Named Facilities

 

Tio & Janell Kleberg Wildlife Research Park

Donor: Friends of Tio and Janell Kleberg and CKWRI

The new, thirty-five acre complex, located at the northwest corner of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus, was made possible by numerous private donations given by generous friends and supporters of the Institute. The land, deeded to the University from King Ranch in 1951, has swung full circle with the dedication of the park to Tio and Janell Kleberg, King Ranch family members and avid supporters of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. Once a dream, the complex became reality in 1999 when the University allocated the property to be used for a state-of-the-art wildlife research park.

Visitors are welcomed to the Park through a gated entrance displaying the name "Tio and Janell Kleberg Wildlife Research Park." To date, the park is home to the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center and A. E. Leonard Family Native Plant Garden, the Buddy Temple Wildlife Pathology and Diagnostic Laboratory, the Duane M. Leach Research Aviary and flight cages, the Albert and Margaret Alkek Ungulate Research Facility, and the South Texas Natives Research Farm. Institute scientists and graduate students now have the opportunity to conduct wildlife research using modernized facilities and equipment while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for both animals and researchers.


Duane M. Leach Research Aviary

Donor: Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation

With the decline of numerous bird species in south Texas during the past decade, coupled with the obvious need to understand more about their ecology and conservation, the Institute opened the doors of the Duane M. Leach Research Aviary in January 2004. As part of the Endowment and Capital Campaign, a private gift from the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation was secured to begin construction of the research aviary in February 2003 at the Tio  and Janell Kleberg Wildlife Research Park. This facility provides Institute researchers and graduate students the opportunity to conduct diverse captive studies simultaneously on a broad array of wild bird species using the covered captive facility and outdoor flight cages. The aviary is occasionally opened up to school children and public visitors to learn more about bird conservation issues by seeing “first hand” the research in progress.


Buddy Temple Wildlife Pathology & Diagnostic Laboratory

Donor: T.L.L. Temple Foundation and friends of CKWRI

Many wildlife research questions can only be answered by sampling tissues, investigating nutrient reserves through body condition, determining important dietary components, assessing prevalence of parasites, or occurrence of diseases. There are numerous morbidity and mortality factors that regulate wildlife populations, but very little is known about the impacts of wildlife disease, parasites, and environmental contaminants. Additionally, transmittable diseases between wildlife and humans are becoming a major public health concern and require sound research to understand how they are introduced and the links between wildlife and humans. The Temple Pathology & Diagnostic Laboratory was designed to permit animal tissue research in an off-campus facility, thereby allowing scientists to expand their research efforts in areas that were not possible using existing laboratory facilities on campus.


Albert & Margaret Alkek Ungulate Research Facility

Donor: Alkek Foundation and friends of CKWRI

The Albert and Margaret Alkek Ungulate Research Facility enables scientists at the Institute to conduct the highly specialized research needed to address the needs of landowners and wildlife managers in southern Texas and throughout North America. The facility is used to conduct research into ungulate foraging and nutrition, reproduction, behavior, thermoregulation, and disease. The 5.25 acre facility is located in the northwest corner of the Wildlife Research Park. This facility is designed for studies of ungulates, that is "hoofed animals", specifically white-tailed deer, feral pigs, collared peccary, and nilgai antelope.


Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center

Donor:  Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation and friends of CKWRI

While scientific research is the main focus of the Institute, public education and outreach has become a more important part of the Institute’s work. Located at the heart of the Wildlife Research Park, lies the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center, also known as the Institute’s crown jewel. This 7,500 square foot Spanish-style building and adjacent 6,000 square foot veranda has created new opportunities for outreach related activities. Completed in August 2005 with generous donations from the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation and other supporters, the Institute now boasts a facility where wildlife research information can be disseminated through workshops, presentations, symposia, and conferences to both the general public and scientific communities.


Curtis & HP Pinnell Family Memorial Auditorium

Donor: Pinnell Family Foundation

The Curtis and HP Pinnell Family Memorial Auditorium, donated by Curtis and HP Pinnell is a multi-purpose auditorium located at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center. It is equipped for lectures and special events, and can hold up to 250 guests. Three sets of Spanish Doors are fixed along each wall, one side leading to the portico and veranda area and the other to the front porch affixed with a cedar trellis. The doors provide the flexibility of creating an open atmosphere for special events and a closed environment for professional meetings. The ceiling is lined with wood beams accented by six  glass, drop-lighting fixtures. A small kitchen, located west of the auditorium allows access for caterers during special events.


Petra Vela Kenedy Conference Room

Donor:  John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Foundation

The Petra Vela Kenedy Conference Room was dedicated by the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation in memory of the late Petra Vela Kenedy (1823-1885), wife of Mifflin Kenedy and co-founder of the historic Kenedy Ranch. The conference room is situated at the west wing of the Center and provides a meeting facility for science team members, graduate students, and other professionals. The room is equipped with a projector and drop down screen for presentations.


Phil and Karen Hunke Foyer and Interpretive Area

Donor:  Karen and Phil Hunke

The Phil and Karen Hunke Foyer and Interpretive Area, donated by Phil and Karen Hunke of McAllen, Texas, welcomes all visitors who come through its front doors.  The expansive foyer area is set aside for wildlife education activities, including interactive kiasks that will provide visitors with information about wildlife and habitat. The foyer also provides a registration and vending area for the many conferences, symposia, seminars, and workshops that are held here every year.


A. E. Leonard Family Native Plant Garden

Donor: The Leonard Famliy

The A. E. Leonard Family Native Plant Garden is a botanical garden featuring native flora from habitats of south Texas. This beautiful display of south Texas flora not only provides an aesthetic view for special events, but creates educational opportunities for various outreach activities. Created by David Mahler of Austin, one of the best native plant landscape designers in Texas, the walk-through garden features a windmill, water trough, flowing creek, hand-crafted garden bench, and six plant display areas: cactus garden, rare plants, south Texas brush Community, bordas-escarpment, oak-motte, and native prairie.  


 

 

 

Janell & Tio Kleberg

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duane M. Leach

 

  

 

 

   

Buddy Temple

 

 

  

 

 

Albert & Margaret Alkek

 

 

  

 

Caesar Kleberg (1873-1946)

 

  

 

 

HP & Curtis Pinnell

 

 

 

Petra Vela Kenedy (1823-1885)

 

 

Karen & Phil Hunke

 

  

Neal, Ken and Clayton