Houston Zoo sea lion picks contest winner

Kamia, a California sea lion dove into the pool at the Houston Zoo’s McGovern Mammal Marina this morning. When she can back to shore she handed her trainer the name of the grand prize winner in the TXU Energy Presents the Ultimate Chill Out Adventure.

Kamia’s selection means Natalie Aguilar of Houston and her husband will travel to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada in November in the company of experienced guides for the Ultimate Chill out Adventure – a week long expedition to see the world’s greatest concentration of polar bears in the wild. Recently married, Natalie and her husband will make The Ultimate Chill Out Adventure in Churchill their honeymoon trip.

How Kamia Chose the Winner

At 10 a.m. today, 6 of the 10 finalists in the TXU Energy Presents the Ultimate Chill Out Adventure joined sea lion keepers at McGovern Mammal Marina at the Houston Zoo. The 6 finalists, and Zoo staff representing the 4 finalists who were not present, wrote their names on sheets of paper and placed each sheet inside a water tight blue tube. The tubes were then tossed into a floating ‘ring’ in the center of the sea lion pool.

The Zoo’s sea lion trainers then invited Kamia to enter the pool, swim to the ring, pick one tube, and bring it back to ‘shore.’ Building a bit of suspense, Kamia made her selection on her third trip to the ‘ring’ and Natalie Aguilar’s name was announced to the waiting crowd.

The Houston Zoo thanks all our finalists and everyone placed an entry in TXU Energy Presents The Ultimate Chill Out Adventure for their participation. All finalists received 4 tickets to the Houston Zoo’s giraffe feeding platform as a thank you gift.

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.

The Houston Zoo is located at 6200 Hermann Park Drive in beautiful Hermann Park. The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during Central Standard Time (last admission at 5 p.m.) and from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. during Central Daylight Time (last admission at 6 p.m.). The Zoo is closed Christmas Day. Regular admission is $14 for adults, $7.50 for seniors, $10 for children ages 2-11 and FREE for children under 2. Visit the courtesy booth at your neighborhood Fiesta Mart and purchase an adult Zoo admission for $12 and a child Zoo admission for $9. Zoo memberships start at only $65. For information on all the great benefits of becoming a Zoo member visit our Web site at http://www.houstonzoo.org/membership/.

Ride METRORail to the Houston Zoo from the Fannin South Park and Ride lot. With frequent service, METRORail is a convenient answer to traffic congestion in the Texas Medical Center/Hermann Park/Museum District corridor. For METRORail information, visit www.ridemetro.org.

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.