GraysonDP
Well-Known Member
Houston Zoo Review
Date of Visit: August 5, 2016
The Houston Zoo resides in a beautiful park near Downtown Houston and its lush 55 acres are home to one of the largest collections of animals in the U.S. While a few superstars are absent (most notably hippos, grizzly/polar bears, penguins and kangaroos), there are an impressive amount of species represented on the grounds. Most of the exhibits are organized by taxidermy (sometimes strictly, sometimes loosely) with the notable exception of the African Forest complex. This sums up the zoo’s biggest flaw- there aren’t as many outstanding immersion exhibits as there are at many of its peer institutions. However, the ones present (African Forest, Natural Encounters) are stellar and very few of the exhibits are truly substandard and many of them are good. I went to the zoo on a very hot day but was overall quite impressed by it. I preferred it to the Fort Worth Zoo (which I visited the year before) but it didn’t impress me as much as the Dallas Zoo (which I visited on the same trip I went to Fort Worth.)
Excellent
Gorillas of the African Forest- The nation’s newest exhibit for the colossal ape and IMO a lock for one of the top five best. Excellent theming, design and artwork around the exhibit helps transport you to the slice of Africa these gorillas call home. The exhibit itself is in the middle in terms of vegetation- it does not have a dense canopy like Congo Gorilla Forest at the Bronx Zoo but it has tons of vegetation and bushes that provide shade, hiding opportunities and immersion for the gorillas. Taller trees and detailed muddy backdrops are in the back and rocky hills dominate the right half of the exhibit. The variety of terrain in this habitat is immersive and it is very large- I’d estimate it’s at least an acre large. Realistic fake logs allow the apes to climb and provide enrichment. One interesting feature of this habitat is that there is a stellar muddy red river hog exhibit below where the gorillas live. While they don’t necessarily live together, it’s quite cool to see them in close proximity to each other. Overall an expertly designed habitat and one of the very best in the country- as good if not better as ones I’ve seen at San Diego, Dallas, DAK, Busch Gardens, Atlanta and Lincoln Park. Only Bronx has a clearly superior exhibit. On the day I was there, only one gorilla was out and was sitting in a shaded corner close to the door to get inside. The other six gorillas were in the indoor exhibit where they have a decent but not enormous space filled with enrichments and places for them to get shade and relaxation away from the Texas heat.
African Forest- This earlier part of the complex is mostly quite good. Chimpanzees have an excellent spacious exhibit filled with ropes and fake trees for them to climb on and play with. The habitat is relatively flat and decently lush with rocky backdrops. Termite mounds are present as well and the huge windows provide great viewing. The large troop was quite active on the day of my visit and I had a magical moment where I watched the chimps use tools, a first for me. Of the ones I’ve seen I would put Dallas and North Carolina above this one but it is definitely one of the best around and perfect for the chimps. In particular, I appreciate the vertical space and amount of enrichment opportunities for the apes. A trio of white rhinoceros share an immersive muddy habitat with Speke’s gazelles and it provides plenty of opportunities for them to wallow and move around. Undoubtedly the weakness of African Forest is the giraffe/zebra/ostrich exhibit. While it is fine, it is a bit cramped since it is a bit on the small side and has around ten giraffes living in it. It is also all sand, which is disappointing given the fact it was only built in 2010. Overall, African Forest was quite a delight and has significantly raised the quality of the zoo’s exhibits. I’m curious to see how the area will be expanded in the future.
Meerkats- A state-of-the-art habitat and one of the best meerkat exhibits I’ve seen. It’s quite big for such a small animal and the immersion is top notch. It mixes grass, sand, mounds and tunnels in a brilliant way and is perfect for the meerkats.
Natural Encounters- This building is almost like a modern day version of a Small Animal House. It isn’t that large but the exhibits are high quality. One excellent exhibit is for Asian small-clawed otters, lorises and prevost’s squirrels, which is quite realistic and immersive. There is also a crawlthrough piranha exhibit which is quite cool and neat tanks for freshwater stingrays and catfish. Crowned hornbills and antelope ground squirrels share a decently sized sandy desert exhibit. A lush rainforest canopy exhibit houses saki monkeys, tamarins, sloths and arcaris. Fruit bats live in a dark cave. A coral reef features a variety of coral and tropical fish.
Wortham World of Primates- A very nice set of primate exhibits featuring both mesh and open topped habitats. Patas monkeys live in an excellent open-topped exhibit with fake trees for climbing, plenty of grass and rocks for hiding. Lemurs have tons of ropes and climbing opportunities while DeBrazza’s monkeys and mandrills share a large netted exhibit dotted with palm trees. Siamang have a mid-sized netted exhibit with a good amount of climbing opportunities. However, I would have put more trees in it. Howler monkeys have a great netted habitat with plenty of vertical and horizontal space and ropes for them to swing on. Sifakas live in an average topped exhibit that could be larger and more naturalistic but has an appropriate amount of encirhment opportunities and guenons have a solid habitat that suits their needs. Golden lion tamarins have a larger exhibit than is normally given to them at zoos and, although not primates, babirusas are found in an average muddy habitat. The stars of the area are orangutans and they share a habitat with gibbons. Viewed across water at parts and others through glass, their habitat is merely average and a bit too open for my liking. The apes spend a lot of time on the ground although they do have a platform This is partially reconciled by a large number of ropes and enrichments opportunities.
McGovern Children’s Zoo- Home to very good exhibits for otters, bald eagles, porcupines, deer, mongoose and bats.
Giant Anteater/Maned Wolf Exhibit- An excellent, grassy habitat shared by the two species.
Bug House- A surprisingly good insect exhibit.
Average
Reptile House- A typical herpetarium with a decent habitat for Komodo dragons outside. The terrariums are relatively conventional and does not do much to entice visitors who are not reptile enthusists.
Kipp Aquarium- Newly renovated, the aquarium is smaller than most but fairly nicely done. The tanks host a nice variety of colorful fish and are beautiful to look at.A nice surprise is that sea turtles are present.
McNair Asian Elephant Habitat- The positives are that a number of elephants are on display here including two youngsters and the exhibit is larger than many. However, this is not in my book a great elephant exhibit since it lacks the level of immersion and naturalism I prefer. There is an enormous pool and a few trees but I like to see more enrichment and grass in exhibits for the pachyderms. Also, it is divided into multiple smaller yards which limits to amount of space the elephants can all be given at one time. It is decent but average in my book.
Big Cats- Lions live in a good exhibit surrounded by a big water moat. The habitat is grassy and spacious but not one of the best lion exhibits I’ve seen. Tigers live in a smaller standard exhibit I’d like to see replaced with a better one in the near future. Cougars live in an average exhibit while the best of the bunch is a lush jaguar exhibit with a waterfall.
Hoofed Run- A series of largely mediocre, nondescript hoofstock yards dominate the edges of the zoo. They feature species such as Baird’s tapirs/capybars/rheas, bongos/hornbills, duikers, Ankole cattle, nyalas/warthogs, okapis and greater kudus. Some are good enough but they aren’t any different than hoofstock yards at any other zoo.
Ocelots- Live in a so-so exhibit near the Bug House.
Red Pandas- Live in an all-indoor exhibit that once housed koalas.
Poor
Cheetah/Painted Dog- Not terrible but both among the worst and most generic I’ve seen for their species. There are so many great grassy habitats for cheetahs and wild dogs it’s quite disappointing Houston couldn’t come up with something better for them.
Bears- Black bears and Andean bears live in grottoes that aren’t as awful as some in northern zoos but still very outdated and in need of an overhaul.
Small Cats- Species such as clouded leopards and fossas live in habitats that are quite old. They have a decent amount of vertical space but they aren’t good by any means.
Sea Lion- The absolute worst habitat at the zoo in my opinion and one that needs to be bulldozed now. The pool is very outdated and feels as if pinnipeds have overtaken a residential swimming pool. It is very small, has no attempt at immersion or naturalism and is very outdated. A new sea lion exhibit is much needed.
Overall the Houston Zoo is a very good zoo on the rise. All of the Gorillas complex and most of the African Forest complex suggests this zoo is only going to get better and soon become one of the very best in the country. New director Lee Ehmke (who has an extensive background in exhibit design and revitalized the Minnesota Zoo) should be able to take this zoo to new records of success. Also, it is one of the most attended zoos in the country with around 2.5 million visitors so there obviously is a lot of support for the zoo. While I prefer geographically organized zoos and have some quibbles with the exhibitry here, this is a zoo I really like and I’d say it’s probably somewhere between 16 and 24 in the country.
Date of Visit: August 5, 2016
The Houston Zoo resides in a beautiful park near Downtown Houston and its lush 55 acres are home to one of the largest collections of animals in the U.S. While a few superstars are absent (most notably hippos, grizzly/polar bears, penguins and kangaroos), there are an impressive amount of species represented on the grounds. Most of the exhibits are organized by taxidermy (sometimes strictly, sometimes loosely) with the notable exception of the African Forest complex. This sums up the zoo’s biggest flaw- there aren’t as many outstanding immersion exhibits as there are at many of its peer institutions. However, the ones present (African Forest, Natural Encounters) are stellar and very few of the exhibits are truly substandard and many of them are good. I went to the zoo on a very hot day but was overall quite impressed by it. I preferred it to the Fort Worth Zoo (which I visited the year before) but it didn’t impress me as much as the Dallas Zoo (which I visited on the same trip I went to Fort Worth.)
Excellent
Gorillas of the African Forest- The nation’s newest exhibit for the colossal ape and IMO a lock for one of the top five best. Excellent theming, design and artwork around the exhibit helps transport you to the slice of Africa these gorillas call home. The exhibit itself is in the middle in terms of vegetation- it does not have a dense canopy like Congo Gorilla Forest at the Bronx Zoo but it has tons of vegetation and bushes that provide shade, hiding opportunities and immersion for the gorillas. Taller trees and detailed muddy backdrops are in the back and rocky hills dominate the right half of the exhibit. The variety of terrain in this habitat is immersive and it is very large- I’d estimate it’s at least an acre large. Realistic fake logs allow the apes to climb and provide enrichment. One interesting feature of this habitat is that there is a stellar muddy red river hog exhibit below where the gorillas live. While they don’t necessarily live together, it’s quite cool to see them in close proximity to each other. Overall an expertly designed habitat and one of the very best in the country- as good if not better as ones I’ve seen at San Diego, Dallas, DAK, Busch Gardens, Atlanta and Lincoln Park. Only Bronx has a clearly superior exhibit. On the day I was there, only one gorilla was out and was sitting in a shaded corner close to the door to get inside. The other six gorillas were in the indoor exhibit where they have a decent but not enormous space filled with enrichments and places for them to get shade and relaxation away from the Texas heat.
African Forest- This earlier part of the complex is mostly quite good. Chimpanzees have an excellent spacious exhibit filled with ropes and fake trees for them to climb on and play with. The habitat is relatively flat and decently lush with rocky backdrops. Termite mounds are present as well and the huge windows provide great viewing. The large troop was quite active on the day of my visit and I had a magical moment where I watched the chimps use tools, a first for me. Of the ones I’ve seen I would put Dallas and North Carolina above this one but it is definitely one of the best around and perfect for the chimps. In particular, I appreciate the vertical space and amount of enrichment opportunities for the apes. A trio of white rhinoceros share an immersive muddy habitat with Speke’s gazelles and it provides plenty of opportunities for them to wallow and move around. Undoubtedly the weakness of African Forest is the giraffe/zebra/ostrich exhibit. While it is fine, it is a bit cramped since it is a bit on the small side and has around ten giraffes living in it. It is also all sand, which is disappointing given the fact it was only built in 2010. Overall, African Forest was quite a delight and has significantly raised the quality of the zoo’s exhibits. I’m curious to see how the area will be expanded in the future.
Meerkats- A state-of-the-art habitat and one of the best meerkat exhibits I’ve seen. It’s quite big for such a small animal and the immersion is top notch. It mixes grass, sand, mounds and tunnels in a brilliant way and is perfect for the meerkats.
Natural Encounters- This building is almost like a modern day version of a Small Animal House. It isn’t that large but the exhibits are high quality. One excellent exhibit is for Asian small-clawed otters, lorises and prevost’s squirrels, which is quite realistic and immersive. There is also a crawlthrough piranha exhibit which is quite cool and neat tanks for freshwater stingrays and catfish. Crowned hornbills and antelope ground squirrels share a decently sized sandy desert exhibit. A lush rainforest canopy exhibit houses saki monkeys, tamarins, sloths and arcaris. Fruit bats live in a dark cave. A coral reef features a variety of coral and tropical fish.
Wortham World of Primates- A very nice set of primate exhibits featuring both mesh and open topped habitats. Patas monkeys live in an excellent open-topped exhibit with fake trees for climbing, plenty of grass and rocks for hiding. Lemurs have tons of ropes and climbing opportunities while DeBrazza’s monkeys and mandrills share a large netted exhibit dotted with palm trees. Siamang have a mid-sized netted exhibit with a good amount of climbing opportunities. However, I would have put more trees in it. Howler monkeys have a great netted habitat with plenty of vertical and horizontal space and ropes for them to swing on. Sifakas live in an average topped exhibit that could be larger and more naturalistic but has an appropriate amount of encirhment opportunities and guenons have a solid habitat that suits their needs. Golden lion tamarins have a larger exhibit than is normally given to them at zoos and, although not primates, babirusas are found in an average muddy habitat. The stars of the area are orangutans and they share a habitat with gibbons. Viewed across water at parts and others through glass, their habitat is merely average and a bit too open for my liking. The apes spend a lot of time on the ground although they do have a platform This is partially reconciled by a large number of ropes and enrichments opportunities.
McGovern Children’s Zoo- Home to very good exhibits for otters, bald eagles, porcupines, deer, mongoose and bats.
Giant Anteater/Maned Wolf Exhibit- An excellent, grassy habitat shared by the two species.
Bug House- A surprisingly good insect exhibit.
Average
Reptile House- A typical herpetarium with a decent habitat for Komodo dragons outside. The terrariums are relatively conventional and does not do much to entice visitors who are not reptile enthusists.
Kipp Aquarium- Newly renovated, the aquarium is smaller than most but fairly nicely done. The tanks host a nice variety of colorful fish and are beautiful to look at.A nice surprise is that sea turtles are present.
McNair Asian Elephant Habitat- The positives are that a number of elephants are on display here including two youngsters and the exhibit is larger than many. However, this is not in my book a great elephant exhibit since it lacks the level of immersion and naturalism I prefer. There is an enormous pool and a few trees but I like to see more enrichment and grass in exhibits for the pachyderms. Also, it is divided into multiple smaller yards which limits to amount of space the elephants can all be given at one time. It is decent but average in my book.
Big Cats- Lions live in a good exhibit surrounded by a big water moat. The habitat is grassy and spacious but not one of the best lion exhibits I’ve seen. Tigers live in a smaller standard exhibit I’d like to see replaced with a better one in the near future. Cougars live in an average exhibit while the best of the bunch is a lush jaguar exhibit with a waterfall.
Hoofed Run- A series of largely mediocre, nondescript hoofstock yards dominate the edges of the zoo. They feature species such as Baird’s tapirs/capybars/rheas, bongos/hornbills, duikers, Ankole cattle, nyalas/warthogs, okapis and greater kudus. Some are good enough but they aren’t any different than hoofstock yards at any other zoo.
Ocelots- Live in a so-so exhibit near the Bug House.
Red Pandas- Live in an all-indoor exhibit that once housed koalas.
Poor
Cheetah/Painted Dog- Not terrible but both among the worst and most generic I’ve seen for their species. There are so many great grassy habitats for cheetahs and wild dogs it’s quite disappointing Houston couldn’t come up with something better for them.
Bears- Black bears and Andean bears live in grottoes that aren’t as awful as some in northern zoos but still very outdated and in need of an overhaul.
Small Cats- Species such as clouded leopards and fossas live in habitats that are quite old. They have a decent amount of vertical space but they aren’t good by any means.
Sea Lion- The absolute worst habitat at the zoo in my opinion and one that needs to be bulldozed now. The pool is very outdated and feels as if pinnipeds have overtaken a residential swimming pool. It is very small, has no attempt at immersion or naturalism and is very outdated. A new sea lion exhibit is much needed.
Overall the Houston Zoo is a very good zoo on the rise. All of the Gorillas complex and most of the African Forest complex suggests this zoo is only going to get better and soon become one of the very best in the country. New director Lee Ehmke (who has an extensive background in exhibit design and revitalized the Minnesota Zoo) should be able to take this zoo to new records of success. Also, it is one of the most attended zoos in the country with around 2.5 million visitors so there obviously is a lot of support for the zoo. While I prefer geographically organized zoos and have some quibbles with the exhibitry here, this is a zoo I really like and I’d say it’s probably somewhere between 16 and 24 in the country.
