The Houston Zoo’s Reptile and Amphibian building was built in 1960. It replaced the original Bird and Reptile House, which was a wooden structure on the site now occupied by the Fisher Bird Gardens. The building was designed by Irving Klein and Associates and was built by Brown Construction Company. The Reptile and Amphibian building was built through a bond issue passed in the mid-1950’s, and was the first “modern building” in the Zoo; other facilities built on this bond issue were the Small Mammal House, the Tropical Bird House, and the Sea Lion Pool (which was the first facility constructed). Irving Klein also designed the Sea Lion Pool and the Small Mammal House.
Being an ardent herpetologist, the former Director of the Zoo, Mr. John Werler (now deceased), played a major role in the design of the building’s interior. Although originally budgeted at between $30-40,000 dollars, the Reptile building ended up costing $128,000.
The Houston Zoo is fortunate in having a diverse array of reptile species in its collection. Currently the building and its associated facilities (such as the Texas Wetlands, Natural Encounters, and Children's Zoo and Chinese alligator displays) house over 900 animals representing some 140 species of reptiles and 40 species of amphibians. Included among these are some of the world’s most venomous snake species such as the Gaboon viper, Black mamba and the Black forest cobra), some of the largest snakes such as the Reticulated python, the Burmese python, and the African rock python, and the largest lizards (Komodo dragon and Crocodile monitor). A favorite animal is Blanco, one of only fourteen white alligators in existence. Despite his white color, he is not an albino, but exhibits a condition known as leucism (think of it as a normal colored animal with a giant white spot covering its entire body).
Albert and Margaret Alkek Komodo and Crocodile Monitor Exhibit
This open air, glass fronted exhibit houses Komodo dragons and Crocodile monitors. Komodo dragons are an endangered species and are found in only four islands in Indonesia. These extremely large and beautiful lizards have thrived since their arrival in February 2002. Very little is known concerning the natural history of Crocodile monitors, which are found in the lowland tropical rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
