Houston Zoo

Founded in 1922, the Houston Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique educational and conservation resource serving 1.5 million guests annually. Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is home to more than 4,500 exotic animals representing more than 800 species. 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 located at 1513 North MacGregor. The Zoo is open daily March 9 to November 2(Daylight Saving Time) from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. (last ticket sold at 6 p.m.) and November 3 to March 8 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. (last ticket sold at 5 p.m.). Regular admission is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, $6 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 $8 and a child Zoo admission for $5. Zoo memberships start at only $55. For information on all the great benefits of becoming a Zoo member call (713) 533-6713 or visit our Web site at www.houstonzoo.org.

The Houston Zoo is ranked among the top ten zoos in the nation (America's Best Zoos; (Nyhuis & Wassner) for its bird collections and exhibits, the Kipp Aquarium, and the McGovern Children's Zoo. Recent additions to the Zoo include a new elephant exhibit including an innovative barn with large viewing windows allowing visitors to observe keepers interacting with the herd, and the award winning Natural Encounters Building featuring rainforest, dry land, river and coral habitats as well as an outdoor meerkat exhibit.

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SEPTEMBER

 

African Forest Phase One Groundbreaking

Thursday, September 10, 2009

10 a.m.

The ceremonial ground breaking officially launches construction of the African Forest Phase One, bringing an awe-inspiring wilderness habitat to the Houston Zoo with chimpanzees, rhinos, and giraffes in a setting reminiscent of the forest landscape of western equatorial Africa.   Event features Aldine Dance Company members in African animal costume, traditional Congolese dancers, djembe drummer and ikembe player, and remarks by Houston Zoo officials.  Open to the public. 

 

Call of the Wild Lecture Series Begins

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Brown Education Center Auditorium, Houston Zoo

Doors open at 6:30 for refreshments, lecture begins at 7 p.m.

Ticketed event: $15 per person, non-member; $10 per person Zoo members.

 

The Houston Zoo’s 2009-10 Call of the Wild Lecture Series begins its new season on Thursday, September 10, 2009.  Enjoy an evening of scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, breathtaking photographs and first-hand stories from conservationists on the frontlines in the battle to help save the world’s wildlife.  Proceeds from the Call of the Wild Lecture Series benefit the Houston Zoo’s global and local conservation initiatives.  For more information or to purchase tickets on-line, visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/lectureseries/.

 

September 10, 2009

Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project: Rwanda

Dr. Mike Cranfield, Executive Director

 

There are approximately 740 Mountain Gorillas left on earth; they live only in two small parks, one in Uganda and one that includes a corner of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In order to ensure a healthy future for this special animal, the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project monitors the gorillas on a regular basis, providing life-saving medical care if needed, conducting health studies, and building local capacity in veterinary medicine and ecosystem health.

Photo Day

Saturday, September 12, 2009

7:30 a.m.

Ticketed event: $20 per person (adult) non-member; $12 per person (adult) Zoo Member; $12 per person (child) non-member; $8 per person (child) Zoo Member.

 

On Saturday, September 12 the Houston Zoo opens its gates 90 minutes early, allowing Photo Day ticket holders to take advantage of the morning light and cooler weather to capture memorable shots of some of the Zoo’s early risers.   At 9:30 a.m. Photo Day participants will be treated to a special presentation and question and answer session at the Houston Zoo’s Karamu Outpost with Houston Rockets and Houston Texans team photographer Bill Baptist.  For more information and to purchase tickets on-line, visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/photographyday/.

 

Home School Day

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

9 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Ticketed event:  Adults: $11; Children ages 12-18: $11;  Children ages 2-11; $7.

 

Join the Houston Zoo Education Staff for a day of fun and learning dedicated to homeschoolers!  The day will include special presentations, activities, and tours for homeschoolers and their families.  Register on-line at http://www.houstonzoo.org/en/cev/328.

 

Bear Awareness Day

Saturday, September 26, 2009

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

All activities included in Zoo admission

 

Get bear aware at the Houston Zoo during Bear Awareness Day!  During Bear Awareness Day Houston Zoo keepers will offer camping tips during “Good Camper/Bad Camper Theatre” presentations with dramatic assistance from our Andean bears.  Visit the Bear Maze and find out if you have what it takes to be a bear!  Representatives from Texas Parks and Wildlife, Big Thicket National Preserve, Houston SPCA and the East Texas Black Bear Taskforce will be on hand to answer your bear questions. 

 

Wild Winks

Fridays in September: 11, 18, 25

6 p.m. – 10 a.m.

Ticketed event: School Wild Winks $45 per person; ExxonMobil Scout Wild Winks $45 per person ‘regular’; $55 per person ‘badge.’

 

Wild Winks overnights offer those 7 years of age and older a unique opportunity to spend the night at the Houston Zoo.  The experience includes interactive activities, touchable animals, guided walks with experienced Zoo staff, dinner, continental breakfast and admission to the Zoo after the program is over Saturday morning.   For more information or to purchase tickets on-line, visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/wildwinks/.

 

School Wild Winks

Friday, September 11, 2009

 

ExxonMobil Scout Wild Winks

September 18: Girl Scout Junior Wildlife Badge (Badge Wild Wink)

September 25: Boy Scout Wild Wink

 

 

OCTOBER

 

Wild Winks

October 2, 3

6 p.m. – 10 a.m.

Ticketed event: ExxonMobil Scout Wild Winks $45 per person ‘regular’; $55 per person ‘badge.’

 

Wild Winks overnights offer those 7 years of age and older a unique opportunity to spend the night at the Houston Zoo.  For more information or to purchase tickets on-line, visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/wildwinks/.

 

ExxonMobil Scout Wild Winks

            October 2: Girl Scout Wild Wink

October 3: Boy Scout Wild Wink

 

Feed Your Wildlife Fall Luncheon

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Brown Education Center, Houston Zoo

Ticketed event: For ticket prices and information regarding underwriting opportunities, contact Ginger Moon at 713-533-6584 or e-mail gmoon@houstonzoo.org.

 

Join us on October 7th for the Houston Zoo’s Feed Your Wildlife Fall Luncheon honoring Janice and Bob McNair and meet one of the world’s foremost authorities on the African elephant, Dr. Iain Douglas Hamilton. Dr. Hamilton created the Save the Elephants Foundation to secure a future for elephants and sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of their habitat. Your participation in this event will help protect elephants and the wild places which depend on their survival.  The Houston Zoo’s Feed Your Wildlife Fall Luncheon benefits Save the Elephants and the Houston Zoo’s wildlife conservation programs in Texas and around the world.

 

Call of the Wild Lecture Series Continues

“Save the Elephants”

Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Founder
Save the Elephants Foundation

 

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Brown Education Center Auditorium, Houston Zoo

Doors open at 6:30 for refreshments, lecture begins at 7 p.m.

Ticketed event: $15 per person, non-member; $10 per person Zoo members.

 

One of the world's foremost authorities on the African elephant, Iain Douglas-Hamilton pioneered the first in-depth scientific study of elephant social behavior in Tanzania's Lake Manyara National Park at age 23. During the 1970s he investigated the status of elephants throughout Africa and was the first to alert the world to ivory poaching. He chronicled how Africa's elephant population was halved between 1979 and 1989 and helped bring about the world ivory trade ban.

For more information or to purchase tickets on-line, visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/lectureseries/.

 

Columbus Day Free Day

October 12, 2009

The Houston Zoo observes 5 free days each year – New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Columbus Day, and the Friday after Thanksgiving Day.

Zoo Boo

October 17, 18, 24, 25, and 31, 2009

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day

All Zoo Boo activities are included in your Zoo admission.

 

Houston’s largest kid-friendly Halloween celebration is back for 5 great days in October!  Enjoy safe Halloween trick-or-treating, games and fun activities with a “naturally wild” twist October 17, 18, 24, 25 and on Halloween October 31 from 9am to 4 pm each Zoo Boo day.   Zoo Boo festivities include the new Cooper Tool Monster Mural, an animal themed art experience for children, Halloween-themed Meet the Keeper Talks, the Lost Species Cemetery, and the popular Fiesta Mart Pumpkin Patch where kids can pick out their very own child-sized pumpkin and paint it into a Halloween jack-o-lantern! 

           

NOVEMBER

 

Feast with the Beasts

Friday, November 6, 2009

7 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Ticketed event: From September 4 until September 16, Houston Zoo members may purchase tickets for $65 per person, $75 for non-members.  After September 16, Feast tickets may be purchased on line for $75 for Zoo members and $85 for non-members.  Feast with the Beast tickets may be purchased at the door the night of the event for $100. 

 

Jump, jive and swing into fall when the Houston Zoo brings back the most anticipated culinary event of the year - Feast with the Beasts on Friday, November 6 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.  Enjoy exotic culinary fare from 50 of Houston’s hottest restaurants, beverages from Yellow Tail and Silver Eagle, and an evening of hot jump jivin’ swing music by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on the Bud Lite Stage, all set against the Zoo’s naturally wild backdrop.  It’s an evening you won’t want to miss!  Purchase Feast with the Beasts tickets on-line when you visit www.houstonzoo.org/feast. 

 

Wild Winks

November 20, 21

6 p.m. – 10 a.m.

Ticketed event: ExxonMobil Scout Wild Winks $45 per person ‘regular’; $55 per person ‘badge.’

 

Wild Winks overnights offer those 7 years of age and older a unique opportunity to spend the night at the Houston Zoo.  For more information or to purchase tickets on-line, visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/wildwinks/.

 

            ExxonMobil Scout Wild Winks

 

            November 20: Girl Scout Junior Wildlife Badge (Badge Wild Wink)

November 21: Girl Scout Wild Wink

 

 

Friday after Thanksgiving Day Free Day

November 27, 2009

The Houston Zoo observes 5 free days each year – New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Columbus Day, and the Friday after Thanksgiving Day.