Houston Zoo

If you are an animal lover, you won’t want to miss the Houston Zoo. 

Home to over 6,000 permanent animal residents from more than 600 species, the Houston Zoo offers an incredible experience to old, young, and families everywhere. Each year over 2.4 million visitors experience the wonder and magnificence of creatures great and small from all over the globe. 

Where else can you see all those amazing creatures without ever leaving Houston?! 

Located within Herman Park in Houston, TX, this phenomenal zoo covers 55 acres of land, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It was previously operated by the city of Houston, but became a non-profit corporation in 2002. Admission prices and membership fees go towards the protection efforts of the wild members of zoo species. 

And what is the philosophy that drives the Houston Zoo? 

HoustonZoo.org states the mission and guiding principles of the organization this way: 

• Be a Zoo for all.
• Provide exemplary animal care, assuring outstanding animal welfare.
• Provide engaging animal experiences.
• Deliver a smart, fun, inspiring guest experience.
• Be the leading environmental education resource in Texas.
• Inspire broad community support and collaborations.
• Change behaviors to help protect wildlife.
• Create a workplace culture that embodies respect, empowerment, teamwork, and personal development.
• Employ best business practices and sound financial management.
• Ensure safety for guests, staff and the animals in our care.
• Operate sustainably; set an example for others.

The goal of the zoo is to “connect communities with animals to inspire action to save wildlife and be a leader in the global effort to save animals in the wild.” Guests visiting the zoo help support 49 wildlife conservation projects in 27 countries all around the world. And these guests can raise a hefty sum of money, seeing as there are over 2 million per year! 

If you visit the Houston Zoo, here are some of the exhibits you may see: 

• African Forest
• McNair Asian Elephant Habitat
• Birds
• Carnivores
• Sea lions
• Allen H. and Ethel G. Carruth Natural Encounters
• Wortham World of Primates
• Texas Wetlands
• Reptile and Amphibian House
• Bug House
• South America’s Pantanal 
• John P. McGovern Children’s Zoo 

You will see magnificent African lions, huge Asian elephants, California sea lions, colorful birds, and energetic monkeys. You can ride the wildlife carousel and have encounters with real life animals, as well as educate yourself on conservation and eco-health. At the end, you can pick up a fun souvenir from the gift shop. 

Also note that you won’t see any single-use plastic while you are at the zoo gift shop. The zoo did away with plastic bottles, bags, and straws already, and is now working on going 0-packaging too.