Today’s Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo of today is unrecognizable from its origins in the 1920s.
On a small plot of land in Hermann Park, we began with a single bison named Earl. For 80 years, the Zoo was operated by the City of Houston until 2002, when the Zoo transitioned into a non-profit organization in partnership with the city.
On a small plot of land in Hermann Park, we began with a single bison named Earl. For 80 years, the Zoo was operated by the City of Houston until 2002, when the Zoo transitioned into a non-profit organization in partnership with the city.
This small fence grew, and grew some more, over the nearly 100 years, and is now the 55-acre Houston Zoo we know today.
But we’re not done growing. In order to connect communities with animals to inspire action to save wildlife we’re transforming the very heart of the Zoo and taking our visitors around the world from the far reaches of Central America and the islands of the Galápagos to our very own Texas Wetlands.
More than
2 million
annual guests helping
save wildlife.
In 2019, the Zoo’s education team offered 23 programs to more than
516,691
participants.
We support 33 wildlife conservation projects in
17 countries around the world.
Looking Forward
The Houston Zoo’s story is defined by growth and change.
But we are always asking ourselves one question: What’s next? To answer that question, in 2016 we embarked on an ambitious planning process during which we developed a new strategic plan, master plan, and business plan. Underlying these interconnected plans are eight strategic priorities that guide the future of the Houston Zoo.
