed on small invertebrates, eggs, small reptiles, fruits, and vegetation. They can easily climb trees because of their opposable thumbs and strong hands and feet. The Pygmy loris is a threatened species, but cooperative breeding and conservation by various organizations is helping to ensure their survival.

 

Gentoo Penguins: We have a special place in our heart for the penguin residents at Moody Gardens! The Gentoo penguin can be found on the sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. They are recognizable by their red eyes ringed in white feathers, with a white patch above each eye that extends over their head. Their black beak has a vibrant orange “swish” and they waddle around on orange feet. The Gentoo penguin is listed as a lower risk-near threatened species because of habitat destruction.

animals at mg

Ocelot: The ocelot is an endangered medium-sized wild cat with tawny fur and irregular dark brown spots and stripes. They come from arid and forested habitats all over the world, including many parts of Central and South America. Ocelots are terrific swimmers that hunt during the night feeding on small deer, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, birds, other small mammals, and sometimes they go fishing!

 

To learn more about the animals at Moody Gardens, come explore the Aquarium Pyramid and Rainforest Pyramid. Moody Gardens is the perfect destination for your next family weekend getaways in Texas.

 

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