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New Expanded Elephant Habitat Opens
McNair Asian Elephant Habitat Grows by 1.5 Acres
Expansion Includes New Pool and Improved Guest Viewing
The Houston zoo is proud to announce the latest improvement to the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat!
The end result of two years of planning and construction, the latest addition represents a six-fold expansion of the Habitat since the opening of the 7,000 square foot elephant barn and improved viewing areas in June 2008. The new addition adds 1.5 acres to the elephant’s outside habitats, making for a total of 3 acres for the herd to roam.
The new addition creates a naturalistic habitat, enhancing the living space for the Zoo’s 7 elephants, Thailand, Methai, Shanti, Baylor, Tess, Tucker and Tupelo, streamlining the animal care process, and providing a world-class experience for Zoo guests.
“The Houston Zoo has created an environment for our elephants that addresses both their physiological and psychological needs, “said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi. “The landscaping of trees, natural grasses and varied terrain creates a wonderful environment for the elephants and the open design and viewing areas provide an enhanced guest experience as well,” added Barongi.
The latest expansion incorporates an 80,000 gallon capacity ‘elephant sized’ swimming pool and a state-of-the-art water filtration system. The pool is terraced and currently is not filled to capacity to allow our young calves, Baylor and Tupelo to become accustomed gradually to swimming in deep water.
The new addition to the Habitat also includes a shaded 200-seat demonstration area allowing the Houston Zoo’s elephant care team to provide more personalized enrichment activities for the Zoo’s elephants while engaging Zoo guests with important conservation messages about the endangered status of elephants in the wild.
The elements of the Habitat are designed to encourage the elephant’s natural behaviors, such as foraging, browsing, rolling, bathing, and dust bathing. The exhibit elephants also enhance the hierarchal interactions within the family groups.
We hope you will come in to see the new habitat and enjoy all the activites that will happen within it.
