Ask us a Question
Natural Encounters
A new and exciting era in zoo exhibit design began when the Houston Zoo opened the doors of the new Ethel G. and Allen H. Carruth Natural Encounters Building. Years in the making, Natural Encounters began as a routine renovation of the Zoo's 1960s era Small Mammals Building, the result is far from routine. Tons of concrete, miles of rebar, and hundreds of square feet of glass have transformed the 45-year-old building into a spellbinding collection of interactive exhibits representing seven different ecosystems.
Tree branches stretch out over the pathways, waterfalls cascade into pools, and animals meet you at every turn. Visitors are nose to nose with some of the world's most endangered animals. Young and old experience animals up-close through large glass viewing panels, guest can even "crawl" right into the piranha exhibit via an acrylic see-through tunnel. Keeper chats are regularly scheduled throughout the day, where keepers demonstrate and explain everything from otter enrichment to piranha feedings. In addition, keepers frequently mingle with the visitors, intimately sharing some of the Zoo's most unusual creatures and intriguing stories about the animal's habitats.
"Natural Encounters has been a real-life adventure from start to finish," said Zoo Director Rick Barongi. "From conception to design and construction, Natural Encounters is a state of the art design that will educate, amaze, and inspire visitors of all ages," added Barongi.
Entry Foyer
Red-bellied Side Neck Turtle
Native to the inland rivers of Papua New Guinea, this colorful species of turtle diet consists of worms, fish and plant material in the wild. These turtles are highly aquatic and rarely leave the pond except to bask or nest. Long ago, this species was thought to have helped the ancestors of Iwaka Village in Papua New Guinea and thus a taboo was placed on hunting them. When reproducing, the females typically lay between 7 and 14 eggs, which take up to 49 days to hatch.
A native of New Guinea, Northern Australia, and Irian Jaya, this species takes its name from its extremely long neck. Unlike most turtles, their neck and head are folded sideways between their carapace (upper shell) and plastron (lower shell) rather than being withdrawn under their carapace. The Snake-necked turtle spends little time basking, preferring to spend its time buried in the soft mud of the river.
River's Edge
Flowing effortlessly over the rocks, the river in Natural Encounters has carved out a steep mud embankment along its edge. Listen for the high-pitched squeaks and trills of Asian small-clawed otters playing in the rushing water and interacting with their trainers.Asian small-clawed otters
The smallest otters in the world, Asian small-clawed otters are found in the wetlands and mangrove swamps of Southern India, Southern China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Living in small social groups, they frequently catch their prey with their paws instead of their mouths.
Natural acrobats, Blue-Bellied Rollers earned their name for their aerial “rolling” during courtship and territorial display. With plumage in beautiful shades of blue, purple, and russet, rollers launch their loud aerobatic displays from roosts in high treetops. Found from Senegal to Gambia and Sudan.
Discovery River
Follow the Natural Encounters' river system to a feature designed especially for children. Kids, young and old, can crawl through an acrylic tunnel in a deep-water exhibit, offering a stunning underwater view of dozens of shimmering piranhas. Follow the river to a waterfall and see freshwater rays, rainbow fish, and tetras. Down stream, a pier juts out into the river offering the perfect environment for an electric eel.
Fresh water meets salt water at the river’s mouth creating a brackish environment for archer fish and four-eyed fish swimming among the roots of a mangrove tree.
Piranha
The Amazon basin’s most notorious aquatic animal, the piranha’s reputation is largely the result of legend and lore. Although humans have reportedly been bitten by piranhas, the danger to humans is often greatly exaggerated. They have a highly developed capacity to detect sound, will lurk until prey is detected, and then give chase by swimming with short bursts of speed.
Freshwater Rays
Stingrays get their name from the long spine or stinger found on the top of the tail, which is used as a defensive weapon. The stinger is shed and replaced 3 or 4 times a year. With openings to its gills found on its top surface, the stingray is able breathe while buried in sand.
Not a true eel but eellike in shape, the electric eel can produce an electrical charge in excess of 500 volts. The electrical shocks come from special muscles in the tail portion of the eel’s body. The electrical discharges are used to stun and kill prey and to ward off predators.
Rainforest Canopy
Bathed in natural skylight illumination, animals and plants are woven into a complex environment in Natural Encounter’s Rainforest Canopy. Five species of monkeys, Sailfin lizards, Tamandua, sloth, Provosts squirrel, Silver pheasant, Pied imperial pigeons, Lady Ross’ turacos, and Collared Aracari share the trees and branches while Red-footed tortoises and Acouchi search for food and shelter among the tree roots. Tamarins
The Rainforest Canopy of Natural Encounters is home to two species of Tamarins, Cotton topped and Golden lion. Found in the rainforests of South America, tamarins are among the world’s smallest primates. Golden lion tamarins are distinguished by their long fur and lion-like mane. The Cotton topped tamarin’s prominent crest of white hair extends over the head and from ear to ear.
Prevost’s Squirrel
With its black, tan, and white coat, the Prevost’s Squirrel is the most colorful of the world’s squirrels. Nimble tree climbers, they use their tails for balance when running and as a rudder when they jump. Native to the lowland forests of Southeast Asia.
Acouchi
A small rodent with a round body and small thin legs, Acouchi inhabit tropical evergreen forests in South America. Males tend to stay in open forest and females in dense vegetation. They do not dig their own burrows but make leaf nests in hollow logs or old armadillo holes. Acouchi help with seed distribution and rainforest re-growth by burying seeds throughout their range.
