Mammals

At the front of the Zoo, you may hear the sea lions barking or find them flying through the water as they cruise their chilled pool. The new Sea Lion Show “Land, Air and Sea” will debut this summer.  Featuring amazing land animals, magnificent birds, and our California sea lions.  The guest will be up close and personal to many of the fascinating animal ambassadors.  Next door, the Koalas sleep 20 hours a day, a result of the low nutritional value of their diet since they eat nothing but eucalyptus, over three dozen different types.

Early in the morning the siamangs (native to Asia) will call you to Wortham World of Primates, which houses the Zoo’s many primates including lemurs from Madagascar, mangabeys and mandrills from Africa, and  the Zoo’s much loved orangutans including three juveniles—Indah, Elok, and Solaris-from the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Built in 1992, Wortham World of Primates immerses you in the deep foliage where many primates live and takes you through a world-wide walk as you greet each family in its naturalist home.

As you leave Wortham, you pass Duck Lake filled with birds. You now approach a tunnel straight ahead; at first you see nothing, but you can feel amber colored eyes staring not at you but through you. You are being stalked by the lion pride. You have entered the realm of the Carnivores.

The Zoo’s mammal collection is rounded out by the wide range of herbivores that make the Zoo their home. Meet our youngest giraffe, Jack (born 1/29/08), who can often be seen galloping about the giraffe's yard or just spending some quality time with his seventeen foot-tall dad, Kiva. Explore the Houston Zoo's Hoofrun and come face to face with the stunning and elusive hoofed mammals.

Your journey is far from over.  There are dozens more species just waiting to be discovered. Come visit us and see where the path leads you!

Koala Crossing
Experience a little bit of Australia, mate, when you visit Yannathan at Koala Crossing.  Threatened by habitat destruction in their native habitat, our “ambassadors of Australia” have captured the hearts of Houstonians since their arrival in 1999.  The Houston Zoo is one of only 10 zoos in the world to breed koalas successfully. 

 

To your left, 17 feet, on your right, eight and a half pounds, behind you 12 inches and dead center two and a half tons. You are fully surrounded; the journey has begun. Around every twist and turn, between the bushes or in the pool, in the relief of the shade or basking in the sun, you will be sure to come face to face with the stunning and elusive hoofed mammals.

 

Meet our two young giraffes, Neema (born 8/12/07) and Jack (born 1/29/08).  They can often be seen galloping about the giraffe's yard or just spending some quality time with their dad, “Kiva.” See the rare giant eland, who possess spiraling horns up to four feet in length, which may prove deadly to an unlucky opponent in a sparring match. One of the most unusual hoofed mammals by far is the okapi, distant cousins of the giraffe. 

Your journey is far from over. There are dozens more species just waiting for you to discover them. Come visit us and see where the path leads you!

 

Okapis
What has horns like a giraffe, a neck like a horse, and legs like a zebra?  It’s an okapi, the only known living relative of the giraffe.  Okapis were unknown to western science until 1901. Also known as forest giraffes, okapis live a solitary existence in their native Congo, coming together only to mate.  Their dark brown velvety coat and zebra striped legs serve as camouflage in the dense African rainforest. Generally on the shy side, these distant cousins of the giraffe are often mistaken for an odd looking zebra.  They are also very inquisitive. While observing the okapi from our observation deck, do not be surprised if a long, purple tongue shoots out and tags you. 

Giant Eland 
The Houston Zoo is the only zoo in Texas to exhibit this rare species.  Native to central Africa, giant eland are the largest antelopes in the world weighing up to 1,200 pounds.  Houston Zoo’s Enterprise Products Partners Giant Eland Exhibit features a raised viewing platform that will provide guests with an exceptionally close view of these regal creatures.  Accompanying educational graphics enhance awareness of this rare species, its natural habitat and conservation efforts to save it from extinction.

 

Carnivores
At first you see nothing, but you can feel the amber colored eyes—staring not at you but through you. The lion pride is stalking you. You have entered the realm of the Carnivores. 

 
From the power of a 450-pound lion to the agility of the arboreal 8-pound South American margay, the carnivore department of the Houston Zoo boasts 9 species of exotic cats, 2 species of bears, maned wolves and the fossa of Madagascar.

Just like your domestic cat, our exotic cats like to climb to the highest point to take their catnaps. Since most cats are nocturnal, they often sleep up on the rocks during the day. The best time to visit is in early morning or late afternoon when they are the busiest with their enrichment (cat toys). During the heat of the day, however, you might see the tiger swimming in the moat or the bears lounging in their pools. 

While on your Houston Zoo safari keep an eye out for another rare but informative predator—the carnivore keeper! You might even see a keeper in action, either training or interacting with Zoo guests. They can help guide your journey through the domain of the carnivores!

African Lions
Unlike most members of the cat family, lions are social animals that live in prides, or family groups.  View our male Jonathan and our female Celesto from our elevated viewing platform or close up through a reinforced acrylic observation panel.  And check the daily schedule on our Web site for interactive keeper chats and training presentations.

 

Malayan Tigers
Less than 2,000 of these beautiful animals are left in the rainforest and mangrove swamps of southeast Asia.  Guests at Houston Zoo can view our males, Pandu and Jammu from an elevated viewing platform or up close through reinforced acrylic observation panels.  And check the daily schedule on our Web site for interactive keeper chats and training presentations.

 

Spectacled Bears & Grizzly Bears 

Deeply rooted in the myths and history of Andean culture, spectacled bears are considered the pandas of South America (Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia).  Like pandas, spectacled bears are carnivores that have independently adopted vegetarian diets.  Grizzly bears, native of Alaska, western Canada and the northwestern United States, are second in size only to polar bears.  Grizzly bears are omnivores, eating both plants and animals.   Both the Zoo’s naturalistic spectacled bear and grizzly bear habitats feature a flowing watercourse and pool, natural grass substrate, climbing features and additional shade. 

 

Janice Suber McNair Asian Elephant Habitat
Houston Zoo’s Asian elephant herd consists of males, Thai and Mac (born October 1, 2006), and two females: Me-Thai and Shanti, Mac’s mother.  These highly intelligent creatures are endangered in the open grasslands, savannas, marshes and forests of India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.  Scientists estimate that there are less than 50,000 wild Asian elephants.  By comparison, there are 600,000 wild African elephants. 

 

The expansion of our elephant exhibit is underway! Read more...