Houston Zoo - Exhibits and Facilities

Exhibits and Facilities

• The Reptile and Amphibian Building, constructed in 1960, is the primary facility for reptile and amphibian species. It contains eighty separate displays housing more than 300 specimens. The house includes one of only fourteen leucistic American alligator exhibits in the world.
• The John P. McGovern Children's Zoo provides animal habitats designed to allow guests to get closer to the animals with a special focus on native Texas wildlife. Exhibits include a bat cave, a bald eagle roost, prairie dog tunnels, a coastal pool, and a glass-walled otter habitat where guests can see the otters swimming. The children's zoo includes an area where children can touch and pet domestic animals such as goats and cows. The water play area of the Children's Zoo was permanently closed in 2011. A new water play area will be constructed just inside the west entrance to the zoo.
• The Wildlife Carousel found just outside of the Children's Zoo was opened May 1, 2004 and features hand carved wooden animals of exotic and native species many of which can be found at the zoo. It is the only carousel to feature the nine-banded armadillo as a carousel figure. The animals were carved by craftsmen from Carousel Works based in Mansfield, Ohio.
• The zoo houses 900 specimens of over 230 species of birds in multiple facilities, including the Fischer Bird Gardens, Duck Lake, Birds of the World, and the Tropical Bird House which includes an open-air, walk through aviary.
• Over one thousand fish and marine animals from around the world are housed in the Herbert A. & Elizabeth N. Kipp Memorial Aquarium.
• Janice Suber McNair Asian Elephant Habitat On June 22, 2008, the Houston Zoo celebrated the completion of the first phase of the new elephant facility at the Asian Elephant Habitat. The 7,000-square-foot (650 m2) elephant barn, additional outdoor areas, and an improved viewing area are the first phase of a two-phase program to expand the elephant habitat at the Zoo. Phase two of the elephant expansion was completed in October 2011 and featured a large new exhibit yard to supplement the two existing yards, a pool big enough for multiple elephants, new interpretive signage, and a small area for demonstration of husbandry behaviors. The exhibit is home to adult bull Thai, adult cows Methai, Shanti, and Tess, juvenile bull Tucker (Tess' son), and calves Baylor (Shanti's son) and Tupelo (Tess' daughter).
• Located in the heart of the Zoo, Wortham World of Primates offers up close viewing of some of the world’s most fascinating and intelligent creatures. The area features a raised wooden boardwalk that allows guests to view exhibits from multiple levels.
• The Ethel G. and Allen H. Carruth Natural Encounters Building, opened in 2005, contains multi-species exhibits representing seven different ecosystems, including the River's Edge, Rainforest Canopy, Dry Lands, the Coral Reef, a bat cave, mole rat tunnels, and a meerkat habitat.
• The African Forest Phase one opened in December 2010. Covering 6.5 acres (26,000 m2) of woodland, it features chimpanzees, rhinos, kudu, and giraffes. By incorporating storytelling revolving around an original character named Gorilla Tommy, who started life as a poacher and later became a conservationist, the exhibit develops multiple layers of interpretation and enjoyment. The African Forest allows visitors to explore and learn in different ways – through traditional signage, interactive elements, and up-close viewing of the animals including daily opportunities to hand feed the Zoo's giraffes.