Editing Houston Zoo

{{short description|Zoo in Houston, Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox zoo
|zoo_name=Houston Zoo
|logo=Houston Zoo Stacked.jpg
|logo_width=220px
|image=Houston Zoo Main Entrance.jpg
|image_caption=Houston Zoo entrance
|date_opened=September 1922
|location=Houston, Texas, United States
|area={{Convert|55|acre}}
|num_animals     = 6,000+<ref name="PaperCityMagazine">{{cite web |last1=Hodge |first1=Shelby |title=Houston Zoo Named One of the Best in America By National Mag With Travel Clout — Move Over San Diego |date=June 25, 2021 |url=https://www.papercitymag.com/culture/houston-zoo-named-best-america-travel-leisure-magazine/ |publisher=Paper City Magazine}}</ref>
|num_species     = 900+<ref name="PaperCityMagazine"></ref>
|annual_visitors = 2 million<ref name="PaperCityMagazine"></ref>
|coordinates={{Coord|29|42|58.074|N|95|23|26.05|W|type:landmark_scale:2500|display=inline,title}}
|owner = Houston Zoo Inc.
|members=[[Association of Zoos and Aquariums|AZA]]<ref name="aza_list"/>
|website={{URL|https://www.houstonzoo.org}}
}}

The '''Houston Zoo''' is a {{convert|55|acre|adj=on}} [[zoological park]] located within [[Hermann Park]] in [[Houston]], Texas, United States. The zoo houses over 6,000 animals from more than 900 species. It receives around 2 million visitors each year and is the second most visited zoo in the United States, surpassed only by the [[San Diego Zoo]].<ref name="Houstonia1">{{cite web|last1=Shilcutt|first1=Katharine|title=The Houston Zoo Is the Second Most-Visited Zoo in the Nation, All Thanks to You|url=https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2017/2/20/houston-zoo-second-most-visited-in-country|website=Houstonia|publisher=SagaCity Media|access-date=22 February 2017}}</ref> It is accredited by the [[Association of Zoos and Aquariums]] (AZA). The zoo has been operated by the non-profit corporation Houston Zoo since 2002, and was previously operated by the City of Houston.

==History==
Due to the successful repopulation of [[American bison]] in the country, the United States government had an excess of bison on managed lands and donated several bison. Earl was a bison that was donated in 1922 and he would be the zoo's first animal.<ref name="Houstonia1"></ref>

==Exhibits==

===African Forest===
[[File:Houston Zoo Big Horns (4722870650).jpg|thumb|[[Ankole (cattle)|Ankole]] resting in the shade]]
Called the most ambitious project in the zoo's then 88-year history, the African Forest officially opened on December 10, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|author=Peter Riger Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010 |url=http://www.houstonzoo.org/be-a-conservation-hero/the-making-of-the-african-forest/ |title=The Making of the African Forest - Houston Zoo |publisher=houstonzoo.org |date= 2010-11-24|access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref> The exhibit is home to many [[Africa]]n species, including the [[Grant's zebra]], [[white rhinoceros]], [[red river hog]], [[Masai giraffe]], [[ostrich]], [[chimpanzee]], and [[western lowland gorilla]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.houstonzoo.org/exhibits/african-forest/ |title=The African Forest - Houston Zoo |publisher=houstonzoo.org |access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref> In 2011, the ''Houston Press'' gave the Houston Zoo the Best of Houston Award for Best New Ecosystem.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/best-of/2011/people-and-places/best-new-ecosystem-6607172 |title=The African Forest, Houston Zoo - Best New Ecosystem |publisher=houstonpress.com |access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref> In November 24, 2020, a new male [[pygmy hippopotamus]] named Silas first arrived to the Houston Zoo from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. Silas died due to an illness on October 10, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonzoo.org/blog/pygmy-hippo-silas/|title=Remembering Pygmy Hippo Silas}}</ref> In November 2024, a pygmy hippo named Akobi arrived from the [[San Francisco Zoo]] as part of the breeding recommendation from the AZA.

===McNair Asian Elephant Habitat===
[[File:It Takes a Lot of Broccoli (5614481171).jpg|thumb|Asian elephant enjoying a broccoli treat]]
The McNair Asian Elephant Habitat is home to the Houston Zoo's herd of [[Asian elephant]]s. It features a 7,000-square-foot barn custom-built to house the bull elephants, a brand-new expanded habitat with a boardwalk with an unobstructed view of the elephants in their new yard, and a 160,000-gallon pool.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

===Birds===
[[File:Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) -Houston Zoo-8.jpg|thumb|[[Scarlet macaw]] (''Ara macao'')]]
The Houston Zoo boasts one of the largest collections in any US zoo, with more than 800 birds from over 200 species. It includes a range of diverse birds, including the [[Mariana fruit dove]], [[Micronesian kingfisher]], [[Congo peafowl]], and [[Red-and-green macaw|green-winged macaw]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.houstonzoo.org/exhibits/aquarium/ |title=Kipp Aquarium - Houston Zoo |publisher=houstonzoo.org |access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref>

===Carnivores===
Hosting the [[University of Houston]]'s mascot [[Shasta (mascot)|Shasta]] the [[Cougar]], the carnivore exhibit is also home to the [[lion]], [[Malayan tiger]], [[clouded leopard]], [[American black bear]], [[African wild dog]], [[Amur leopard|leopard]], and [[cheetah]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.houstonzoo.org/exhibits/carnivores/ |title=About the Carnivores - Houston Zoo |publisher=houstonzoo.org |access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref>

===Allen H. and Ethel G. Carruth Natural Encounters===
The Allen H. and Ethel G. Carruth Natural Encounters is a special building at the zoo where an adventure through an entire continent is simulated. Visitors learn about animals from the [[river]]'s edge, [[rainforest]] canopy, [[desert]], and [[coral reef]]. Animals housed in the exhibit include the [[Asian small-clawed otter]], [[Damaraland mole-rat]], [[golden lion tamarin]], [[golden-headed lion tamarin]], [[meerkat]], [[naked mole-rat]], [[pygmy marmoset]], [[white-faced saki]], [[Hoffmann's two-toed sloth]], [[eastern collared lizard]], and [[Victoria crowned pigeon]].

===Wortham World of Primates===
A winding boardwalk through a natural setting, this exhibit displays a variety of rare and endangered primates, including [[lemur]]s, [[monkey]]s, [[Northern white-cheeked gibbon|gibbon]]s, and [[Bornean orangutan|orangutan]]s.

===Texas Wetlands===
Opened in March 2019, this new exhibit displays three native species: [[American alligator]]s, [[whooping crane]]s, and [[bald eagle]]s.

===Reptile and Amphibian House===
This building displays several venomous [[reptile]]s and exotic [[amphibian]]s, including the [[blue iguana]], [[Varanus salvadorii|crocodile monitor]], and [[reticulated python]].

===Bug House===
Opened in 2014, this exhibit displays several insects and arachnids from a variety of forests, jungles, and deserts.

===John P. McGovern Children's Zoo===
This area features a petting zoo and a realistic bat cave.

===South America's Pantanal===
The South America's [[Pantanal]] is a 4.2-acre exhibit that opened on October 10, 2020. It displays the [[blue-throated macaw]], [[jaguar]], [[Giant otter|giant river otter]], [[Baird's tapir]], [[greater rhea]], [[capybara]], and [[giant anteater]].

=== Galapagos Islands ===
This exhibit, opening April 7th, 2023, focuses on the animals and habitats found in the [[Galápagos Islands|Galapagos Islands]], featuring species including [[Galápagos tortoise|Galapagos tortoises]], [[Humboldt penguin|Humboldt penguins]], [[California sea lion|California sea lions]], [[Bonnethead|bonnethead sharks]],  and [[Grapsus grapsus|Sally Lightfoot crabs]].

==Live webcams==
The zoo offers nine exhibit webcams, including the Rhino Cam,<ref>[http://www.houstonzoo.org/meet-the-animals/rhino-yard-cam/ Rhino Cam]</ref> Elephant Yard Cam,<ref>[http://www.houstonzoo.org/meet-the-animals/elephant-yard-cam/ Elephant Yard Cam]</ref> and Leafcutter Ant Cam.<ref>[http://www.houstonzoo.org/meet-the-animals/leafcutter-ant-cam/ Leafcutter Ant Cam]</ref>

==Conservation==
The Houston Zoo is an active partner in the [[Association of Zoos and Aquariums|AZA]]'s Species Survival Plan (SSP) Program, a population management and conservation program for selected species housed in North American zoos.

The zoo supports more than a dozen [[Wildlife conservation|conservation]] projects in Texas and across the globe that assist in the survival of endangered wildlife and habitats. Projects include the [[Houston toad]], [[sea turtle]], [[Attwater's prairie chicken]], [[Galapagos tortoise]], [[Bornean orangutan]], [[elephant]], [[clouded leopard]], [[lion|African lion]], [[frog]]s, [[Brazilian tapir]], [[rhinoceros]], [[African wild dog]], [[chimpanzee]], [[okapi]], and [[cheetah]].

In July 2024, the first-ever [[mRNA vaccine]] for [[elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus]] (EEHV), developed by the Houston Zoo, [[Colossal Biosciences]], and the [[Baylor College of Medicine]], was successfully administered to an [[asian elephant]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/15/asian-elephant-mrna-vaccine-houstonendotheliotropic-herpesvirus-eehv-aoe|author=Patrick Greenfield|date=July 15, 2024|title=First Asian elephant vaccinated in fight against deadly herpes virus|work=Guardian}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="125">
X Marks The Spot (5235834167).jpg|Giraffes at the zoo
Spotted_leopard.jpg|Jaguar
Clownfish-Houston-Zoo.jpg|Clown fish
Cassowary at the Houston Zoo.jpg|Cassowary
Patas monkey group.jpg|[[Common patas monkey|Patas monkeys]] (''Erythrocebus patas'')
Tiger Houston Zoo 2007-08-31.jpg|Tiger
Sea-lion-Houston-Zoo.jpg|Sea lion
Male Hybrid orangutan.jpg|Male Hybrid [[orangutan]] "Rudi" at the zoo
Shasta VI with trainer, September 2013.jpg|Shasta VI, the mascot of the [[University of Houston]], with a Houston Zoo trainer
Red Hot Biscuit (5817010060).jpg|Red hibiscus, one of the many flowering plants at the zoo
</gallery>

==References==
{{Portal|Texas|Animals}}
{{Reflist |refs=

<ref name="aza_list">
{{ZooOrg|aza|zoos|access-date=September 13, 2011}}
</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official|https://www.houstonzoo.org}}

{{Hermann Park}}
{{Zoos of Texas}}
{{Houston, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Zoos in Texas]]
[[Category:Culture of Houston]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Houston|Zoo]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Houston]]
[[Category:Educational organizations established in 1922]]
[[Category:Zoos established in the 1920s]]
[[Category:Hermann Park]]