The Houston Zoo sits inside Hermann Park near downtown Houston, Texas, and has welcomed visitors since it first opened in 1922 with a single deer pen donated to the city. Over the following century it grew into one of the most visited zoos in the country, now spread across 55 acres and organized into immersive habitat zones rather than traditional cages, including the African Forest, the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat, and the Kathrine G. McGovern Texas Wetlands.
Today the zoo cares for approximately 4,300 animals representing around 575 species, ranging from Galapagos tortoises to chimpanzees and Attwater’s prairie chickens. It draws roughly 2 million guests annually, making it one of the most-attended zoos in the United States, and in 2024 it earned a rare 100% accreditation score from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, reflecting its animal care and conservation programs.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Hermann Park, Houston, Texas
- Opened: 1922
- Size: 55 acres
- Species/Animal Count: About 4,300 animals, 575 species
- Annual Visitors: About 2 million
- Famous For: AZA-accredited immersive habitats and EEHV elephant vaccine research with Baylor College of Medicine
The Zoo Experience
Visitors move through themed regions rather than a simple row of enclosures. The African Forest brings together gorillas, chimpanzees, rhinos, and zebras in a shared landscape, while the Wortham World of Primates and the Fondren Foundation Birds of the World house species from across the globe. The McNair Asian Elephant Habitat and South America’s Pantanal exhibit are among the zoo’s larger, more immersive additions built over the past two decades as the zoo modernized its older enclosures.
Conservation Work
Beyond exhibits, the Houston Zoo funds and staffs conservation projects in 17 countries, including local efforts to protect the endangered Houston toad and Attwater’s prairie chicken in Texas grasslands. Its veterinary and research teams, working with Baylor College of Medicine, helped develop an mRNA vaccine for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), a disease that has historically threatened young elephants in zoos worldwide.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Houston Zoo FAQs
Where is the Houston Zoo located?
It’s located in Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, near the Museum District and Rice University.
How big is the Houston Zoo?
The zoo covers about 55 acres within Hermann Park.
How many animals live at the Houston Zoo?
The zoo cares for approximately 4,300 animals representing around 575 species.
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Photo: Rasar90 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.