October 5 - Mexican Alligator Lizard Houston Zoo 2023-10-05 | The alligator lizard gets their name from the alligator-like scales on their back. It looks very similar to what you find on larger crocodilians! You can see these arboreal guys hanging out on their perch at their exhibit inside the Reptile & Amphibian House. 🦎 🐢 🐍 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------El nombre de la lagartija arbórea mexicana viene de las escamas en su espalda que son parecidas a las de un caimán. ¡Son muy similares a los que se encuentran en los cocodrilos grandes! Pueden ver a estos arbóreos colgados en sus perchas en su exhibición dentro de la casa de reptiles y anfibios. #HispanicHeritageMonth
Hasani Animal Spotlight Houston Zoo 2023-10-04 | Get to know our resident male lion, Hasani. You can tell him apart from our lionesses by his full mane. Manes are a good indicator of a lion’s health and can also show how old a lion may be. Hear more from Carnivore Keeper Eric.
September 27 - The Bug House Houston Zoo 2023-09-28 | 🕷 Don't be fooled by their appearance! The salmon pink bird-eating tarantula and golden silk orb weaver are essential to the ecosystem by eating pests all around us. Learn more about what makes these guys great by watching the livestream.
September 20 - Vida the Jaguar Houston Zoo 2023-09-20 | Gone fishing! Our jaguars’ habitat is designed to look like a riverbed in the Pantanal. Our female jaguar, Vida, demonstrated a natural behavior you’d see jaguars display in the wild – fishing and foraging for food in the stream. You can spot Vida usually napping in the bamboo near our mesh viewing area. Learn more on this week’s livestream: bit.ly/2wHMYBw ----------------------- ¡Fuimos de pesca! El hábitat de nuestros jaguares está diseñado para parecerse a un río en el Pantanal. Nuestra jaguar, Vida, demostró un comportamiento natural que se vería en los jaguares en la naturaleza: pescar y buscar comida en el rio. Puedes ver a Vida generalmente tomando una siesta en el bambú cerca de nuestra área de observación de malla. Aprenda más en la transmisión en vivo de esta semana: bit.ly/2wHMYBw
September 13 - Red Panda Duo Houston Zoo 2023-09-13 | Say hello to our pumpkin spice crew, Také and Willow! Nicknamed “fire cats” because of their reddish-brown color, you can find our duo usually snoozing in the tree stump or on the high perches in their exhibit, especially Willow.
Tallys Released Back into the Wild Houston Zoo 2023-09-13 | Last week, Tally the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle returned to the Gulf of Mexico thanks to a massive rescue, rehabilitation, and release effort that spanned two continents. Discovered washed up on the shores of Wales, U.K. in 2021, Tally’s fate took a dramatic turn when she was found by a group of dedicated individuals. Learn all about her epic journey and the teams who worked tirelessly to get her home: bit.ly/3EiDPij
September 7 - Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Houston Zoo 2023-09-07 | Did you know that Grand Cayman blue iguanas have a unique adaptation to help them regulate water in their body? They can spray salt from their nostrils to help stay cool and not drink as much water since they’re native to dryer habitats.
Meet Tally the Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle Houston Zoo 2023-09-01 | In an extraordinary tale of resilience, Tally, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, is nearing the end of her years long journey home to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Yesterday, Houston Zoo's veterinary team gave the international superstar a medical check-up to ensure she is healthy after her transatlantic adventure before she is cleared to be released back in the wild. Read more about her remarkable story: bit.ly/3EiDPij
August 30 - Blue Duikers and Friends Houston Zoo 2023-08-31 | Duiker means “diver” in Dutch. Duikers are known to dive into bushes to hide from predators. See Tiffany and her parents, Vlad and Seana, in their exhibit next to zebras and bongos. Learn more about our blue duiker trio on this week’s livestream.
August 24 - African Painted Dogs Houston Zoo 2023-08-24 | 🐾 Saturday is going to be a paw-some day because it’s #WorldAfricanPaintedDogDay! Come out to see our trio of painted dog brothers at our Meet the Keeper Talk presented by Phillips 66 at 11:30am. In the meantime, learn more about our dog pack on this week’s livestream.
Meet New Zoo Friends Houston Zoo 2023-08-24 | The one with the new friends. As teachers and students gear up to see new faces this school year, animals at Houston Zoo are also making new “friends.” Three guineafowls named Ross, Rachel, and Joey, made their public debut and join our blue duikers, a pair of African spur thighed tortoises, and a pair of Stanley cranes in the exhibit. Read more: bit.ly/3E6YkhF
Zoo Crew Teens Reflect on their Galápagos Islands Trip Houston Zoo 2023-08-19 | Guess who is back from the trip of a lifetime? Our Zoo Crew teens had the opportunity to see Houston Zoo conservation efforts in action. Read more about their trip highlights: bit.ly/3DYuE6t Activities shown are part of environmental education programs developed by the Galápagos National Park and Fundación ECOS. Under the cooperation agreement between Galápagos National Park and ECOS, the teens participate in environmental education programs focused on protection of Galápagos tortoises and other native wildlife.
August 16 - Takais 17th Birthday Houston Zoo 2023-08-18 | Pizza party! Takai's animal care team prepped a fun pizza party palooza for his 17th birthday. Pizzas included biscuits, smashed bananas, yogurt, and applesauce. Visit Takai during your next Zoo visit in Wortham World of Primates. For now, enjoy this week's livestream of the festivities.
August 2 - Yzma the Llama Houston Zoo 2023-08-14 | 🦙 🦙 We love the llama drama! Yzma is the newest addition of our Children’s Zoo farm area. She’s 10 months old and her MO is to do whatever her “big sister,” Fiesta, does.Bonus: See our llamas up close in our newest animal encounter. Book now: bit.ly/30vtj3s
August 9 - Blue-throated Macaws Houston Zoo 2023-08-09 | Our blue-throated macaws flock consists of six female birds. Macaws have a zebra-striped pattern underneath their eyes that is unique to each bird. Learn more about our colorful flock and see them enjoy some tasty kabobs and peanuts on this week’s livestream!
Animal Spotlight: Allens Swamp Monkeys Houston Zoo 2023-08-07 | Unlike most monkeys, the Allen’s swamp monkey likes to live near water areas and go into the water to forage for food and escape predators. Hear more from Primates Keeper Reid about our duo, Calvin and Mapenzi, and how you can help save them in the wild. You can spot them in Wortham World of Primates during your next visit.
Brew at the Zoo is Back! Houston Zoo 2023-08-02 | Bottoms up, y’all! Tickets are now on sale for Brew at the Zoo presented by TXU Energy happening on Friday, Sept. 15. At our 21+ event, sip on your favorite beer, hard seltzer, or cider, along with access to our newest exhibit, Galápagos Islands, giant beer pong, and more. Last year’s event sold out quickly, get your tickets now: bit.ly/43JPrVJ
July 26 - Berani Stays Cool Houston Zoo 2023-07-26 | This week, our Malayan tiger, Berani, cooled off with an ice popsicle treat from his animal care team. During the summer, you can spot our striped friend in his pool. Remember to join us this Saturday at 11:30 am for a special Meet the Keeper Talk presented by Phillips66, as we celebrate #InternationalTigerDay.
July 19 - Sea Turtle Exam Houston Zoo 2023-07-20 | Sea turtle surgery success! Three hours and 50 fibropapilloma (FP) tumors later, Merida is recovering back in Galveston with our partners at Texas A&M Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research before she’s cleared for release back into the wild. Read more about her story and the care our vet clinic team provided for her: bit.ly/3pQmERA
Happy National Zookeeper Week - Meet Annalia Houston Zoo 2023-07-20 | Did you know we have a night team? That’s right, meet one of our night keepers Annalia! She is part of our dedicated animal team, who monitors a variety of Zoo residents. Let’s just say, she definitely gets her steps in. #WeAreAZA #DayInTheLife #NationalZookeeperWeek #KeeperWeek #NZKW2023
July 12 - Ice Pops with Athena and Danh Tu Houston Zoo 2023-07-13 | We don't love one more than the otter! 🦦 Come see our Asian-small clawed otters, Athena and Dahn Tu during your next Zoo visit! It'll be a fun AC break inside Carruth Natural Encounters!
Houston Zoo’s Sea Turtle-Saving Summer Houston Zoo 2023-07-07 | This Sea Turtle-Saving Summer, we encourage you to be part of the ocean pollution solution. Single-use plastics are used for a moment but their effect on the ocean and the environment can last a lifetime. Animals, like sea turtles, can mistake floating plastic for food and become very ill or get entangled in it. Learn more about how we’re helping save sea turtles and other marine life: bit.ly/44xiEnr
July 5 - White-Cheeked Gibbons Houston Zoo 2023-07-06 | Meet Marv! Our newest white-cheeked gibbon was born to first-time parents, Max and Ting, five weeks ago. White-cheeked gibbons are born with the instinct to grip onto mom and will do so for quite a few months. You can see our gibbon family in Wortham World of Primates.
June 30 - Tesss 40th Birthday Houston Zoo 2023-06-30 | Our second oldest female Asian elephant, Tess, turns 40 tomorrow! Today, her animal care team threw her a pool party and she received a full-size watermelon, chopped apples, and more snacks. Tess weighs 7,000 pounds, and an elephant can easily eat about 200 pounds of food per day. Tess’s favorite food is kale – who would’ve thought? 🥬
Stay Cool at Houston Zoo Houston Zoo 2023-06-30 | Stay cool for the summer! With the temps rising, Houston Zoo animals are keeping cool during the heat of the summer and guests can, too. As you walk through our Galápagos Islands exhibit, which is 90% climate controlled, you can see some of the ways our animals stay cool, including ice treats for our California sea lions and sprinklers for our Galápagos tortoises. Read more about how we’re keeping our animals cool and how you can, too: bit.ly/3JHfRAb
Chill Out at the Zoo Houston Zoo 2023-06-28 | Chill out with this summer at one of our many air-conditioned, indoor spots. From Natural Encounters where you can see our Asian small-clawed otters swim around to Reptile & Amphibian House where you can see snakes, lizards, and frogs, there's plenty of areas to cool off. Check out our recent video for more pro-tips during your summer Zoo visit.
June 21 - World Giraffe Day Houston Zoo 2023-06-21 | Every day is #WorldGiraffeDay with our herd! Our giraffes receive a variety of food options daily, including Romaine lettuce (Zawadi’s fav), kale, apples, sweet potatoes, alfalfa hay, carrots, and more.
An Egg-citing Father’s Day Houston Zoo 2023-06-15 | We’re celebrating Father’s Day a few days early with an egg-citing announcement. For the first time in almost 30 years, a rare, wattled curassow chick is being raised by its parents inside of the Savanna Aviary in South America’s Pantanal. The current zoo population consists of only 25 birds across five organizations within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and six of those birds live at Houston Zoo. Read more: bit.ly/3N4xLOl
Animal Spotlight: Bobbi the Green Sea Turtle Houston Zoo 2023-06-14 | Bobbi’s Rescue Story. The next time you visit our One Ocean Aquarium in Galápagos Islands, look out for our green sea turtle, Bobbi. She was found on the Galveston beaches in 2018 after being washed up from a storm. Bobbi now acts as an ambassador for green sea turtles worldwide. #WorldSeaTurtleDay
June 14 - Cougar Duo, Shasta & Louie Houston Zoo 2023-06-14 | Our cougar cubs are growing up fast! They are currently 8 months old and recently moved into their new digs, the main cougar habitat. They work with their keepers daily on husbandry training to present their paws, stomach, mouth, and more.
A Cheeky New Baby is Born Houston Zoo 2023-06-13 | New baby alert! It's a Houston Zoo first with a male northern white-cheeked gibbon being born on May 30 to first-time parents Ting and Max. Guests can see the new family in Wortham World of Primates, next to the De Brazza’s monkeys. While mother and baby bonding are doing well at the moment, the first few weeks are crucial, and the animal care team is keeping a close watch on the pair. Read more about our newest arrival: bit.ly/460Z98E
June 8 - Giant River Otters and Ice Pops Houston Zoo 2023-06-09 | 🧊 🦦 The perfect ice pop doesn’t exi... Our giant river duo, Ken and Merume, cooled off with two ice pops made with rainbow trout and catfish tails. How can you tell this duo apart? Merume has a fully formed white throat patch while Ken has a smaller one near his chin. Each individual has their own unique throat patch pattern – similar to human fingerprints.
May 31 - California Sea Lions Houston Zoo 2023-05-31 | Don’t miss seeing our flippered friends during your next Zoo visit! Our California sea lion colony has grown from five to nine sea lions. Their new habitat in the Galápagos Islands is four times the size of their old habitat.
Theres a New Sylvester in Town Houston Zoo 2023-05-31 | Meet the newest member of our hoofstock herd! On April 20, a male okapi was born to mom Sukari and dad Kwame. He’s been named after Mayor Sylvester Turner and the name Sylvester means “forest dweller,” which is where okapis can be found in their native range in Central Africa. Yesterday, he made his public debut and had a special visit from Mayor Turner himself. Read more about our new addition: bit.ly/45v0cx8
May 24 - Savanna Aviary Houston Zoo 2023-05-25 | Spring migration is happening now until June 15. Find out ways you can help save birds this migratory season, including turning off non-essential lights at night, purchasing Bird-Friendly coffee, and more.
May 17 - Teddy Turns Two Houston Zoo 2023-05-17 | Teddy turned two this week and now weighs over 1,900 pounds, which is more than 1,500 pounds from his birth weight. He’s learning new behaviors with his animal care team to help with his own medical care, including blood draw behaviors.
Wild About Mothers Day Houston Zoo 2023-05-11 | 🥰 Incoming cuteness alert from Marvin and Cadbury. We’re kicking off Mother’s Day weekend early by showing off two of our new mom and baby duos. Read more about these new faces: bit.ly/41Ipy7T
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Partner Visits Houston Zoo Houston Zoo 2023-05-06 | One of our conservation partners, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, recently visited the Houston Zoo. We got to showcase our entire Zoo, including a tour of our South America’s Pantanal exhibit, with Dr. Tara Stoinski, the Fund’s president and CEO. Learn more about how the Zoo supports them in our blog: bit.ly/44Coy7C
May 3 - Clouded Leopards Houston Zoo 2023-05-03 | Today's forecast looked a bit clouded leopard-ish. ☁️ These arboreal cats' tails can be as big as their body size! This helps them navigate through trees for hunting.
April 26 - Chilean Flamingos Houston Zoo 2023-04-28 | Visit our Chilean flamingo flock in their temporary home across from orangutans in Wortham World of Primates. They’ve temporarily moved while their current habitat gets an upgrade as part of our state-of-the-art Birds of the World exhibit complex. Our flock includes 54 flamingos, with 3 chicks named Domingo, Astro, and Orbit.
April 19 - Capybara Pups Houston Zoo 2023-04-19 | 🥖 🥐 🥯 Knead an afternoon pick-me-up? Meet our five new capybaras: Biscuit, Bagel, Strudel, Croissant, and Cannoli. Capybaras are precocial so they come out well developed and were eating solid foods by day two. Stop by to see our family group in South America’s Pantanal.
April 12 - Meerkat Babies Houston Zoo 2023-04-13 | Cuteness x 2! We recently introduced the two newest members of our meerkat mob, CJ and Bugsy! They join mom Mae, Dottie and Kit in the meerkat exhibit outside of the Carruth Natural Encounters Building. Make sure to stop by and say hi, at your next Zoo visit!
April 4 - Humboldt Penguins Houston Zoo 2023-04-05 | ICYMI: We introduced our 10 Humboldt penguins on Facebook Live yesterday! We’re in full gear, ready for opening day this Friday, April 7. Get up close to our colony at their new exhibit inside of Galápagos Islands during your next Zoo visit.
March 29 - One Ocean Aquarium Houston Zoo 2023-03-31 | Rays, sharks, and fish, oh my! 🐠 🦈 Our One Ocean aquarium spans 40 feet wide inside of our newest exhibit, Galápagos Islands, opening on Friday, April 7.
Five Times the Cuteness Houston Zoo 2023-03-31 | Our capybara family has expanded! Capybaras Rio and Poppy welcomed five new pups two weeks ago. Poppy is a first-time mom and doing great. All five babies have been observed nursing and are already eating solids. Poppy and her pups can now be seen in the smaller habitat of the Grasslands exhibit in South America's Pantanal.
Explore the Galápagos Islands Houston Zoo 2023-03-30 | Opening April 7, see penguins, sea lions, Galápagos tortoises, and more in our brand-new exhibit, Galápagos Islands. Reserve your tickets at houstonzoo.org.
March 22 - Galapagos Tortoises Houston Zoo 2023-03-22 | Our brand-new exhibit, Galápagos Islands, opens on April 7. Our Galápagos tortoises' group has grown from 3 to 10 tortoises, ranging between 40-220 pounds. Their new environment has two different habitat areas to roam, including new elevations, volcanic rock, a moat, and caves mimicking the landscape in the Galápagos.
Baby Pickles Have Hatched! Houston Zoo 2023-03-16 | At 90 years young, Mr. Pickles is the oldest animal at the Zoo and is the newest father of three radiated tortoises. These little Pickles are a big dill for radiated tortoise genetics as their father is the most genetically valuable radiated tortoise in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP). The new tortoises will remain behind the scenes in the Reptile & Amphibian House until they are big enough to safely join their parents. Meet Dill, Gherkin, and Jalapeño: bit.ly/3JHQwXm
March 8 - Whooping Cranes Houston Zoo 2023-03-08 | There used to be more than 10,000 whooping cranes in the wild, and by the 1930s, their population had declined to only 20. Today, there are about 800 wild whooping cranes that migrate to the Texas coast from Canada, thanks to the Endangered Species Act and the efforts of Texans. You can spot our pair, Heiden and Angel, in the Kathrine G. McGovern Texas Wetlands.
Flamingo Flock on a Walk Houston Zoo 2023-03-08 | 🦩 Walk like a flamingo! Last week, approximately 70 Zoo staff and volunteers lined up before the Zoo opened to help create a 125-yard human barricade as your flock of 53 Chilean flamingos moved to their new temporary home across from orangutans. This exhibit will be their new home for the next two years as their original exhibit is being updated and part of a new state-of-the-art Birds of the World exhibit complex. Read more: bit.ly/3L022hR
